Every day in the United States, vehicles crash into commercial buildings more than 100 times. According to the Storefront Safety Council, these incidents cause approximately 16,000 injuries and 2,600 deaths each year. Roughly 24% of these crashes happen at retail stores, and about 42% involve at least one injury. The numbers are sobering, and they point to a risk that too many business owners overlook until it’s too late.
The good news is that vehicle-into-building crashes are largely preventable. With the right combination of physical barriers, thoughtful site design, and code compliance, you can protect your customers, your employees, and your property. Read more below!
Why Storefronts Are Vulnerable
Most storefront crashes are not the result of intentional acts. They typically stem from driver error—pressing the accelerator instead of the brake, losing control at low speeds, or medical emergencies behind the wheel. Parking lots that face directly toward entrances create a straight path for a vehicle to travel from a parking space into the building.
Retail environments carry added exposure. High foot traffic near entrances, glass storefronts, and open sidewalks all increase the potential for injury when a vehicle leaves its intended path.
Install Bollards for Reliable Protection
Bollards are among the most effective and widely trusted defenses against vehicular impact. These sturdy vertical posts are installed in front of entrances, walkways, and storefront glass to stop or slow an approaching vehicle.
Choosing the Right Bollard
For genuine impact resistance, select bollards rated to recognized crash-test standards, such as ASTM F3016, which evaluates performance at low speeds common to parking lots. Proper installation matters just as much as the product itself—footing depth and spacing determine whether a bollard will actually stop a vehicle.
Reinforce Entrances with Physical Barriers
Bollards are not your only option. A layered approach that combines multiple barriers provides the strongest protection.
Reinforced planters
Heavy concrete or steel planters double as landscaping and impact barriers.
Concrete curbs and wheel stops
These help redirect vehicles, though they should not be relied on as a sole defense.
Steel guardrails
Effective along perimeters and drive-up lanes where vehicles travel at higher speeds.
Use Clear Signage and Markings
Signage supports safe driver behavior and reinforces your physical protections. These types of signage include directional, stop-and-yield, high-visibility, and speed-limit signs.
While signage alone cannot stop a vehicle, it plays an important role in preventing the driver errors that lead to crashes in the first place.
If a Car Does Crash Into Your Storefront, Be Prepared:
Shattered glass, and a broken entrance isn’t going to fix itself. At Boston Board Up, our team provides emergency board up services 24/7. To view our past board up services, click here.
Need an Emergency Board-up Service? Contact Boston Board Up Today!
Visit us on our website or call 800-949-9113.
