Driver safety does not stop in the parking lot. In fact, drivers should be even more vigilant of their surroundings while operating their vehicle in a parking lot. Following parking safety strategies and reverse parking into your space could potentially save lives.
Parking Lot Accidents Are the Top Cause of Fleet Vehicle Damage
Research shows that parking lots are hazardous places. Parking lot accidents are the most common cause of fleet vehicle damage, according to PHH Arval research. Parking lot collisions represent a significant percentage of total accidents. Recent numbers by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) show that 20% of all vehicle accidents happen in parking lots.
Parking Safety Tips
The following strategies for safe parking have been compiled from industry sites and insurance providers.
- Stay alert and scan the area. Use your mirrors or rear-view cameras.
- Look for pedestrians.
- Drive slow. Obey posted speed limits and signs.
- Wear your seat belt.
- When parking, keep distance between your vehicle and others.
- Reverse park into the parking space.
Reverse Parking Could Save a Life
Parking in reverse is a simple way to reduce the risk of accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that “267 people are killed and 15,000 injured each year by drivers who back into them, usually in driveways or parking lots.” Unfortunately, most often it is children and elderly people who are killed in backover crashes.
By reverse parking, you avoid backing out blindly into oncoming traffic or into the path of pedestrians.
Misconceptions about Reverse Parking
Myth #1: Reverse parking disrupts traffic.
While reverse parking may disrupt traffic flow, it is arguable that backing out of parking space also disrupts traffic and might be more dangerous.
Myth #2: Reverse parking is less safe.
Parking lots are full of pedestrians, and therefore the probability of injury is high. Reverse parking is about making the environment safer when the driver leaves the parking space. When reverse parking, a driver is going into a known space with no vehicle and pedestrian traffic. When leaving the parking space, the driver is able to see the surroundings more clearly.
On the other hand, backing out of parking space means going out into unknown and changing traffic. A driver’s view is further hindered by the cars parked next to it. The other cars are directly in the driver’s blind spots.
How to Monitor Reverse Parking with Telematics
Many companies have now made it a point to incorporate reverse parking into their corporate culture policies. This not only improves driver safety but it can also improve their bottom line.
With telematics, companies can monitor whether their drivers are following set policies. In MyGeotab, fleet managers can set up a safety rule for backing up when leaving. The rule identifies drivers who back out their vehicles when leaving a location. It’s also possible to set up a notification for when the rule is broken, either by email, popup or beep warning.
Read more about preventing avoidable accidents with reverse detection.
A fender-bender in a parking lot can cause time and money lost in out-of-service vehicles, filing insurance claims, and repairing damages. It makes sense for companies to monitor parking closely to increase fleet safety and reduce fleet costs.
Author: Jad Bucktowar, Bilingual Technical Services Engineer – GEOTAB Inc.
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