How Poorly Designed Parking Lots Increase Collision Risks

When we think of a car accident most of us think of them occurring on roads and highways. We don’t usually think of parking lots as dangerous risks for car accidents.

A recent National Safety Council (NSC) report reveals that poorly designed or neglected parking lots cause multiple car accidents each year. Approximately 20 percent of annual car accidents occur in parking lots and garages. Many of these accidents are the fault of distracted drivers but also at fault is the design or conditions of the parking lot or garage. The following are some of the flaws in design which create hazards for drivers and pedestrians:

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• Poor lighting
• Overgrown trees and plants
• Blind spots
• Confusing signage
• Missing pedestrian walk areas
• Faded directional signage
• Narrow passing lanes
• Road obstructions or damage
• Hazardous weather

Stressed, hurried and distracted drivers play a major role in hazardous conditions. The NSC data reports that distracted drivers are big factors in parking lot and garage car accidents. An anonymous consumer survey they released reveals drivers admit to the following while in parking lots and garages:

• 66 percent make phone calls
• 56 percent write and send text messages
• 52percent use social media
• 50 percent read and send emails
• 53 percent engage in personal grooming
• 49 percent take photos or videos

This same study revealed that 48 percent of drivers find parking lots and garages stressful. Annually, these drivers cause approximately 500,000 accidents in parking lots, causing 500 deaths.

A Nation of Parking Lots

Parking lots and garages take up large spaces in urban areas. On average, parking spaces encompass 22 percent of urban space. Some urban areas design more parking space than others with San Bernadino, California covering 49 percent of its space with parking. Arlington, Texas has 42 percent of its city utilized by parking. Other major parking spaces can be seen in Lexington, Kentucky and Wichita, Kansas. With so much parking space it is easy to see how car accidents contribute to the national car accident numbers at high rates.

The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) reports in their latest survey that out of a sample of 480 vehicle-pedestrian crashes in parking lots, 73 percent occurred in lots utilized by retail. Shopping centers have the highest number of crashes, followed by large retailers and grocery stores.

This same study also reports that over 50 percent of the crashes occur in parking aisles, and over 20 percent along front of building roadways. Vehicles backing out of parking spaces is a factor in a third of these crashes.

Pedestrian injury in parking lots and garages are high. Although one in five crashes in parking lots are involving vehicles alone, approximately 60,000 pedestrian injuries occur annually. Slips, trips, and falls are common due to poor lighting or damaged road materials.

The same ITE survey concluded that when center walks are provided, the majority of pedestrians will disregard them and use the shortest route between their vehicle and the store entrance.

Parking lot safety is critical not only for drivers and pedestrians but property owners and management as well. Although parking lot crashes can seem minor compared to highway crashes, it remains a danger for both drivers and pedestrians.

Parking lot design significantly influences driver and pedestrian behavior and can create safe or unsafe environments. Visibility and lighting play a major role in safety but other considerations also contribute to a safe parking lot or garage.

• Layout and Traffic Flow
• Angled spaces
• Clear and Effective signage
• Speed limits
• Crosswalks
• Pavement markings

The design of parking lots influence the speed which drivers use. Wide lanes and straight routes encourage faster driving. Poor or unclear signage leads to distracted driving as drivers attempt to navigate while in motion. A lack of pedestrian crosswalks or barriers contributes to an unsafe environment for both pedestrian and driver.

A badly-designed parking lot which include blind spots and confusing right of way issues are major problems for parking lot ownership and the people who utilize them. Regular inspection and repair is critical in maintaining safe parking environments. Inclement weather plans should also be in place and utilized by property ownership and management.

Aggressive driving encompasses more than tailgating and speeding. Aggressive driving also includes: Failure to use signals, failure to yield, inattention and other distracting behavior. You can encounter aggressive driving in parking lots and garages with the same frequency you encounter them on roadways and highways.

Driving is considered a goal-oriented activity. It also provokes more anger than other activities. Incivility is common and produces the same amount of danger as the parking lot itself. Incidents which can trigger an angry driver include pedestrians walking in front of them or walking too slow, their perception that they have the right of way, a “stolen” parking space. Poor design or unkempt parking lots or garages can increase aggressive driving.

What Happens If You Are Involved In A Parking Lot Accident?

It may be inevitable that we experience at least one car accident in our lifetime. Accidents are the risk we take when driving and walking does not lower our risk for being involved in a car accident.

Who is at fault in a parking lot accident? It depends and is not always clear. If you are involved in a parking lot accident you may need to contact a car accident lawyer. Such incidences where a pedestrian is hit while in a crosswalk is straightforward but what if an accident occurs when two drivers are entering a parking space at the same time?

If you are involved in an accident, is the owner of the parking lot liable? Were there parking lot flaws which contributed to the accident? This is where an experienced car accident lawyer like the attorneys at Thomas Law Offices can be invaluable to you. Wether you are another driver or a pedestrian, the same steps you need to take if the accident were on a roadway or highway apply in the case of parking lot accidents. Unforeseen expenses related to your accident may occur afterward and contacting a lawyer can save you financial or medical hardship .