Any reason for non-continuous mountain road barrier?

Question

I have been cycling recently in Polish mountains and when riding through one of less occupied mountain roads, I have found many places where road barrier (that is suppose to secure bikers and car drivers from falling into nearby river) is not continuous.

Some questions around:

Is anyone familiar of those? Can these be found in other countries?
Is there any particular reason for having such risky solution?
What am I missing in thinking that they pose a serious danger?

I was a too-close (as for me) from not stopping before one of these "separation holes" and falling into river, so I'd like to learn as much as possible about these "things".

Andrew · Answer

While this deals with medians and not strictly side barriers, the animal answer is strongly supported by this study:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256425278_Potential_Impacts_of_Highway_Median_Barriers_on_Wildlife_State_of_the_Practice_and_Gap_Analysis
A reasonable response would be that there is a drop into a stream that would prevent animals from crossing.  And I agree, and suspect that simple legality is part of the answer.  A law that requires an animal passing gap every X meters may simply have no exceptions for areas where terrain would be impassable for the animals.

Any reason for non-continuous mountain road barrier?

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