Abstract of EP0092282 A retractable road barrier comprises a barrier element (5) pivotable about a horizontal axis (6), and an extensible drive mechanism (8), one end of which is anchored pivotally while the other end is connected to an erecting element (11) which co-operates with an erecting surface (12) situated beneath the roadway, and which is also coupled to the first end of a link (13), the other end of which is coupled to the barrier element (5) at a point (15) situated between the horizointal axis (6) and the opposite end (16) thereof.