I saw some thing on tv a while ago, they were demonstrating new "technology" in barriers like those. Endposts that spread the impact, rather than piercing the car, etc. Looks like they missed a spot.

Saw one of those real tv shows or whatever it was, the guy drove a truck into an open gate, which consisted of a single horizontal steel pole. The pole pierced into the grill, through the steering column, the driver, and out the back of the seat. Pretty damn scary stuff.

You wouldn't think a car would continue moving far down the railing, with posts and such every so many feet. Must have been moving pretty fast to get impaled that far.