Hostile Vehicle Mitigation for Holiday Gatherings & Special Events with the MVB3X Vehicle Barrier

As you plan meaningful holiday celebrations, parades, street fairs, and the many major events your community hosts, the safety of your guests and the public must remain front and center. A hostile vehicle attack is a real threat in today’s security environment, and traditional barricades or fixed street closures may not provide the resilience you need. 

The MVB3X Modular Vehicle Barrier System — available for purchase or rental — delivers a reliable and rapidly deployable solution for hostile vehicle mitigation, protecting crowded spaces and controlling traffic flow with confidence.

Why Hostile Vehicle Mitigation is No Longer Optional

Incidents of intentional or unintentional vehicle attacks at public events are becoming all too common. No matter the event, there’s always a looming threat of vehicles entering a secure area by breaching existing traffic barriers or drivers moving them. This is exactly why hostile vehicle mitigation is critical for holidays and special events.

The vulnerability of large public gatherings was tragically highlighted earlier this year on New Year’s Day in New Orleans, Louisiana. A driver intentionally drove a rented pickup truck at high speed into a crowd of New Year’s revelers on Bourbon Street, killing 14 people and injuring dozens. A more recent example took place in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania during the Kipona Festival, injuring three people including a child. 

This event underscores a critical truth: police departments, event organizers and municipalities need to upgrade their barriers. For holiday and special events, certified, temporary vehicle barriers are necessary to stop the full kinetic energy of a large vehicle, transforming a vulnerable pedestrian zone into a secured, hardened space. Anything less than a proven HVM solution offers only the illusion of safety.

Modern mobile vehicle barrier systems address the gaps exposed by these incidents, providing certified stopping power while maintaining the rapid deployability that dynamic event security demands. Choosing a crash tested and certified system ensures that security planning moves beyond simple traffic control to genuine life-saving protection.

MVB3X: The Smart Solution for Hostile Vehicle Mitigation

When public safety is non-negotiable, your security asset must be equal to the threat. The MVB3X Modular Vehicle Barrier System is the most trusted and adaptable solution for providing hostile vehicle mitigation at your community’s holiday celebrations and special events.

Unlike outdated options that rely on heavy machinery and cause logistical nightmares, the MVB3X is engineered for today's dynamic threat environment – delivering certified stopping power with unmatched operational efficiency.

Cities turn to the MVB3X because:

• Proven Stopping Power: The MVB3X is ASTM, PAS68 and IWA13 Crash-Tested, Certified against a 16,500lb truck. 

• Trusted: The MVB3X is US Department of Homeland Security Safety Act Designated and used by cities throughout the United States

• Reduced Deployment Costs: Lightweight units eliminate the need for large crews, cranes, or forklifts, drastically lowering labor and equipment costs.

• Fits Any Venue: The modular design adapts seamlessly to any road width, sidewalk, or complex site layout, ensuring full perimeter coverage for any event.

• Prioritizes Staff & Worker Safety: At just 53lbs per unit, there is a substantial improvement to worker safety when compared to heavy barriers which pose an inherent risk due to their weight and difficulty moving.

• Enhances Emergency Vehicle Access at Events: The integrated pivot system allows emergency vehicle access to the event perimeter in as little as 10 seconds by 1 person, a critical advantage over fixed barriers.

• Fleet Ready: Custom trailer packages can store and transport up to 10 lanes of coverage in a single unit, allowing cities to build robust, readily deployable HVM fleets.

  
  

In short: this isn’t another heavy traffic barrier — it’s a highly mobile, certified, and smart security asset for today’s dynamic events environment.

3 Reasons Why the MVB3X Stands Out Against Traditional Options

Event security planners often turn to water-filled barricades, jersey barriers, concrete blocks, or temporary fencing, but these options are heavy, slow to move, and often require machinery, anchoring, or street modifications. They can create concealment zones for active-shooter threats and offer little flexibility for emergency access.

The MVB3X overcomes these challenges:

• Adaptable and Fast: A single person can deploy or reconfigure the MVB3X in minutes, adapting to site constraints while allowing quick emergency openings.

• Enhanced Visibility: Its open-frame structure preserves visibility for staff, preventing cover for attackers while allowing clear crowd monitoring.

• Smart Security Asset: This is not just a barrier – it’s a highly mobile, certified, and intelligent security asset that delivers both the practicality demanded by Public Works and the credibility required by federal and municipal security agencies.

“We did our due diligence and the MVB3X was the best option. We utilize these for all different events in the downtown area, for community gatherings, runs and other events where we close down roadways. We put a lot of value into our vehicle barrier system.” – Captain Dan Baumann, Waukesha Wisconsin Police Department

How to Apply the MVB3X to Your Holiday & Event Plans for Hostile Vehicle Mitigation

Effectively deploying hostile vehicle mitigation strategies is a streamlined process with the MVB3X system. Follow these key steps to integrate this certified solution into your event security plan:

1. Perform a Threat & Site Assessment

Engage an MVB3X specialist early in your event planning. They will work directly with your team to perform a thorough security evaluation, assessing:

• Street layout and physical environment.

• Entry/exit flows and high-risk convergence areas.

• Critical emergency access routes and requirements.

• Total barrier quantities needed for full hostile vehicle mitigation perimeter coverage.

2. Select the Optimal System Size and Package

Advanced Security Technologies specializes in creating a custom MVB3X system built to meet your exact operational and budgetary requirements. You can also choose from standard, readily available trailer packages:

• System Options: 20, 48, 60, or 72 units.

• Coverage: Solutions cover from approximately 2.5 lanes up to 10 lanes of barrier width, ensuring scalability for any event footprint.

3. Design Rapid Emergency Access Configurations

Plan for seamless event operations and critical response times. Decide precisely where operational gates will be located to ensure emergency vehicles can enter or exit the secured area in seconds. This step is critical for maintaining event safety while protecting the perimeter.

4. Deploy & Stage Vehicle Barriers

Deploying the MVB3X is a tool and equipment free, rapid process:

1. Utilize slide wheels for smooth lateral movement of large barrier sections into place.

2. Use pivot wheels for quick vehicle gate transitions and easy assembly.

3. All deployment and staging are completed without the need for specialized machinery or tools.

5. Enhance Visibility and Aesthetics

While providing powerful security, the MVB3X can also enhance the event atmosphere. Consider adding visibility features like sequential lighting and custom branded banners to reinforce security presence while preserving the event's aesthetic appeal.

6. Plan for Turn-Down, Storage, and Future Use

After the event concludes, the modular system is easily dismantled, removed, and stored efficiently for future deployments. There are no permanent alterations to public infrastructure required, making the MVB3X the ideal investment for recurring holiday events and annual gatherings.

7. Determine Your Procurement Strategy

Speak with an MVB3X Specialist to review your expenditure options. Whether you consider building a permanent fleet package for annual events or require a short-term rental solution, our team can help you understand all procurement and grant options.

Secure Your Events Before They Begin

The safety of your holiday gatherings and special events is a matter of proactive planning, not hopeful reaction. The increasing frequency of hostile vehicle incidents means that traditional, uncertified traffic control is no longer an adequate defense.

You must choose a barrier solution that is built for today’s evolving threats, yet engineered for the rapid deployment and operational efficiency your teams require. The MVB3X Mobile Vehicle Barrier from Advanced Security Technologies is a proven, certified, and field-tested system that seamlessly integrates the highest level of Hostile Vehicle Mitigation with total operational simplicity.

Don't leave the perimeter of your next event vulnerable. Take action now to ensure your community is protected.

Ready to implement a certified HVM strategy before your next major event?

👉 Contact us today to request a custom quote or schedule a demo. We’ll walk you through barrier layouts, trailer options, configurations, and even grant support.

Let’s work together to make your special events not just memorable — but secure.

About the Author: Sal DiSalvo has spent the last 25 years working with nuclear facilities, CIP14 critical infrastructure, government departments, federal/state law enforcement agencies. Cities, venues and others to secure perimeters from terrorist incursion.  He is widely considered an expert in the field of perimeter security technology.