How to prevent vehicle attacks?
With the growing economy and democratic activities, the threats of sophisticated attacks are also increasing. Terrorists, activists and criminals have outgrown the common defense mechanism of the police and military. They are adapting modular methods of gas lighting situations and creating havoc.
Vehicle attacks are a commonly used means of vandalism or attacks by these non-social elements. The military has been upgrading its defensive approach, and Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) is one of the techniques.
Introduction to threats carried by vehicles
Vandalism and sophisticated or violent attacks by terrorists or determined criminals are two examples of threats that can be carried by vehicles. Terrorists have previously accessed vehicles (such as cars, vans, and lorries) through a variety of means, including:
• Owned- the attacker owns a vehicle
• Leased- a vehicle is hired from a company using real or fictitious documentation
• Borrowed- an unwitting or complicit associate lends a vehicle
• Stolen- A vehicle that is locked or with the keys in the ignition and is stationary is considered stolen
• Hijacked- A vehicle parked inside or outside a protected area and is occupied is considered hijacking
The driver is unlikely to follow traffic laws during a terrorist attack. They will:
Cross over green spaces like parks, playgrounds, and fields
Driving on the wrong side
Enter pedestrian-only areas
Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED)
When transported to a target, an improvised explosive device is exposed or hidden inside a vehicle. A VBIED detonation can result in a blast, fireball, primary and secondary fragmentation, and ground shock.
The most crucial element in determining the potential extent of damage is the blast stand-off (the distance between the device and the asset). Increasing the blast stand-off distance or defending it with vehicle barriers will lessen the asset's damage.
What is mitigation for hostile vehicles?
A protective security discipline called hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) focuses on lowering the risks associated with terrorist and criminal threats carried by moving vehicles.
HVM is the delivery of security measures based on the threat and how it manifests, the varied effects of an attack, the susceptibility of a particular location, and the requirements of the enterprise needing protection. Security risk analyses, security planning, security design, and the implementation of risk-based measures form the foundation of HVM.
Mitigation strategies for hostile vehicles
HVM measures are the coordinated application of physical barriers, security protocols, and processes to thwart vehicle threats. Typical examples include traffic management and physical barriers like:
Vehicle security and calming traffic measures
Incident response planning and training
Operational requirement: How do I evaluate my site's defenses against threats brought by vehicles?
Defending vehicle attacks is not just limited to the strategic placement of vehicle barriers. There's more to it. Practitioners should adopt a systematic and thoughtful approach to determine project objectives and identify security vulnerabilities once the threat's nature has been understood:
• Create operational requirements for HVM with specific security requirements (OR)
• User Requirement Documents (URDs), which address additional business needs not addressed in the detailed requirements, such as coordination with stakeholders, planning, and design
• Practical site assessment, including thoroughly examining environmental opportunities and vulnerabilities and operational and physical security measures
• Technical evaluation, such as Vehicle Dynamics Assessments (VDA) at particular locations in light of the pertinent threat vehicle (s)
• Collaboration with technical or security experts, such as RSES experts with relevant experience or CPNI or CTSA members
How can I mitigate vehicle-borne threats and lessen my site's vulnerability?
A robust and comprehensive HVM strategy can incorporate a wide range of options. However, it depends on the project objectives and site assessment:
Determine the goals of the HVM strategy and how it will work with other site security measures using the principles of hostile vehicle mitigation. Vehicle Security Barriers (VSB) are meant for minimising vehicle impact, protecting field and maintain blast stand-off. Subsidiary steps include:
Traffic calming can reduce vehicle approach speeds to a manageable level.
• Vehicle access control:
Consider deploying active VSB solutions, access procedures, long-term operational management, and emergency access.
Determine when and how legitimate traffic will access the site.
To help military and local police tackle such situations, Quickblock has a wide variety of options. They have top-quality vehicle barriers designed to withstand even the toughest attacks and minimize the impact. Check their website or get in touch with them for a demo.
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