If the purpose was to stop nuisances, why not prevent any two people from approaching each other?

It was kept cleared to prevent anyone from approaching without warning.

He said the police had taken no action to prevent the armed men from approaching the demonstrators until the violence occurred.

In reality, the defense was strong enough to prevent the enemy from approaching the city wall throughout the campaign.

Probably it was my vanity that prevented me from approaching her.

But the yellow fever prevented the King's army from approaching the city.

You are to prevent the Falcon from approaching within weapons range the helicopter.

It prevents me from approaching the case with a bias.

Without realizing it, he was preventing Smith from approaching the house.

Palestinian police officers on the other side linked hands to prevent any Arabs from approaching.