Parking Lot Safety

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The National Safety Council reports that over 500 deaths and 60,000 injuries occur in parking lots and that number is on the rise. They cited the primary reason as the increase in mobile devices by both pedestrians and drivers.

According to a poll from the National Security Council*, respondents said they would do the following while driving their car through a parking lot:

  • Program GPS  – 63%
  • Send or receive emails  – 50%
  • Use social media – 52%
  • Take photos or watch videos – 49%
  • Use a smartwatch  – 43%
  • Surf the Internet – 43%
  • Video chat – 42%

View the CBS video below to see the full story.

Parking Lot Safety Tips

  • Put your phone away and no earbuds. Both your eyes and your ears should be engaged to watch for traffic and listen for moving cars.
  • Be alert to your surroundings. Pedestrians should keep their eyes up and off any screens and moving to scan their surroundings like they would at a street crossing.  Drivers should be trying to scan the full 360 degrees before backing out of their space.
  • Pedestrians don’t assume that drivers can see you. More often than not the pedestrian sees the car moving before the driver will see the pedestrian walking.
  • Walking in groups is better for both general safety and for helping drivers to see you.
  • Avoid parking next to someone who is parked at an angle when possible.
  • Wear the right shoes in slippery weather to help avoid falling in the parking lot.
  • Pedestrians should not take shortcuts between cars. Drivers are typically not expecting people to appear between cars.
  • During the day it is suggested that you park further away from the building where it is less congested. At night you will want to park closer so you have less distance to walk to your car (especially if you are by yourself) and so you are closer to building lights.

While the responsibility lies with individuals to be alert and take care for both their own lives and the lives of others, there may be some products that will help to keep your parking lot safer.

Car Coming Parking Lot Alert

Be Alert Sign

Create Your Own Sign with Custom Message:

Write On Sign Board

Flex Sign

 

Parking Lot Safety Reference Links:

http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/13340-avoid-parking-lot-hazards

http://www.hsc.wvu.edu/safety/general-safety/parking-lot-safety/

*http://www.nsc.org/Connect/NSCNewsReleases/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=164