One would think a car filled, bumper-to-bumper highway would be the most dangerous place for drivers to be during the holiday season, but no, crowded parking lots lead the list.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) has warned there are increased hazards of parking lot traffic during the holidays. Nationwide there are over 50,000 accidents in parking lots and garages resulting in 60,000 injuries and over 500 deaths. In fact. almost 20 percent of all accidents involving vehicles taking place where most might think driving 5 mph or less would lead to safer conditions.
Inattention is to blame for many of the accidents. According to CBS News, 66 percent of people surveyed think a parking lot is a safe place to use their cell phones to call, text, or video chat.
Last year there were 51 deaths in parking lots due strictly to people backing out of parking spots and not seeing the person walking behind them. AAA said backing into a parking spot is the safest way to park.
It is up to both those walking and those driving to pay extra attention while using parking lots this holiday season.
In a normal week in South Lake Tahoe there are two to three “Hit and Run” calls to the police department. Many of those calls are from owners of vehicles who call when their car has been hit or dented in a parking lot and the culprit has left the scene.
Here are some tips for parking lot safety before you start your holiday shopping:
Do not text or talk on the phone while looking for a space to park or when driving out. While it can be tempting to multi-task, don’t. It unnecessarily increases the risk of a parking lot accident, whether with another vehicle or even worse, a pedestrian.
Start shopping earlier in the season. This helps you avoid the last-minute rush, when many holiday accidents occur. Also consider shopping online, so you can spend your time going to festive events, rather than the mall. An added bonus is that many stores offer free shipping around the holidays, so save the stress and fuel and order from home.
Consider taking time off from work to shop. Doing so lets you get your shopping done during less busy hours. This may not only reduce the likelihood of an accident, but will also reduce your holiday season stress levels. There is a better chance that 10 a.m. Tuesday morning will be less busy than 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
Find more walkable shopping areas. Seek out shopping areas where you can park your car and walk to various shops. Doing this allows you to get more shopping done in a single trip compared to driving from shop to shop and also reduces the number of times you have to look for a parking spot. Speaking of which…
Don’t argue over a parking space. This is where patience helps. Don’t race across a parking lot to get an open space. Parking lots are filled with pedestrians crossing in between cars randomly, as well as other cars backing out. Also, should you arrive at a space and another person tries to pull in, even if you were there first, it’s not worth the added stress of an argument. Allow the other driver to take the space, and look for another.
See and be seen. Use your headlights when scouring parking garages for spaces, even in the daytime. The light will let other cars see you coming around turns and can make fitting into that tight parking space a little easier. Research shows that keeping vehicle headlights on reduces crash risks, even during daylight hours.
Beware of tall vehicles. Avoid parking between a pair of tall SUVs or minivans where it might be hard for you to back out of the space. If you can’t see well enough to back out safely, get help from one of your passengers.
Look out for little ones. It can be difficult to see small children in busy parking lots. Be aware of your surroundings and look for children, who may make quick, unpredictable movements. When walking to and from stores, hold the hands of your children to keep them safe from traffic.
Stay on track and alert. Pedestrians should use walkways and crosswalks, if available. If walking in the traffic lanes is unavoidable, be alert for subtle cues – including exhaust or reverse lights – that signal a vehicle is about to pull out.
Make sure you have your keys before locking the car door. Every year on the weekend after Thanksgiving, AAA technicians stay very busy helping members who are stranded because they are locked out of their cars.
Thieves like to window shop. Lock your car! Place all shopping bags and valuables in the trunk, including the GPS and its mount, so they won’t be visible to would-be thieves. Remove any evidence, such as GPS suction cup marks from the vehicle’s windshield. It takes a thief just seconds to smash a window and steal your shopping loot.
Stay on guard in parking lots. Choose a well-lighted area to park at night. When returning to your vehicle, have keys ready in hand and check the car’s interior before entering, using a keychain flashlight or even an I-Phone APP.
Slow down, buckle up. Even a low-speed collision can result in injuries. Make sure that everyone is strapped in a seat belt or child safety seat while the vehicle is in motion, even if it is just a short trip to another part of the parking lot.