Road blockers have become commonplace in many public places in the UK. It’s not often you visit a town centre, an important building or an event in which these indispensable tools have been deployed. Whether temporary or permanent, road blockers create a safe space for pedestrians, help manage traffic flow to busy events and restrict vehicle access where it is needed.
In this guide, we take a look at the UK’s implementation of road blockers, explaining the reasons they may be put in place, the benefits they have in a range of applications and the technology that can be implemented alongside them to make access control more bespoke to the needs of the area.
Why use road blockers?
Typically, road blockers are put in place to restrict the access of vehicles from a particular place. Some examples of why road blockers are used are listed below. However, this list is not exhaustive:
- Protecting infrastructure – it is not uncommon to see road blockers around places such as power plants, military and government buildings and other high-value assets. These places face a higher risk than many of unauthorised access, and road blockers provide a very visible and strong deterrent.
- Keeping pedestrians safe – Shopping areas, city centres and public squares are often busy with pedestrians. Adding vehicles to these spaces and it could be a recipe for disaster. Road blockers allow for pedestrians to have a safe space in which to shop, work and gather.
- Securing events – Across the UK, there are a number of events and festivals that require restricted access, such as music events and sports matches. Restricting vehicle access at busy times allows for a more secure venue, and fewer issues with traffic surrounding the events.
- Keeping private property private – Whether you run a business, are part of a residential community, or have a private estate, road blockers can ensure access is only available to those who should be able to enter your premises.
Traffic management
There are, of course, many other ways in which road blockers can be useful, particularly when it comes to managing traffic. At any one time, there are road closures across the UK, and the ability to block off areas for construction, maintenance or emergencies is one that can ensure the safety of all concerned. In addition to this, road blockers can help with parking enforcement, congestion control and can even direct traffic through detours during road works.
General threats
Unfortunately, across the globe, there has become a heightened risk of vehicle ramming attacks. Part of many countries’ counter-terrorism strategy has involved road blockers. Not only do they help block off vulnerable areas, but they can also control access at borders.
The Rules
Like any type of access control application, there are specific rules in place that must be adhered to when implementing road blockers in the UK. Road blockers must be:
Visible – any road blocker used must be visible to vehicle operators. This is particularly important at night or where there is low lighting.
Resistant – Road blockers must be robust enough to withstand a vehicle’s impact.
Accessible in an emergency – There must be a provision that allows for emergency vehicles to pass through if they need to.
An evolving tool
Whilst bollards and barriers themselves can help to block roads for a multitude of different applications, the technology that surrounds them is ever evolving to make them easier to implement. Automatic barriers with number plate recognition, rising bollards for flexible use, and those with additional access control configurations make it easier than ever to protect spaces and allow flexible access control.
Also Read: How Innovations Are Making Roads Safer and Reducing Accidents
