1 Maneuver Makes Parking Lots Home to an Alarming Number of Wrecks
Most people think of car wrecks as happening on the street, which is natural as these car accidents are more common. However, many people would be astounded to know how many collisions occur in parking lots each year. Sadly, this high number makes parking lots fairly dangerous for drivers and pedestrians.
Car wrecks in parking lots are common and can be dangerous
According to Buckingham & Vega Law Firm, about one in five car wrecks happen in parking lots. Statistics say that these types of car accidents are common, and about 50,000 of them happen each year in the United States. About 60,000 people sustain injuries each year as a result of a car accident in a parking lot.
Of course, some injuries may be minor. However, it’s not uncommon for people to become seriously hurt. Unfortunately, about 500 people die each year from parking lot accidents. This isn’t an exceptionally high number when you consider that 47,000 people lose their lives to car wrecks in general. Still, it is concerning because most people consider parking lots safe, especially during the day. It’s also important to point out that many impacted people are pedestrians, not drivers.
As most people would expect, most of these collisions happen when people are backing up.
These accidents are preventable
The worst part about the number of car wrecks in parking lots is that they are preventable. Of course, all accidents are preventable in theory, but parking lots are a bit different. This is because the low speeds people travel in these circumstances should make lots safer. Still, there are things drivers can do to limit the number of car accidents.
Naturally, one of the easiest things drivers can do to limit car wrecks is to lower their speeds. Many people travel at unsafe speeds while in the confines of a parking lot, and this is a reason for many of the collisions. Going slower also allows drivers to better anticipate the actions of others. Drivers should also keep in mind that people are walking. The presence of pedestrians makes distracted driving especially dangerous when it comes to lots.
People driving in parking lots should also take full advantage of their mirrors and backup cameras. This is one of the ways to cut down on the number of car wrecks that happen when people are backing up.
