Urban Solutions and Temporary Barriers

Event safety typically involves a combination of temporary barriers, traffic management solutions and, in some cases, hostile vehicle mitigation systems, depending on the level of risk and the environment.

For higher-risk or high-footfall events, more robust systems may be required to provide increased protection and controlled access. This can include crash-tested barrier systems alongside wider traffic management measures to help create a safer, more controlled space.

A vehicle mitigation barrier is designed to help protect people from the risk of vehicle incursion into pedestrian areas.

These systems are often used as part of hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) strategies, particularly in public-facing environments such as events, city centres and transport hubs.

While not every project requires full HVM measures, considering how barrier systems can contribute to a higher level of protection is becoming an increasingly important part of planning.

Not all temporary traffic management schemes require HVM barriers.

However, where there is a higher level of risk, such as high pedestrian volumes or public-facing environments, it may be appropriate to consider more robust solutions.

In these situations, upgrading from standard temporary barriers to higher-performing systems can help improve safety by increasing protection and creating more secure stand-off distances.

Pedestrian barriers are typically used to guide movement and create separation between people and live traffic.

Safety barriers, including more advanced road safety barriers and crash-tested systems, are designed to provide a higher level of protection, helping to mitigate impact and reduce risk in the event of an incident.

Selecting the right type of barrier depends on the environment, the level of risk and how the space is being used.

Choosing the right temporary barriers involves more than availability or ease of installation.

Key considerations include:

• The level of risk within the environment

• Pedestrian volumes and proximity to live traffic

• Whether additional protection is required

• How the barriers will integrate with the wider traffic management solution

A considered approach ensures barriers are not just in place, but are providing the right level of protection for the people using that space.

Martyn’s Law, also known as the Protect Duty, is proposed UK legislation aimed at improving safety and security in public venues and spaces.

It is expected to place greater responsibility on organisations to assess risks, plan for potential threats and ensure appropriate measures are in place to protect the public.

For those responsible for public-facing environments, including events, infrastructure projects and temporary works, this means taking a more considered approach to safety, from how spaces are managed to how people within them are protected.

While the legislation does not prescribe specific products, it reinforces the importance of selecting solutions that are appropriate for the level of risk, including where more robust barrier systems or enhanced traffic management measures may be required.