What is the function of bridge railings in regards to safety?

Bridge railings are critical safety features designed primarily to prevent vehicles and pedestrians from falling off the bridge. Their primary function is to provide a protective barrier that helps to ensure the safety of those using the bridge by mitigating the risk of accidents that could lead to a fall from the edge. This protective role is essential, especially for bridges that span over significant heights or bodies of water, where the consequences of a fall could be severe.

While aspects such as aesthetic appeal and traffic flow may be considerations in bridge design, these factors do not capture the essential safety function of railings. Similarly, while minimizing wind resistance can be an important aspect of structural design, it is not a primary function of railings. Therefore, the emphasis on preventing falls distinctly highlights the crucial safety role that bridge railings play in protecting the users of the bridge.