Avoiding the Peril that Lurks in Parking Lots

Written by Judy Bortman

Next time you pull into a shopping center to do an errand, ask yourself about the most "stressful" part of your outing. Was it navigating the parking lot? Did you have a close encounter with a car or pedestrian while getting to and from the store entrance? 

Parking lot peril is a real and growing concern. And there's data to prove it. Recently Nationwide Insurance claims data revealed that 13% of automobile accidents occur in parking lots where distractions abound. A 2014 New Jersey study showed that distracted drivers caused nearly half of the 1.4 million crashes that occurred in our State during the last ten years. Tragically, 1,600 people were killed by inattentive motorists.

"I don't get no respect!"

Parking lots are a growing danger zone and yet most people ignore them. Comedian Rodney Dangerfield often said, "I don’t get no respect." Perhaps it’s time we start respecting parking lots. We know that they are busy places where the unexpected can occur. And often does. But do we pass through those shared road/walk areas with more caution? Usually not.

I began to wonder if awareness of parking lot peril was increasing and found it was popping up on radar screens nationwide. Last November, in time for holiday shopping, a safety campaign called HeadsUp in Parking Lots was launched as a collaboration between government, property owners and retailers in Montgomery County, Maryland, (near Washington, D.C.) to address a 50% increase in parking lot collisions that occurred in the last five years. A startling one-third of Montgomery County pedestrian accidents occurred in parking lots and garages resulting in 300 people being injured, 100 of them seriously. Perhaps not surprisingly, 80% were the fault of motorists.

But how can we address the problem?

A resourceful parent in Michigan created Parking Pal as an antidote to manage the stress and safety concerns she faced in parking lots during shopping trips with her three young children. Parking Pal is a colorful magnet  with a handprint showing children where to place their hand to stand safely in place while the adult is loading or unloading the vehicle or momentarily occupied otherwise. Parking Pal has earned rave reviews from parents for helping to avoid to a potentially dangerous situation. 

Another peril-reducing parking lot strategy is to park farther away from a store rather than waiting for a closer space by the entrance. You'll park more quickly, free up traffic and get a bit more exercise from walking a few more steps. Even better is finding a parking space where you can "pull through" and exit the space by driving forward. 

Parking lot peril can occur even without being on a cell phone or driving a vehicle.  Have you ever parked your car in a shopping center or at an office complex and had trouble finding it again? Suddenly you’re transformed into a distracted pedestrian who's wandering between rows of parked cars searching what seems like endlessly for your vehicle. Some easy solutions help reduce your peril.

If you have a smart phone, try taking a picture of the sign identifying the row where you've parked. A simpler option is to make a mental note of a landmark or a parking lot sign nearby before leaving your car – or better yet, write it down.

"Hey, didn't we come in over there?"

Common sense tells us that a parking lot is neither a speedway nor a sidewalk. It's a  shared area where motorists and pedestrians just need to slow down, be alert and stay off of cell phones. But do we?

It's has been said that the best defense is a strong offense. Who ever thought that would apply to parking lots?

If you think your office could benefit from a lunch and learn session on distracted driving, let us know. We're happy to come in and tailor our message to your group. Share your stories of parking lot peril below!