If you want to improve the security of your home and car at the same time, driveway bollards are one of your best options. Driveway security posts have a number of benefits which are why they’ve seen a big increase in popularity in recent years, from businesses and households looking to combat the huge issue of theft the UK is victim to.
Installing a driveway bollard isn’t quite as simple or cheap as installing inexpensive wireless security cameras though. They can easily cost hundreds of pounds and cost quite a bit to get installed, so it’s important to understand whether driveway bollards actually work, as well as if they are worth the investment for you. Today, we’re going to take a look into the world of security posts and driveway bollards, and answer your burning question: Are driveway bollards effective?
The simple answer is yes, bollards are extremely effective for securing your driveway and can be one of the most cost effective ways to properly secure your vehicle. Here’s why.
Driveway Bollards are a Great Deterrent
Firstly, driveway bollards act as a big deterrent against would-be car thieves. Having a large metal post secured deep in the ground makes it way more difficult for someone to drive off with your car, even if the car is susceptible to relay theft. If you’ve got one, or more, of these posts installed on your driveway it’s immediately obvious, even from a distance, that you are not an easy target and are likely to have lots of other security measures in place too. It’s a clear signal which gives off the message of “I know what I’m doing, alright. Don’t even try and take my stuff”.
Do I Need to Install a Security Post?
It’s difficult to find conclusive statistics, but from what we’ve learned over the years, the most common types of car theft are on cars which are easy for criminals to steal. Check this list out to see if you might be a prime target:
- Unlocked Doors – greatly increases chance of car being taken / contents stolen
- Keyless Entry (Many models are easy to steal without access to the key)
- Your Car can be easily driven away – cars which aren’t blocked in by other vehicles, or secured by a metal post make easy pickings for car thieves.
- Your Car is High value – Vehicles which fetch higher prices and are more desirable are bigger targets to thieves than cheaper, less luxurious vehicles. Examples of prime targets include: Mercedes, Range Rovers, BMWs, Audis and Porsches.
- Your Vehicle is Popular – If you own a vehicle in high demand, such as a transit van or other work vehicle, be very careful with where you leave it overnight and how well it’s secured. Vans make prime targets for thieves, as they are perfect for using to commit more crime and easily blend in with other traffic, making a stolen one very hard to spot or recover.
You might have just read that list in horror. There’s a good chance you might own a luxury vehicle, which comes fitted with keyless entry, and is parked on a driveway which is unsecured. If you’re in a worst-case scenario such as this, you should definitely consider installing Driveway bollards, as well as take a look at some other precautionary measures too, such as getting a ghost immobiliser fitted and buying a cheap faraday bag to store your keys in.
Spending a couple of hundred pounds to secure a prized vehicle worth far more than that is definitely a worthwhile investment, just try to get a post which is mounted deep into the ground as opposed to one which just bolts to the surface if you can. That leads us nicely into our second benefit of having driveway bollards installed, which you may not have even considered.
Driveway Bollards Protect You Against Ram Raids
If you’re a homeowner, this might not be quite as applicable, but as a business owner, protecting the valuable assets stored on your premises is a must. Whether it’s fancy machinery or cash, desperate thieves are more than willing to ram raid a property to get valuable products at your expense.
By installing a few bollards in front of sensitive areas susceptible to a Ram Raid, you are significantly reducing the chances of being an easy target – thieves tend to go for easy money and go around the area looking for prime opportunities – having large metal security posts fitted between your property and the road is a great way to put even the most dedicated thieves off.
They Come in a Range of Designs to Suit Your Needs
luckily, there are a number of different security bollard designs which can be worth installing. The main types which most people opt for are telescopic bollards, such as this, which are manually raised and lowered. When you need to let a vehicle in or out, the bollard remains out of the way underground, and then pull it back up to secure the space or vehicle.
These bollards are highly popular and can a great, inexpensive way to install security posts discreetly, especially when compared to some of the more premium options such as electrically controlled bollards. It’s worth bearing in mind that to install a telescopic pole properly on a driveway, you may need to remove some bricks from your driveway and dig a surprisingly deep hole underground.
If you don’t have the right tools on hand to sort this out yourself, it’s worth speaking to a local installer who will get the job done properly.
Telescopic poles are ideal for most car security purposes, but they aren’t always the best option. If there is wiring, pipes or a high water table beneath the spot you want to install it, you may encounter issues and want to look into a different type of bollard.
Planning Permission
You don’t need planning permission to install a bollard or security post on your driveway, assuming it is your own private land. If you wish to install one in a shared car park, it’s worth trying to speak to the landlords or whoever is responsible for this area. They are unlikely to have a problem with it, assuming it is safe to install and the work done is reversible.
Are Driveway Bollards Effective?
Yes, driveway bollards are effective for securing both vehicles and property. They also act as a great deterrent, reducing your chances of being targeted for theft. It’s important to note that for any bollards to work effectively, they do need to be installed securely and placed well.
What Is The Cheapest Driveway Bollard?
If you’re on a budget, the cheapest type of security post / bollard to buy and install is a “fold down” bollard. Their main downside is that some cheaper posts are easier to remove or break. Fold down bollards can cost as little as around £50 and are relatively inexpensive to install, depending on whether or not you opt so secure it deep into the ground.
What Is The Best Driveway Security Post?
If money isn’t a concern, the best bollards on the market can be remote operated, sit discreetly underground (when down) and are made from much stronger materials than many budget options. Check out Intellipost if you’re looking for a premium option for protecting high end vehicles, but be prepared to potentially spend upwards of £1000.
Do Bollards Deter Thieves?
Without a doubt, yes. Having an almost immovable object between your car and the road makes it considerably more difficult for thieves to take your vehicle, even if they manage to break in and start the car.
How High Should a Bollard Be?
The minimum height of an effective security post is dependent both on the vehicles you own and how well secured the bollard is – when a post is tall and thin, it can be broken more easily with leverage than a shorter, stumpier post. Ideally opt for a post which is around 1.5ft tall or more, so it’s very challenging for someone to brute their way over it.