Lessons from Detroit Metro: Not All Bollards Are Created Equal

I have spent decades working around transportation security. Airports are not new to me. Neither are vehicle threats. What happened at Detroit Metro on January 23, 2026 was alarming, but it was not surprising.

A vehicle entered the McNamara Terminal and struck a ticket counter. Six people were injured. The driver was detained. The cause was unknown at the time. The outcome could have been far worse.

This incident highlights a problem the industry has understood for years. Terminal areas are exposed by design.

Vehicle mitigation is complex by necessity

Airport security needs to be layered. There are dozens of factors that make vehicle mitigation a challenge.

Terminal environments must support:

That mix creates unavoidable risk. The question is not whether vehicles will make mistakes. They will. The question is whether the terminal is designed to absorb those mistakes without catastrophic consequences.

Design that anticipates failure

The answer is not “add more security.” The answer is design that assumes vehicles will end up where they do not belong.
When a vehicle reaches a pedestrian-dense area, the outcome should already be decided.

Stop the vehicle where people gather

There are places where failure is not acceptable. Terminal doors. Glass. Ticket counters. Queuing zones.

These areas require tested, certified vehicle mitigation. Not assumptions. Not visual cues. Measured stopping power.

Crash-rated bollards remain one of the most effective tools in these environments:

This distinction matters. Decorative bollard covers alone are not deterrents. They provide no security and no protection on their own. When it comes to vehicular threats, the crash-rated system beneath the cover is what matters.

Control access without shutting down operations

Airports cannot permanently block every lane. They need access for operations, emergency response, and service traffic.

That requires controlled vehicle access.

Removable or manually retractable bollards are often the right solution where equipment must move through doors or service paths. If you need to get equipment inside the terminal, the security design must allow for it.

For higher-risk access points, active systems provide both control and protection. Retractable bollards, wedge barricades, and beam barricades allow operators to secure lanes without creating gridlock or operational bottlenecks.

Security that disrupts operations will eventually be bypassed. That is a reality.

Speed, constructability, and retrofit constraints

Many terminals are decades old. Utilities are dense. Excavation is limited. Schedules are tight.

That is the environment most airports are working in.

Surface-mounted and shallow-foundation systems exist for a reason. When you cannot dig, you still need certified protection. When timelines matter, installation on existing concrete can be the difference between mitigation now and mitigation later.

During construction phases or temporary operational changes, portable systems have a role. They are not permanent infrastructure, but they address real risk during real conditions.

If you need something fast, or you are working through construction, systems like the TB100 provide immediate protection without extended civil work.

Temporary risk is still risk.

Liability and funding considerations

Physical protection is only part of the equation.

Safety Act–rated systems reduce liability exposure and can create eligibility for DHS grant funding. That has real implications for airport authorities and public agencies.

Standards, testing, and certification are not administrative details. They are part of responsible infrastructure planning.

The lesson from Detroit

The Detroit Metro incident is still under investigation. The cause was unknown at the time of reporting. That does not change the takeaway.

Terminal vulnerability is predictable. Vehicles will enter spaces they should not. Whether through error, impairment, or intent.

The only question is whether they can reach people.

Effective airport security does not turn terminals into fortresses. It uses proven design, properly rated systems, and practical access control so that when something goes wrong, it stops where it should.

These are lessons you don’t want to learn the hard way.