Storefront crashes and pedestrian incidents are scary and often fatal, and there have been crashes where the presence of a protective structure could have changed the outcome. Here are some top real-world stories on how bollards could have made a difference.
New Orleans New Year’s Day Incident
Early in the morning on New Year’s Day 2025, a driver in a rental truck plowed into the bustling crowds on Bourbon Street. The driver continued speeding up for another three blocks, hitting bystanders along the way before crashing at the corner of Bourbon and Conti Streets. By the end of the attack, 14 individuals were killed, with many others severely wounded.
To access the crowded area of partygoers, all the driver had to do was swerve around a police car blocking the road. No protective barriers were present at the time.
Following this incident, New Orleans has implemented additional protective measures, including adding extra bollards, archers and police SUVs for events with large crowds.
Shop our Automatic BollardsLos Angeles Café Crash
In July 2014, a drunk driver drove a vehicle into the parklet of a popular late-night restaurant in Los Angeles. Thankfully, no one was injured by the car itself — however, the debris from the parklet being hit caused injuries to three individuals.
A parklet is a small platform that transforms roadside parking spots into attractive outdoor dining areas. While these structures are ideal for large cities like LA with limited sidewalk space, their design is necessary for protecting pedestrians.
In the LA Café crash, no protective barriers existed between the road and the parklet. Pedestrian safety should be considered a top priority for designers. To prevent accidents from happening, follow best parklet design practices and install a buffer from ongoing traffic, such as steel bollards or barriers.
The Venice Beach Tragedy
A woman was killed, and 11 were seriously injured after a vehicle ran into the busy Venice Beach boardwalk in 2013. The hit-and-run driver was seen parking his car and surveying the scene before speeding into the crowd.
Unfortunately, this is not the first vehicular incident on the Venice Beach boardwalk. Millions of pedestrians visit the boardwalk every year, and many have been involved in avoidable accidents. Following the 2013 hit-and-run, the LA City Council voted to improve pedestrian safety on the boardwalk and install bollards in vulnerable areas.
A Real-Life Example of a Bollard’s Protection
All the horrible accidents above have one thing in common — they could have been prevented with bollards. In fact, a bollard was able to save a little girl in Washington after a car crashed into a convenience store. The vehicle was driven in reverse and would have hit her directly without the presence of the bollard. The bollard suspended the vehicle above her, allowing her to walk away without a scratch.
Crash-Rated Bollards From Blockaides
Bollards are sturdy, vertical posts found in various public spaces to create a barrier between pedestrians and oncoming traffic. Blockaides understands the importance of pedestrian safety and works with architects, project managers, contractors and designers to develop the best safety and security solutions. Browse our crash-rated bollards — available in automatic, manual or fixed varieties.
Low-Speed Crash Tested Bollards
Low-speed crash bollards can withstand impact from vehicles at minimal speeds. They are often used to direct traffic flow and define boundaries for drivable areas. While every property and its safety needs vary, these bollards are ideal for storefronts, parking lots, outdoor seating areas, gas stations and more.
The low-speed bollards at Blockaides are crash-tested according to ASTM F3016 guidelines. Our low-speed bollards can withstand the impact of a 5,000-pound vehicle at 10-30 miles per hour.
High-Speed Crash Tested Bollards
Alternatively, high-speed crash bollards offer protection in areas at risk of attacks, such as the examples above. They also provide additional security in areas with fast-paced traffic and heavy trucks, especially if an accident happens. In general, if there is a significant security risk in an area, a higher-rated bollard is needed.
Our high-speed bollards have an M-rating and can withstand medium-duty trucks up to 15,000 pounds at 30 to 50 mph. You will often find our bollards in front of government buildings, banks, airports, courthouses, stadiums and many other locations.
X-Frame Bollards
Blockaides also offers X-frame bollards in our comprehensive lineup. This unique design provides additional safety with aesthetic benefits. We offer these bollards in 30 to 60-inch widths and various powder-coat colors.
Improve Pedestrian Safety Today With Blockaides
At Blockaides, we specialize in safety. We have been in this industry since 2010 and have spent our platform educating people on the importance of bollards and barriers for protection.
We look forward to helping you find the right bollard safety solution for your needs. Get in touch with us for an estimate today.
