If you have ever been to Target, you’ve probably wondered about the unusually large red balls outside the store.
Why does Target have the big red balls? You know the ones that we are talking about. They are not made to be played on. No one seems to know why they are even there in the first place.
Fortunately, after a bit of research, we have learned that these balls are not balls at all. They are actually known as bollards. These bollards are utilized for safety purposes, which is something that we did not know about. It is amazing what you can learn from one simple Internet search. It’s one of those things that we wish we had looked up earlier.
These bollards are present at Wal-Mart, too. The only difference is that they are long and yellow there, which is much less jarring for the average person. The bollards at Target weigh two tons apiece, so they cannot be moved. They are placed by the store as a means of keeping shoppers safe.
Cars are unable to make their way over these barriers and into the store. While it is the type of thing that is not likely to happen, that does not mean that the bollards should not be used.
If you have ever wondered what would happen if you decided to drive over the red balls, one lady tried it and you will have to watch the video below for yourself.
We are not sure why someone would choose to do something this silly but here we are. According to CBS 17, an estimated 60 vehicles crash into commercial establishments on a daily basis. This is something that we would not have believed until we saw the numbers.
No wonder so many stores are looking to protect themselves from these types of issues. Storefront incidents like these are better off being avoided. At least we had the chance to learn something new today.