When you think about where car accidents usually happen, you probably think of fast-moving traffic on the freeway, busy urban streets, or badly-lit rural roads. It might shock you to know that many accidents happen off public roads, in the commonly used, low-speed surroundings of parking lots and garages.
Parking lots are an essential destination in our daily lives, whether running errands, going to work, or shopping. While parking lot crashes may not involve high speeds, they can still be dangerous and cause significant damage to vehicles and injuries to people. Join us as we review the ten most eye-opening facts about parking lot accidents and share some helpful tips to avoid crashes when parking.
20% OF ALL CAR ACCIDENTS HAPPEN IN PARKING LOTS
With the average American spending up to 17 hours a year looking for parking, it is perhaps unsurprising that one in five car crashes occur in parking lots and garages, according to data from the National Safety Council (NSC). Looking for parking can be inconvenient and cause drivers to become frustrated and take risky maneuvers, which increases the chances of being involved in an accident.
60,000 PEOPLE ARE INJURED EVERY YEAR IN PARKING LOT ACCIDENTS
Drivers and pedestrians often feel a false sense of security and safety in parking lots. The reality is that crashes, even at low speeds, can injure people. According to the NSC, the average number of people injured annually in parking lot accidents is approximately 60,000. To put in perspective, 165 Americans are injured daily in parking lots.
AN ESTIMATED 500 PEOPLE DIE EVERY YEAR IN PARKING LOT ACCIDENTS
Although most drivers tend to drive slowly in parking lots and garages, the consequences of driver distraction and other driving errors can prove fatal. Data from the NSC confirms that in an average year, more than 500 people die in parking lot accidents.
BACKING UP IS THE NUMBER ONE (91%) CAUSE OF PARKING LOT COLLISIONS
Many drivers shun reverse parking (backing into a space so you can drive forward out of it when leaving) because it is more complicated and time-consuming than forward parking. Unfortunately, the consequence of this preference is that backing up out of a parking spot carries a high risk of collision due to restricted visibility. According to the American Automobile Association, 91% of all parking lot incidents were due to backing up.
BACKUP INCIDENTS CAUSE 9% OF PEDESTRIAN DEATHS IN PARKING LOTS
People coming and going from their cars can be distracted and often pay no attention to oncoming traffic or vehicles pulling out of parking spots. The NSC estimates 9% of pedestrian parking lot deaths occur while a car reverses, as drivers have limited visibility performing this maneuver and may overly rely on technology to flag any obstacles.
66% OF DRIVERS MAKE PHONE CALLS WHILE DRIVING THROUGH PARKING LOTS
Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of car crashes in parking lots. A recent poll by the NSC showed that a whopping two-thirds of drivers admit to talking on their phones while looking for a parking spot. Alarmingly, a high number of respondents confessed to other distracting activities while driving, such as:
- Programming GPS systems (63%)
- Texting (56%)
- Using social media (52%)
- Sending or receiving emails (50%)
- Taking photos or watching videos (49%)
DRIVER LIABILITY FOR PARKING LOT CRASHES IS NOT ALWAYS SPLIT 50/50
A common misconception is that when two vehicles collide in a parking lot, the responsibility is split equally between drivers. However, this would only be the case if both cars backed out onto each other, with each vehicle damaging the rear end.
A driver would generally be assigned 100% of the liability when pulling out of a parking spot if they failed to give right of way to cars traveling straight in a lane in the main section of the parking lot or if they crashed into a stationary vehicle.
67% OF CHILD PEDESTRIANS AGED 2-10 YEARS IN PARKING LOTS ARE UNSUPERVISED
A 2019 study by the University of Alabama at Birmingham revealed that children are particularly vulnerable to injury and death in parking lots. Researchers observed that two-thirds of children aged ten years and younger were not adequately supervised, with 50% of children exiting a parked vehicle before an adult. Many of the adults and children in the study failed to maintain basic safety standards, such as looking out for moving cars.
REAR PARKING TECHNOLOGY REDUCES THE RISK OF COLLISION BY 78%
Research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) aimed at reducing parking lot accidents showed that the combination of a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, and a rear autobrake reduces backing crashes by 78%.
A LOW-SPEED PARKING LOT COLLISION CAN CAUSE DAMAGES OF UP TO $3,500
The IIHS conducted four low-speed demonstration tests with and without rear autobrake to mimic typical parking lot crashes: a Cadillac XT5 SUV backed into a pole, and a Subaru Outback reversed into a Chevrolet Cruze. The rear parking technology prevented a collision in both instances. However, without it, the Cadillac XT5 SUV needed an estimated $3,477 in repairs after backing into the pole and the combined damages of the collision between the Subaru Outback and Chevrolet Cruze came to $1,899.
COMMON TIPS TO AVOID PARKING LOT CRASHES
A recent survey confirmed that 48% of drivers find parking stressful. Knowing how to protect yourself, your vehicle, and pedestrians will make it a far more pleasant experience. Follow our top tips to avoid parking lot accidents:
- Pay attention to signage and obey parking lot speed limits, stop signs, crosswalks, and no-parking signs.
- Scan the area and look out for pedestrians. Be prepared for pedestrians to appear between cars or for children to run out unexpectedly.
- Drive slowly. The NSC recommends driving no more than 10mph.
- Do not multi-task, including talking on a phone, texting, eating, or smoking while driving.
- Reverse park into the parking space. This positioning will enable you to see your surroundings more clearly when pulling out and join the traffic flow in a more controlled manner.
- Distance yourself. If possible, park away from other vehicles, objects, and people.
- Adjust mirrors correctly. If needed, consider adding blind spot mirrors to your side mirrors to give you the best possible visibility.
- Avoid shopping at peak times. Finding a good parking spot is easier during the week, early in the morning or late at night.
CONCLUSION
Parking lot accidents are all too common and can have serious consequences. Thankfully, taking simple precautions such as paying attention to the surroundings, checking blind spots, and driving slowly can prevent the financial and human costs of crashes. In addition, drivers and pedestrians must be as vigilant in parking lots and garages as they are on the open road. Turning into a parking lot is no excuse to turn off your attention.
Sources:
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/parking-lot-accidents-distracted-drivers-national-safety-council/
- https://www.nsc.org/road/safety-topics/distracted-driving/parking-lot-safety
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31847996/
- https://www.ace.aaa.com/automotive/advocacy/parking-lot-collisions.html
- https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/rear-crash-prevention-ratings-aim-to-cut-parking-lot-collisions
- https://www.automotive-fleet.com/10168758/48-of-drivers-find-parking-to-be-stressful
