5 Tips for Staying Safe in Busy Parking Lots
Parking in a busy parking lot can be a nightmare. In crowded areas like malls and shopping centers, finding a parking space can be a challenge filled with road rage, frustration, and even the risk of accidents. That’s why it is highly recommended that you keep some important things in mind to ensure your safety as well as the safety of others around you.
Here are 5 tips for staying safe in busy parking lots:
1. Be Patient
This is the most important thing. Give yourself ample time to find a parking space, particularly in a crowded parking lot. If you rush the process, stress and panic will set in, prompting you to become enraged, drive erratically, or take bigger risks, all of which greatly increase the likelihood of an accident. If you stay patient, you will have better control of your emotions and you will make informed decisions. This will help you stay safe in a busy parking lot.
2. Obey the Posted Speed Limits
When you are driving through a crowded parking lot, it is recommended that you obey the posted speed limits. This will help you stay safe as driving too fast can leave you susceptible to accidents with cars that back out suddenly, or pedestrians who are getting out from their cars, eager to enter the shopping mall. Obeying the posted speed limits will give you a chance to come to an instant stop when faced with an imminent collision.
3. Avoid Parking Next to Poorly Parked Cars
Don’t park next to poorly parked cars as they prevent you from parking properly, leaving you susceptible to scrapes and bumps with other vehicles that later park alongside you. Avoiding obstacles in busy parking spaces is also helpful. These may include shopping carts that can make their way into your car’s side panels, causing potentially expensive and unsightly damage.
4. Pay Attention to Your Surroundings
Before you get out of your car, it is highly recommended that you scan the area. Pay attention to your surroundings and watch out for anything that looks strange. Furthermore, keep an eye on the pavement and watch for potholes or elevation changes that could cause you to slip and fall. If you find something strange or suspicious, consider asking the parking lot security or staff for assistance. It is also recommended that you avoid using your phone until you are safely in the shopping mall or your vehicle. Distracted shoppers are easy targets.
5. Back Out of the Space Carefully
When you are backing out of a space, it is recommended that you proceed with caution and make sure that you have a clear picture of what’s behind you, and that other vehicles and pedestrians can see you as well. Sometimes it can be difficult to clearly see what’s behind you, particularly in tight spaces in a busy parking lot. Proceeding with caution and backing out slowly will reduce the likelihood of crashing into a car that didn’t see you or you didn’t see, and of striking a pedestrian passing behind as you try to move out.
Crowded parking lots can be tricky to maneuver. Hopefully, the tips mentioned above will help you stay safe while navigating through one.
Dib’s Safe & Lock Service in San Bernardino is a locally-owned, family run business with over 90 years experience proudly offering lock, safe, and key, services to residential and business customers in San Bernardino County, Riverside, and the surrounding areas in Inland Empire. If you have questions changing door locks, or lock and key service of any type, give Dib’s a call today at (909) 885-0452.