Oh I see. That clarifies things for me... not at all.
Next question: why are pedestrians walking down a bus driveway?
Next question: where are the drivers trying to get to, down a bus driveway?

So...these pillars prevent cars from driving on the fucking sidewalk ???

We don't have that problem here in the USA, so I'm trying to understand.

Ahh, gotcha. I'm hoping thats humor, because I'd rather not see a smashed up child.

Correction: smashed up traffic offender.

No correction needed, the kids of a dumbass parent shouldn't have to suffer for their screw-ups. Same goes for another adult passenger unrelated to the driving idiot.

If these drivers were trying to cheat the system, that would mean that they knew the system in the first place. If they knew the system in the first place, they would have known that you can't cheat it. It's just too damn fast. That's why I think it's confusion and not malice that leads to their actions, and I think these devices are far too violent in this situation.

The driver of the first car is the only one who deserves some real blame. He saw the barricades initially, backed up to let the bus by, and then tried a second time. The other drivers couldn't see the barricades, because they were hidden from view by the buses/vans in front of them. One foolishly tried to speed up to miss the barricade and failed, the other didn't see it at all until it was too late.

I've driven in foreign countries, and it can be confusing. When you are in an urban area, and there is a hustle and bustle, it's easy to get overwhelmed to the point that you don't see a round sign with a bar in it. In fact, I've been a passenger in cars on three occasions where the car entered a pedestrian only zone because the signs weren't clear. Luckily, it wasn't at this place. On two of the occasions, we left the zone without getting caught, and the third we got a ticket.

My point is that the drivers were obviously confused. Nobody would ever intentionally do this to themselves.

You make some good points, but I do know drivers that would do this. My mother to name one, at least I think she would, there's always a chance she wouldn't.

Though I do know if she tried and failed one time, she wouldn't do it again. Even while intentionally knowing the possible consequences before trying. Yeah she is a bit of a bad driver I do believe.

I don't think it's pedestrianised. I agree that it's controlled, but it's not pedestrianised. Look at the first several frames of the movie, showing the street in question. There is a passenger car double parked next to three or four other passenger cars that are apparently legally parked in street spots in the "pedestrian zone." If it was a pedestrian zone, those cars wouldn't be there.

It could be unmarked police vehicles or some other type of official vehicle. That's just a guess though, but it could be true.

I think the first (?) car was consciously trying to beat the system. See how it swerves to the driver's right and the pole gets it in the middle of the car? It seems (s)he was trying to use the clearance in the middle of the car, hoping for enough time to clear it.

Maybe. But you have to admit it's a little confusing. I bet they get lots of tourists with those barricades. Maybe the local auto body shop lobby was able to get them installed to increase sales.

There are similar things in front of the Capitol.

(edited from White House - they may be there too, but it was the Capitol ones I was remembering.)

Haha, that would be something would it.

"Get caught by those pesky <insert general name of the car stopping tool>? Come to us and we'll fix your damages at a discounted rate!"

yah I was joking. I'm bad about that.

I'd actually like to see something involving C4 and knives.