There are many dangers on the road and parking lots are just as dangerous. In fact, the National Safety Council found that 1 in 5 accidents happen in a parking lot. They also found that 60,000 people are injured and 500 or more die in the 50,000 car crashes that happen in parking lots. That is why it is important to stay as safe as possible, even when you pull off the road and into a parking lot. You can put some very simple parking lot safety tips into action and protect yourself and others from injury.
You will be safer when you utilize the best parking lot safety tips that are meant to prevent you from becoming a driving statistic.
Minimize Distractions
The most dangerous thing you can do whenever you’re behind the wheel is getting distracted. Distractions cause many different accidents and sadly are the cause of many car-related deaths. People are changing the song, programming GPS, making phone calls, and even texting in parking lots. Parking lots have cars constantly coming and going. There are no stoplights, stop signs are missing, and road markers are fading. You must pay attention to everything that is going on until your car is turned off. You should also not put your car into drive or reverse until after you have settled your radio and GPS.
Active Attention
Cutting distractions is one thing but making sure you’re paying attention is a different story. You should drive with caution in parking lots. Look for people crossing the street, cars pulling out, runaway carts, and anything else you might find in a parking lot. Entering a space, leaving a space, looking for a spot, dropping off a passenger or picking them up, you should always be paying active attention. You should also not rely solely on your car’s backup camera.
Staying in the Light
Parking lot safety tips are not just about avoiding accidents. You have seen a sign in a parking lot that says something like, “We are not responsible for the loss or damage of any property left behind in this parking garage.” These signs are there to let you know that theft happens and it is not the owner of the lot’s fault. You must protect yourself and anything you leave behind in your car. The first and most important thing is that you park in a well-lit area. This is a deterrent because it makes it harder for people to quickly hide.
Parking Lot Safety Tips for Theft
You have even more options to protect yourself as well. The closer to the building you park the safer your car might be. But that is still no guarantee. Instead, you should not have any visible items in your car. Keep your car as clean as possible and leave everything either at home, in the trunk, or carry it with you. Most thieves will peek inside to see if there is anything worth taking the risk for. Even something as small as a backpack could be reason enough for someone to break into your car.
Obey All Signs
There is not a single time while you are behind the wheel that you don’t have to follow the signs and rules of the road. Never drive down an up lane or vice versa and always obey stop signs. There is no reason to speed through a parking lot or go in the opposite direction. The most important of all of the parking lot safety tips is to just obey the law. The speed limit is 15 mph in a California parking lot. You can easily stop going at that speed if need be and that is why it is the law. You will be a better driver, a safer driver if you just follow the rules.
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