What began as a joyous New Year’s Eve celebration on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street turned into tragedy when a vehicle-ramming attack unfolded. A man drove a pickup truck onto a crowded sidewalk, killing at least 14 people and injuring several others before being fatally shot by police. According to Rob Reiter, an expert with the Security Industry Association, this attack “could have been prevented or limited with temporary or permanent vehicle barriers” (AP News). While we’ll never know for certain, this incident emphasizes the importance of implementing effective measures, such as hydraulic security bollards and retractable traffic spikes, to help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Why Didn’t New Orleans Prevent the Attack?
In 2017, New Orleans installed its first bollard system following a series of global vehicle attacks. The bollards were spaced closely together to block unauthorized vehicles from entering pedestrian-only areas, but they could be pushed back to create a wider opening for authorized vehicles (USA Today). Unfortunately, the system became inoperable over time. Debris clogged the tracks, preventing the bollards from sliding into their locked or unlocked positions. Additionally, accessing the control buttons was difficult, as they were embedded in the ground and often submerged in “Bourbon Street juice”—a mixture of rainwater, spilled drinks, and even vomit (Reuters).
On the day of the attack, the bollards were out of service as the city was in the process of replacing them in preparation for hosting the Super Bowl in February. Portable wedge barriers were deployed as temporary blockades, but the attacker managed to drive over one that had been left in the down position to let emergency vehicles through (The Guardian).
What Challenges Exist When Securing Pedestrian Zones?
Securing busy streets like Bourbon Street requires balancing public safety with accessibility for businesses and emergency response needs. As one law enforcement analyst explained, “You have to make sure threats can’t get in, but you also have to make sure emergency responders can get out” (CNN).
New Orleans had a bollard system in place prior to the attack, but it was unable to withstand the wear and tear of heavy pedestrian traffic, leading to malfunctions. Additionally, the city’s portable wedge barriers were left unlocked to prevent delays in emergency response, which rendered them ineffective at stopping unauthorized vehicles.
The city’s new bollard system for the Super Bowl is also drawing criticism. It consists of removable bollards that can be inserted into street foundations during pedestrian-only times, then stored away when the street is open to vehicles. This system was selected because it made transitioning between vehicle and pedestrian traffic easy, as a single worker can install and remove the barriers daily. However, there is a tradeoff: while their lightweight design makes placement and removal easy, they may not be able to handle the impact of high-speed vehicles, raising concerns about their effectiveness in preventing future attacks (Reuters).
What Are the Best Solutions for Securing Streets?
| Old Sliding Bollards | Portable Wedge Barriers | New Removable Bollards | Hydraulic Security Bollards | Retractable Traffic Spikes | |
| Pedestrian Protection from Vehicles | High | High | Low | High | High |
| Ease of Vehicle/Emergency Access | High | Low | Moderate | High | High |
| Maintenance | High | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Each of New Orleans’ previous, temporary, and current methods for securing Bourbon Street has its own limitations. The old system with sliding bollards protected pedestrians and could be easily unlocked for vehicle access, but it malfunctioned due to heavy foot traffic and lack of maintenance. The temporary wedge barriers require less upkeep and secure pedestrian zones, but they don’t unlock quickly enough for emergency vehicles. The new removable bollards are quick to install and remove but aren’t strong enough to stop high-speed vehicles. Hydraulic bollards and retractable traffic spikes resolve these shortcomings, as they’re low-maintenance, quick to deploy, and effective at blocking unauthorized vehicles from entering pedestrian areas.
What are Hydraulic Security Bollards?
Hydraulic security bollards are cylindrical posts usually made of heavy-duty material like stainless steel. The posts are installed underground, with a hydraulic system that raises or lowers them. When locked, the vertical posts extend above the surface, forming a barrier between vehicles and pedestrian areas. When unlocked, they retract fully into the ground, leaving a completely flat surface for vehicles to drive over.
What are Retractable Traffic Spikes?
Retractable traffic spikes are also known as spike strips because they’re essentially rectangular strips with sharp, teeth-like spikes running down the center. Some may be surface mounted, resembling speed bumps, while others are embedded in the ground. When locked, the spikes point upwards at an angle, puncturing the tires of any vehicle driving over them and immobilizing it. When unlocked, the spikes retract into the strip, allowing vehicles to pass safely.
How Effective Are Hydraulic Bollards and Traffic Spikes?
Rapid Deployment
Security bollards and retractable traffic spikes are effective for managing both pedestrian and vehicle traffic because they can be activated or deactivated quickly with the push of a button. Unlike removable barriers, these bollards and spikes are permanently installed in the ground, so there’s no need for daily placement and removal. Using a remote, they can be locked into position as barriers or fully retracted to allow vehicle access. Either of these solutions would benefit New Orleans, which needs barriers that can be deployed at night for pedestrian traffic and cleared during the day for vehicle traffic.
Quick Access for Emergencies
Hydraulic bollards and traffic spikes have fast unlocking mechanisms, retracting in mere seconds. This feature is important for ensuring emergency vehicles can get into the area without delay. High security barriers that take too long to unlock can hinder first response efforts, and in emergencies, every second counts. With hydraulic bollards and traffic spikes, unauthorized vehicles are blocked, but emergency vehicles can pass through in under 4 seconds when needed.
High Impact Resistance
Besides acting as visible deterrents to vehicles thinking about entering pedestrian areas, hydraulic bollards and retractable traffic spikes can stop those who act on these intentions. At 2M Technology, we carry bollards that can withstand impact from a 7,500 kg (approximately 16,535 lbs) truck traveling at speeds of up to 48 kph (approximately 30 mph), as well as those that can resist impact from trucks of the same weight moving at 80 kph (approximately 50 mph). As for traffic spikes, they’re capable of puncturing tires, regardless of the vehicle’s speed. Both solutions are much more robust than New Orleans’ new bollards, which can only handle impact from trucks traveling up to 10 mph (Reuters).
Low Maintenance
The maintenance needs of hydraulic bollards and retractable traffic spikes are relatively minimal. Occasionally, debris may need to be cleared out from the crevices between the ground and the bollards or spikes. However, these gaps are quite small, so it’s unlikely for larger items to get stuck and cause operational issues. Additionally, these systems are installed with drainage holes or pipes to prevent liquid from pooling around the equipment, keeping them clean and functioning properly.
Prevent Future Vehicle-Ramming Attacks with Solutions from 2M Technology
Hydraulic security bollards and retractable traffic spikes are efficient and effective solutions for securing Bourbon Street and other high-traffic areas. These systems offer the dual benefit of protecting pedestrians from vehicle-ramming attacks while also ensuring the area is accessible to vehicles when needed, whether for emergencies or routine business operations.
We can’t go back in time and prevent this tragic event from happening, but we can prevent future attacks. 2M Technology has a wide range of access control solutions you can explore, including security bollards and traffic spikes for pedestrian safety. If you would like more information, reach out to us at sales@2mtechnology.net or +1 (214) 988-4302.
