A British-designed road block system, which can withstand the force of a 5,500lbs vehicle travelling at 30mph, is headed to the United States in response to last week’s New York City terrorist attack in Manhattan.
ATG Access Surface Guard
Surface Guard has been developed by ATG Access, an innovator of bollard and vehicle barrier systems. Surface Guard is the first system of its kind designed to protect pedestrians from targeted vehicle attacks, and meets the latest international standards, along with a full suite of independent testing.
With the holiday season approaching and more events likely taking place, hundreds of Surface Guard units will be dispatched to the US by the end of November to deter possible attackers from targeting crowded locations.
Unlike many traditional barriers, no heavy machinery is required to install the Surface Guard system. Four men can close off a roadway in under an hour. Designed to allow pedestrians and cyclists to flow freely through the system, Surface Guard has also been developed to allow emergency vehicles to pass through access points if necessary.
Success stories
Surface Guard has already successfully protected cycle lanes and roads at Europe’s largest fireworks display in Stockton-on-Tees on Bonfire Night 2017, and received positive reviews from security forces and the general public in the UK, after multiple deployments in crowded places.
Later this month, the Surface Guard system will be demonstrated at the US’s largest annual security convention ISC East, in New York City. ATG’s American partner, Ameristar Security Products, will be exhibiting and showcasing the product.
Stopping terrorism now
Gary Hart, Ameristar Perimeter Security Director of Vehicle Barriers, notes: “We’ve seen first-hand the devastating trail of destruction and loss these attacks leave behind, but they keep happening time and time again. In the wake of the Manhattan attack, there have been calls to install old style physical protections around pedestrian areas and crowded places, but installing these types of permanent bollards and barriers will take several weeks or months to deploy.
“There is no need for municipalities to wait and leave popular, crowded areas unprotected. We can’t wait for another attack to happen. We have to put a stop to them now, and ATG Access’ Surface Guard can do just that.”