We all visit car parks regularly, whether it’s city centre multi-storey car parks, client businesses during work hours or the busy supermarket on the weekend.
But with the average car park crash costing $3,000 on average and one-in-five insurance claims from car park bingles, it pays to take safety seriously in what is an inherently dangerous space.
In fact, for insurers and businesses, car parks are the top minor collision claim for their mobile workers. And they can pose a significant risk of injury for pedestrians too. So, let’s look at why it’s important we each do our part to keep everyone safe in car parks.
Car park incidents are costly
Car park ‘bingles’ tend to have a large financial cost, with insurance data showing the average net incurred cost of a car park incident is around $3,000 (including damage to both the insured and third-party vehicle).
Inherently dangerous features contribute to an elevated risk of collision in car parks, such as multiple directions of travel, narrow spaces, large pylons, and poor lighting. So, it’s not surprising that low-speed manoeuvring and parking incidents are common for those who drive for work, accounting for up to 20% of fleet insurance claims each year.
Safe decision making in car parks
While parking your car may seem simple, it involves multiple decisions that influence the protection of your vehicle and the safety of other road users. Take a moment to make informed thoughtful decisions while parking your vehicle.
Choosing your parking method and space wisely can help avoid costly insurance claims and keep all road users safe. Park where there are many empty spots. In a shopping centre car park, avoid the front entrance where pedestrians gather. Avoid large pillars or walls that block visibility and other vehicles that encroach on the adjoining space.
Human behaviour and car parks
According to road safety research, several psychological factors influence the choices and behaviour of drivers in car parks, including personal preference, social cohesion, conformity, and convenience. Human factors can contribute significantly to risky driving behaviour and collisions in car parks.
Driver distractions such as mobile phones or passengers can divert the driver’s attention from the road, and it only takes a moment in the confined space of a car park to impact safety and cause an incident. Road safety research shows that distracted driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving and in a car park it can impact pedestrians as well as drivers. People walking to and from their car are likely to walk slower and change direction in a car park, paying less attention to vehicles around them.
Aggressive driving is common in car parks. Time pressure, trying to find a space in a packed car park, and irritating driver behaviour can cause driver aggression that quickly escalates into erratic driving.
Vehicle factors in car parks
Parking spaces are decreasing in size, putting larger vehicles at a higher risk of collision when parking or navigating tight parking spots. Be aware of your vehicle’s size and visibility. If parking is going to be a regular challenge, keep in mind when selecting a vehicle to purchase that smaller vehicles fit better in parking lots.
And consider safety technology available for safer and smoother parking. Rear parking assist, rear vision cameras and rear automatic braking are among technology solutions that help counteract car park-related incidents, particularly to help the driver avoid pedestrians, cyclists and objects while reversing. Remember though that vehicle technology should be used as an aid to, not a substitute for, safe driving behaviour.
Car parks can be overwhelming and risky. To help you stay safe, NRSPP has developed a range of resources as part of its Car Parks Campaign. Explore the campaign here.