Overview of Vehicular Threats to Human Life in Social Gatherings

The recent rise in high-profile vehicular attacks has exposed vulnerabilities in design considerations for urban spaces used by pedestrians. These vulnerabilities need to be addressed by engineers when designing the spaces, but standards must be developed to aid in the design. Changes in zoning can allow some areas to be hardened based on cultural, political, and other criteria for how the space is and can be used by pedestrians. This study examined recent high-profile vehicular attacks, reviewed existing site design standards for security, researched security considerations for special events, and developed risk-mitigation proposals. This article proposes the development of mandatory government standards for the site design of soft targets, municipal zoning management focused on pedestrian-centered areas, and more considerations to be made when planning special events to mitigate the threat of a vehicular attack.