They're everywhere, but they don't get much attention—until somebody hits one. And then, more often than not, it is a lifesaver. The damage done by hitting a guardrail is minor when compared to what you would have hit had it not been there. Guardrails are designed to keep vehicles from straying into dangerous or off-limit areas. They minimize damage by keeping us in the safety zone. But the highway isn’t the only place we need guardrails.