04/05/2025
A recent alarming incident at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) brought infrastructure safety back into the spotlight. An SUV suddenly accelerated and rammed through a pedestrian area, injuring several individuals and causing casualties. In the aftermath, many asked the question: Could this have been prevented?
One clear and often overlooked answer lies in a small but mighty piece of street infrastructure — bollards.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭?
Bollards are short, sturdy vertical posts designed to act as protective barriers. You’ll often see them in airports, commercial centers, and even sidewalks — but their purpose goes far beyond decoration or simple demarcation.
Primary functions:
• 𝐏𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Prevent vehicles from accidentally (or intentionally) entering walkways.
• 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥: Guide vehicle flow and restrict access where necessary.
• 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲: Act as a first line of defense in high-risk zones like airports, embassies, or government buildings.
In the NAIA incident, had there been properly engineered bollards in place, the SUV would have been stopped before it reached any pedestrian.
𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬
Not all bollards are created equal. For security and crash protection, engineering standards must be followed:
• 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: Bollards must meet standards like ASTM F3016 or PAS 68, which test their ability to stop vehicles at various speeds and weights.
• 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡: Usually made of reinforced steel embedded in concrete.
• 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐡: Must be deep enough (often 1.2m or more) to resist impact force.
• 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠: Should prevent vehicles from squeezing through (usually spaced 1.2–1.5 meters apart).
Crash-rated bollards are designed to stop various types of vehicles up to specific speeds from penetrating desired secure perimeters.
𝐀 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
The NAIA incident underscores the critical need for proper safety infrastructure. For engineers, architects, and public officials, it’s imperative to revisit safety standards and implement proactive measures. For the general public, awareness is the first step towards advocating for safer public spaces.
Let’s prioritize safety through informed design and infrastructure.
