If you have been driving for any length of time, you have likely pulled into a parking lot on numerous occasions. On nearly all of those occasions, it is unlikely that you spent even a few moments considering the potential hazards that abound in a parking lot or that you considered the aspects of parking lot safety. The truth of the matter is, parking lots can be a very dangerous place, and safe parking measures aren’t always followed by everyone.
In fact, it is not unheard of for people to die in parking lots. In a ten year span, over 2,000 people met their death in a business parking lot. That statistic is quite shocking, and it highlights the importance of discussing parking lot safety tips on a more regular basis. One of the main reasons that parking lots can be so dangerous is that people often ignore the parking lot speed limits or other traffic markings and indicators.
Drivers and pedestrians should get into the habit of treating a parking lot like they do a busy intersection. They should approach it with caution and ensure that they are obeying all traffic markings. In this article, we are discussing a few parking lot safety tips that will help keep you safe, whether you are the driver of a vehicle or the pedestrian traversing the lot on foot.
There are plenty of times when you find yourself walking across a parking lot. Follow these parking lot safety tips whenever you find yourself in a parking lot on foot.
Stay Aware-Whenever you are walking in a parking lot (or anywhere else that cars typically drive), you should remain hyper-aware of your surroundings. This means you shouldn’t be looking down at your phone, and you should also avoid wearing headphones. Keep your eyes focused on what is going on around you, and make sure that you are constantly listening for the sound of approaching vehicles.
Don’t Make Assumptions-As a pedestrian, you should never assume that the driver in the vehicle can see you just because you can see them. Vehicles have blind spots. Plus, drivers may be busy looking for other cars or may be distracted, and they may not see you as you are smaller and not in their direct line of sight.
Look Both Ways-Before crossing a section of a parking lot, you should look both ways, just like you do when crossing a street. Unfortunately, many drivers disobey the parking lot speed limits, and they aren’t as vigilant in looking for pedestrians as they should be. It is up to you to ensure that you are safe by remaining hyper-vigilant while making your way across the lot.
Stay in the Open-Try to avoid doing things that make you less visible to the drivers in the parking lot. Don’t weave in between cars or suddenly step out from behind signs or poles. If you are in the parking lot with others, try to walk in as a group to make yourselves even more visible.
Hold Your Child’s Hand-If you are traveling across a parking lot with a child, you should be holding his or her hand the entire time. Children can sometimes act unpredictably, and it is easier to thwart a potential tragedy when you have a firm grip on their hand. This may be one of the most important parking lot safety tips for parents of small children.
Wear Good Shoes-Whenever you are traveling across a parking lot, it is important to have on shoes that are appropriate for the weather. This will prevent you from slipping and falling in the parking lot. Falling on the ground can make it nearly impossible for a driver to see you in many circumstances, and this can lead to devastating consequences.
Now that we have laid out the parking lot safety tips for pedestrians, it is time to delve into the parking lot safety tips for drivers. It is just as important, if not more important, for the driver to practice safe parking lot procedures.
Park Far Away-As a driver, you should try to park as far away from the facility as possible. This is a good practice for several reasons. It will keep you safely away from the majority of the car and pedestrian traffic, it will reduce the chances of errant shopping carts hitting your vehicle, and it will reduce the chances of other vehicles dinging your car door due to carelessness. The only time that this rule should be discarded is when using a parking lot at night, especially for women. It is much safer to park near the building in a well-lit area when using a parking lot at night.
Physically Look-When you are reversing out of your parking spot, do not simply rely on your backup camera. You should physically look around your car in all directions, and then consult your backup camera. Be sure that you are checking the area for other vehicles, pedestrians, and small children.
Back into Spaces-If you can do so safely, backing into a space can make it easier to be aware of your surroundings when exiting the parking lot. Your view from the front windshield is much better than your view from the back. Plus, you will better be able to check in your blind spots from a forward position.
Motorcycles Aren’t Exempt-Many people drive bikes instead of cars, and if that is you, you still need to obey all of the same traffic laws. The same parking rules apply, and you still need to be aware of your surroundings to avoid hitting pedestrians or other vehicle operators.
Don’t Speed-In most parking lots, the speed limit is either 5 or 10 miles per hour which should be obeyed at all times. There should be signs posted which alert you to the expected speed, but even if there is not, you should maintain a very slow and safe speed while driving through a parking lot.
Slow Down During Rain Showers-Just like you do on the highway, you should slow down in a parking lot when it is raining. Your visibility will not be as good as it is on a sunny day, and the rain may make the pedestrians less observant. People may attempt to dart to their car to avoid being soaked, and it may make them act in a riskier way than they would during normal conditions.
We briefly touched on the importance of parking in well-lit areas for women above, but we wanted to highlight a few other important tips especially for women. Try to avoid parking next to large vans or other vehicles where you could be hidden from view. When exiting a business, stay aware of anyone who may be following you to your vehicle, and always check in the backseat before getting in your car. Only unlock the driver’s side door when entering your vehicle to keep someone from slipping in one of the other doors. You should also always have your keys ready and avoid lingering in a parking lot even while inside your vehicle.
Freedom National wants you to stay safe at all times whether you are driving down the interstate or creeping through a parking lot. Practice parking lot safety, and you can avoid causing or being involved in a deadly parking lot accident.