Hostile Vehicle Mitigation
Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) refers to a range of security measures designed to prevent or reduce the impact of vehicle-based attacks, or other malicious uses of vehicles. These security measures typically involve physical barriers such as bollards, planters and road blockers placed in city centres and public areas where there is high level of footfall. HVM strategies are commonly implemented at high-risk locations like government buildings, embassies, transportation hubs, and crowded events. The goal is to create a proactive defence mechanism that minimises the risk of vehicle attacks while maintaining the flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
Benefits of Hostile Vehicle Mitigation
Protect critical infrastructure
Safer and more inclusive spaces
Mitigate vehicular threat
Enhance public realm
Why is Hostile Vehicle Mitigation important?
As vehicles have increasingly been used as weapons in terrorist and criminal activities, the need to implement effective HVM measures has grown significantly. These attacks present challenges for security professionals as vehicles are found everywhere, easily accessible and can cause significant damage in a very short time. Criminals may also use vehicles in an attempt to access secure areas or steal valuable items by ramming into gates or breaking into buildings.
HVM strategies aim to prevent or reduce the impact of such attacks by securing vulnerable sites and managing vehicle access to high-risk areas. Reinforced barriers and bollards are designed to stop or slow vehicles before they can reach vulnerable targets, reducing the potential for harm.
Hostile Vehicle Mitigation is essential in urban design, which often features open public spaces, to ensure the safety of people while maintaining normal functionality. Effective HVM measures can be integrated into the architecture of buildings, streetscapes, and public transportation hubs without significantly affecting the aesthetic or typical flow. This balance between security is critical for creating safe, liveable environments.
The Security Standards
ISO 22343
ISO 22343 is an international standard that provides guidelines by which vehicle security barriers are tested for the design and implementation of Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) measures in the context of security and resilience. Specifically, it outlines the criteria for assessing and managing the risks associated with vehicle-based threats to critical infrastructure and public spaces.
The certification results of products (provided they pass) provide end users with a standardised format of test results and the means to compare the efficacy of hostile vehicle mitigation products.
PAS 68
PAS 68 is a British standard that specifies the performance requirements for vehicle security barriers designed to protect against vehicle-based attacks. It outlines how these barriers should be tested to ensure they can stop or slow down vehicles that are deliberately driven at high speeds. The standard includes guidelines for testing the strength of barriers, bollards, street furniture, fences, and blockers, to assess how well they withstand the impact of vehicles of various weights and speeds.
The publication of ISO 22343 by the British Standards Institution (BSI) in 2023 has replaced both IWA 14 and PAS 68. Products previously tested to these standards still remain valid and do not need to be re-tested.
IWA 14-1
IWA 14-1 is an international standard that sets out the testing and performance requirements for vehicle security barriers intended to stop or slow down vehicles used in hostile attacks. It is similar to PAS 68 in specifying how barriers, bollards and beams should be tested for their ability to withstand impacts from vehicles at varying speeds and weights. This is to ensure that they can prevent vehicles from entering secure zones, such as government buildings or event venues and helps security professionals select and install effective barriers based on internationally recognised performance criteria.
The publication of ISO 22343 by the British Standards Institution (BSI) in 2023 has replaced both IWA 14 and PAS 68. Products previously tested to these standards still remain valid and do not need to be re-tested.
PAS 170
PAS 170 is a publicly available specification that was released in 2017 by the British Standards Institution. It is specifically designed for the quick and inexpensive testing of bollards against low-velocity impacts using a trolley. It is intended for locations requiring less stringent protection, such as car parks, schools and retail outlets.
PAS 170 only covers the testing of bollards, not blockers, planter or street furniture. It includes performance criteria for barriers to ensure they meet minimum security standards to protect against vehicle impact, providing a reliable level of defence.
LPS 1175
LPS 1175 is a standard developed by the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB), a division of The Building Research Establishment (BRE). It specially focuses on the testing and certification of security products and physical barriers, such as fences, doors, and gates, and windows.
The standard specifies the performance levels of barriers against a range of attack methods, including manual and vehicle-based threats, and provides a grading system for barriers based on how long they can resist specific attack attempts.
Find out more about LPS 1175 in our comprehensive guide.
Breaking down the specifics
Hostile Vehicle Mitigation goes beyond simply installing vehicle security barriers as it involves comprehensive risk assessments and strategic planning. The purpose of HVM is to identify vulnerabilities and implement measures that will delay or prevent people from carrying out vehicle-based attacks with the intent of causing harm.
The key to this process is Vehicle Dynamic Assessment (VDA), which examines the dynamics of vehicles, such as speed, weight, and stopping distance to inform and verify the placement and selection of appropriate mitigation measures. Experts in hostile vehicle mitigation at the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) and Counter-Terror Security Advisers advocate that this type of assessment is a necessary starting point and recommend such a process.
Martyn’s Law, which became law on the 3rd April 2025 and is currently undergoing a 24-month implementation period, requires venues and public spaces to take proactive measures against terrorism, including vehicle-based attacks. It mandates that venues conduct risk assessments and put in place security measures to prevent such attacks, including Hostile Vehicle Mitigation strategies. For more information surrounding Martyn’s Law, see our frequently asked questions below.
Popular Hostile Vehicle Mitigation Products
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Martyn’s Law?
Martyn’s Law is a Bill that has been designed to improve the protective security and organisational preparedness across the UK by requiring, for the first time, that those responsible for certain premises and events take steps to reduce the risk of harm to individuals arising from acts of terrorism.
Those responsible will be required to implement public protection procedures and/or measures, and as such be better prepared and protected, ready to respond in the event of a terrorist attack.
What are the various threat types considered for hostile
vehicle mitigation?
Hostile vehicle mitigation addresses several threat types, including vehicular ramming, vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs), and high-speed vehicle attacks. These threats may involve vehicles intentionally used to breach security barriers, deliver explosives, or cause mass casualties. Mitigation strategies include barriers, bollards, planters, and other physical deterrents designed to stop or slow down vehicles before they reach vulnerable areas. Assessing the potential speed, weight, and tactics of the vehicle threats is crucial for implementing the most effective protection measures. Read more about Vehicle Dynamic Assessments (VDA) in our comprehensive guide.
Do I need a VDA (Vehicle Dynamic Assessment) system for hostile vehicle mitigation?
Whether you need a VDA for hostile vehicle mitigation depends on the level of security required for your site and the specific threats you aim to mitigate. If your site is at risk of vehicle-borne threats (e.g., VBIEDs or ramming attacks), a VDA system enables rapid response and improved protection. For high-risk facilities or those with critical infrastructure, integrating a VDA within HVM measures is often essential for comprehensive security.
What is PAS 68?
PAS 68 is the Publicly Available Specification for vehicle security barriers. A common misconception is that a product is either certified to PAS 68 or it is not. In fact, the PAS 68 certification covers a wide range of different rating types which vary depending on the type of vehicle and the vehicle speed specified within a test. This is varied to capture a range of different risk profiles that sites may have. Factors such as the size of the vehicle tested and the target speed at which the attacking vehicle is travelling help end users decide which PAS 68 certified product is best suited to mitigate a specific threat profile.
What is ISO 22343?
ISO 22343 is an international standard that provides guidelines for testing the performance of vehicle security barriers (VSBs). It specifies methods for evaluating how barriers respond to impact by vehicles, considering different vehicle types, speeds, and impact angles. This standard ensures consistency and reliability in assessing the effectiveness of VSBs globally.
What is the difference between ISO 22343 and PAS 68?
ISO 22343 is an international standard for vehicle security barrier testing, offering a global framework for evaluating barriers. PAS 68, on the other hand, is specific to the UK and is more widely adopted for impact testing.
Although both IWA-14 and PAS 68 have been replaced by ISO 22343 since 2023, there is no expectation or requirement to retest previously certified products to the ISO 22343 standard – they are still considered valid.
What is the difference between PAS 68 and PAS 69?
PAS 68 is a British Standard for the performance of vehicle security barriers, specifically testing their ability to withstand vehicle impacts at various speeds and weights. PAS 69 is its sister standard, which provides guidelines for the design and deployment of security barriers, focusing more on how barriers should be integrated into security measures, including installation and maintenance.