A National Safety Council poll in 2016 found drivers had lax attitudes about distracted driving in parking lots. They reported behaviors such as texting and checking social media when driving through parking lots, even though they know those behaviors are dangerous on the open road. Parking lots, however, can be full of hazards – errant shopping carts, blind spots, and distracted pedestrians, to name a few. Drivers who aren’t paying attention could cause an accident or, even worse, seriously injure a pedestrian. If an incident occurs, seeking injury consultation in Philadelphia can help. Businesses with parking lots or parking garages should be concerned about parking safety, for both visitors and employees. If employees are injured in a company parking lot, their accident is technically work-related.
Basic Safety Precautions
Improving the safety of parking lots may require an investment, but the amount of money spent on safety upgrades is likely far less than what companies could have to pay if a serious or fatal accident occurs on their property. An article in Safety and Health Magazine included these tips on parking lot design from the president of a Houston-based parking advisory firm:- Make one-way parking lanes: As a visual cue for drivers, business owners can repaint parking lines on a diagonal to show that a parking lane is one-way and/or install a “One-Way” sign. One-way lanes reduce congestion, and diagonal spaces allow drivers backing up to more easily see approaching cars.
- Install rumble strips near pedestrian areas: Drivers, especially when distracted, often ignore striped pedestrian crossings in parking lots. Speed bumps may be effective in getting drivers to slow down, but only if they are noticed – otherwise, distracted drivers may hit a speed bump and lose control of their vehicle. Rumble strips placed near pedestrian crossings are more effective at getting drivers to pay attention and slow down.
- Improve lighting: All areas of a parking lot should be well lighted. In parking garages, transitional lighting just inside the entrance helps drivers’ eyes adjust when entering a garage on a sunny day.