Pavement parking solution? Device could stop nuisance parkers and even terrorists
AN INVENTOR believes he has made a device that could stop terrorists in their tracks when they try to mount the kerb and also deter pavement parking.
CatClaw inventor claims device could stop terror attacks and pavement parking
An inventor has created a device which he claims could dramatically reduce the threat of terror attacks involving vehicles and also stop those parking on pavements.
Yannick Read, from the Environmental Transport Association (ETA), has created the CatClaw which punctures a vehicle’s tyre when it is driven over.
Mr Read was inspired to create the device after he saw footage of terrorists mounting the pavements to attack people during the Westminster and London Bridge tragedies.
The small device takes just three minutes to install to payments and costs a few pounds to manufacture.
Since the London terorr attacks huge barriers have been erected to act as a barrier between the road and pedestrians using the pavement.
These barriers are just one line of defence and a short term solution.
CatClaw, is the size of half a small orange and thousands could be installed across pavements in Britain.
The pressure sensitive device punctures a cars tyre when it is driven over
When it is driven over a sharp steel tube is exposed which quickly punctures the tyre.
I invented CatClaw to reduce this type of terror as much as to tackle politically-motivated attacks
According to the ETA, the devices pose no threat to pedestrians, as a person standing over it would not be heavy enough to activate it.
Yannick, from Kingston, London, said: “43 people were killed last year by cars and lorries as they walked along a pavement or verge, so I invented CatClaw to reduce this type of terror as much as to tackle politically-motivated attacks.
“In order to prevent terror attacks at certain locations, physical obstructions such as steel bollards or concrete blocks are the only practicable counter-measure, but it is not feasible or desirable to install these everywhere.”
The device could also act as a deterrent for pavement parking
“The car used to attack pedestrians on Westminster Bridge in March 2017 would have been rendered effectively undriveable had all its tyres been punctured when it first mounted the pavement,” Yannick said.
“The driver would not have attained the high speeds he used to such devastating effect.”
These secondary line defence devices could also be used to tackle the growing problem of pavement parking in the UK.
Installing these onto kerbs near schools or in busy areas, notorious for selfish parkers, could be a deterrent to stop motorists.