We’ve all seen the movie images of several men wielding a battering ram, usually a huge log, against the castle gates. However, a greater threat exists in todays’ advanced technological world with vehicles replacing the wooden log as the ramming device.
Modern Day Ramming
The result of two automobiles accidently colliding is a powerful visual to describe the damage a vehicle can do. Twist the original purpose of automobile design to one of destruction and it’s fairly clear to see how any type of vehicle can be, and has been, used as a ramming device to gain entrance, block progress, or destroy. The vehicles are sometimes used “as is” or altered in some way for added effectiveness. In another old movie image, when the commander of the cavalry yelled, “charge”, horses were the vehicles used to plow through the enemy stronghold. Military units still employ the same tactic, but with different vehicles like tanks, submarines, and even airplanes. Criminals use vehicles to ram through store windows and walls to steal money and other valuables. Vehicles are also a common, easily accessible weapon used by terrorists to murder innocent people.
Vehicle Ramming Attacks
One of the most well-known vehicle ramming attacks occurred on September 11, 2001 when two terrorist airplanes rammed into the World Trade Center, one into the U.S. Pentagon, and a fourth, meant for a target in Washington, D.C., was subverted by its passengers. Since that date, numerous vehicle ramming attacks have been carried out. In the Netherlands in 2009, a man plowed his car into people lined up to watch a royal family parade. A tractor was used in a 2014 attack in Jerusalem to run over pedestrians and topple a bus. Then in December 2014, a man was arrested in France for running down 11 pedestrians.
Protection against Vehicle Attacks
Modern technology was swift to act against these types of attacks. Development of anti-ram vehiclesecurity barriers has been successfully tackled by several companies. Protection of buildings and facilities, such as government agencies, military bases, prisons, embassies, and corporate headquarters is a necessary fortification given today’s reality. Additionally, the infrastructures of these entities must also be secured and preserved if attacked.
Types of Barriers
Vehicle barriers are classified by two groups- active vehicle barriers (AVB) and passive vehicle barriers (PVB). Active means the barriers have moving parts that are powered manually, pneumatically, electrically, or hydraulically. AVBs include ones that lift vertically or horizontally, wedge barriers, and anti-ram gates that are much more effective against vehicles than the old castle gates were against battering rams. Bollards and fences are solid, intact structures that represent PVBs. A tiered or combination system provides the most protection; if a vehicle gets past one barrier, there is another already in place to slow or stop its advancement.
The reality of our modern day world is certain regimes are determined to uphold their beliefs by instituting physical attacks against others. This necessitates updating protective systems on previously constructed buildings and including new technologies in new construction blueprints. Barrier systems such as those found on www.gibraltarus.com, are using the latest designs and materials to provide maximum security for buildings and their infrastructures.