This is a follow up to my previous article published earlier this week titled “Counter Terrorist Vehicle Attacks Advice | Security Magazine”. I discussed both terror attacks as well as driver caused accidents.
ASTM International reported a while back on standards it was developing for “Low Speed Pedestrian Barriers”. The focus here is on accidents where cars crash into storefronts or pedestrian thoroughfares solely due to the driver’s loss of control of his or her vehicle. These are not cases of cars (trucks or other vehicles as well) used in terrorist attacks, or other vehicles used in crash and grabs, as we also have been reporting.
Loss of control accidents, even when cars jump over curbs when drivers accelerate quickly but while in the wrong direction, actually happen quite frequently. Robert Reiter, a member of the subcommittee working on the standards, was quoted as saying: “Research, statistics and media reports confirm that such applications cover the majority of cases where vehicle/pedestrian injuries and property damage are occurring.”
Damage can be extensive (as shown in the photo above). When serious injury and death of bystanders or pedestrians occurs, it is always tragic. This can all possibly be avoided with proper planning and installation of perimeter security equipment.
The proposed standards discussed were to set forth testing parameters for low speed vehicle barriers such as perimeter security bollards often seen in front of retail stores. “As opposed to K-rated bollards, most bollards are used for either simple access denial or pedestrian safety,” Reiter also said.
The goal, of course, is to minimize potential physical damage and hopefully reduce injuries and fatalities. The standards will address vehicles under 4,500 pounds, traveling up to 30 mph.
The bollards subject to the new standards are not the type of Crash Rated Bollards or Wedge Barriers covered by the United States Department of State (DOS) ‘K’ class certifications. Those certifications cover 15,000 pound vehicles traveling 30 miles per hour or greater, or typically trucks carrying explosives.
At that time there wasn’t a great deal of testing being done and performance criteria was lacking for these types of accidents. The actual standard was adopted in 2014 and is know as is ASTM F3016/F3016M – “Standard Test Method for Surrogate Testing of Vehicle Impact Protective Devices at Low Speeds”.
Per its website, ASTM International (previously the American Society for Testing and Materials) has provided over 12,500 standards in 120 years of operation, covering 140+ countries. These standards cover a range of products and materials, as well as systems and services
Photo courtesy of fredsharples under Creative Commons License 2.0
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Amended July 11,2019
