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Safety structures installed on Brazilian highways enter the final phase in Santa Catarina and promise to reduce serious accidents in a section marked by dangerous curves, steep descents, and heavy truck traffic. The model uses expanded clay, permanent monitoring, and technology inspired by Formula 1 tracks.
The two escape areas under construction in Serra Dona Francisca, on SC-418, in Joinville, have reached the final stretch with almost 80% of the works completed and delivery expected by June 2026, according to information released about the project’s schedule.
The devices will be installed in one of the most critical sections of northern Santa Catarina, marked by sharp curves, steep declines, and constant heavy vehicle traffic between Joinville and Campo Alegre.
The proposal is to offer a safe route for trucks and other vehicles that lose braking capacity during the descent of the mountain, reducing the risk of serious collisions and prolonged roadblocks on the highway.
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How the escape areas work in Serra Dona Francisca
The escape areas function as emergency lanes, built alongside the highway, to receive out-of-control vehicles in situations of brake loss or mechanical failure during the descent.
The system uses a containment box filled with expanded clay, a lightweight and resistant material that creates progressive friction and helps decelerate the vehicle without causing a sudden stop.
In practice, the truck enters the escape lane and gradually sinks into the material, losing speed until it stops more safely, instead of continuing uncontrollably down the highway.
This model is already used in mountain sections of BR-376, in Paraná, and BR-116, in São Paulo, where Arteris reports that the devices have surpassed the mark of 1.5 thousand lives preserved by April 2026.
Works advance in critical section of SC-418
In Serra Dona Francisca, the implementation of the structures required heavy interventions, including earthworks, route adjustments, and rock blasting at strategic points of the highway.
The first blasting to open the areas occurred in October 2025, a necessary step to adapt the slope and allow the construction of containment boxes according to the project’s standard.
The two structures are planned for high-risk points of SC-418, in the mountain area, where the combination of long descent, curves, and truck traffic increases the severity of occurrences.
In addition to the escape areas, the project also includes improvements related to road safety, such as adjustments around the lanes and interventions to enhance the protection of road users.
Technology inspired by Formula 1 helps to contain runaway trucks
The logic of escape areas is inspired by safety systems used in motorsport, especially in circuits like those of Formula 1, where deceleration zones help reduce damage in off-track situations.
On highways, the application is adapted for large vehicles, focusing on loaded trucks that need sufficient space, friction, and depth to lose speed.
According to Arteris, the structures in operation on the granted highways have 24-hour camera monitoring, immediate activation of teams, and coordinated assistance from the Operational Control Center.
When a vehicle accesses the escape area, the occurrence is identified, and the responsible teams are mobilized to support the driver, remove the vehicle, and safely release the device.
Million-dollar investment reinforces safety in Serra Dona Francisca
The escape areas managed by Arteris on BR-376/PR and BR-116/SP received an informed investment of approximately R$ 38 million, totaling three devices already in operation.
In the case of Serra Dona Francisca, the investment reported by the Government of Santa Catarina is about R$ 35 million, under the responsibility of the State Department of Infrastructure and Mobility.
The Santa Catarina project is considered strategic because it brings to a state highway equipment already consolidated in federal heavy traffic corridors, especially in mountainous sections.
With the delivery of the structures, SC-418 will have an emergency resource that, until now, was not available in this section known for its history of accidents involving cargo vehicles.
Drivers should feel a direct impact on highway safety
For those who travel daily through Serra Dona Francisca, the installation of escape areas tends to increase the safety margin in extreme situations when mechanical failure leaves little time to react.
The presence of the devices does not replace preventive maintenance, adherence to speed limits, and correct use of the engine brake, but it creates a concrete alternative when loss of control is already underway.
The expected impact is greater for truck drivers, transport companies, and other users who depend on the connection between Joinville, Campo Alegre, and other regions served by SC-418.
The completion of the works is expected to mark an important change in the safety infrastructure of the mountain, with the adoption of a system designed to contain heavy vehicles before the emergency reaches curves, queues, or areas of higher circulation.
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