As a local paving company, we spend a good deal of time in parking lots of all sizes. One of the big problems we see is these spaces is parking lot etiquette. There is always one driver speeding through the parking lot or the drive that takes up two parking spaces or parking to close to the lines preventing the next person from opening their door. Are you one of these people? Here are some basic parking lot etiquette rules to follow when in any parking lot.
How Fast To Drive
Patience is one of the virtues that immediately comes to mind when in a parking lot. You are surrounded by hundreds of cars and their drivers. The parking lot can be a place where your patience can be tested. We politely encourage you as a responsible driver when entering or exiting a parking lot to practice the virtue of patience. Speeding is a problem and most parking lots have a speed limit of 10 mph at most. If speeding is a problem in your parking lot, let us know. We can install speed bumps at the entrance and exit points to help your patrons slow down and keep people safe.
2. Cell Phone or No Cell Phone?
Cell phones are a wonderful modern convenience that we use daily. They help us stay connected with loved ones, business customers and employees. Here are some of the dangers of cell phones.
- Driving while holding your cell phone (talking)
- Texting while driving
- Walking in a busy parking lot while using your cell phone
Rule #1: Use your cell phone only when in a parked car or standing still in one spot. Distracted walking, yes that sounds silly, but it is a real thing. Distracted walking is a major concern for pedestrians in parking lots and many other places. Here are some of the common risks associated with this problem.
- Injuring someone else
- Tripping
- Sprains
- Strains
- Fractures
- Cuts
- Bruises
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Death
Scientists today are calling this “inattentive blindness”. The human brain can really only focus on one task at a time. We are finding that talking and texting on a cell phone is so disruptive to one’s gait and memory recall says, Eric M. Lamberg, PT, EdD.
3. Read the signs!
Every parking lot and on the street is legally required to have certain signs up telling pedestrians and drivers what to do and where to go. Please take the time to observe the signs. Some of the most common signs you will see are:
- Speed limit
- Reserved parking
- Visitor parking
- No parking
- Handicap parking
- Exit only
- Enter only
- Buckle up
- One way
- Do not enter
- Yield
- Stop
- No parking
- No loading zone
All of these signs have a purpose to keep you the drive and the pedestrians safe when entering and exiting a parking lot. If you’re not sure what signs should be in your parking lot, give us a call. We can help guide you in the right direction for proper signage in your parking lot.
4. The mysterious shopping cart
Are you one of those people that leaves the shopping cart in the middle of the parking lot? Even if you think that the shopping cart won’t roll into another car, spend the time to walk it to the cart rack. A good gust of wind can easily roll that cart into your car or someone else’s car leaving a door damaged.
5. How do you park?
We get it, not everyone can park evenly! People tend to follow others examples when parking in a parking lot. When you park to close to the next car or not between the lines, you cause problems for other drivers in safely entering and exiting the parking lot spaces. If you can’t reasonably open the door to get in or out of your car, then you need to move your vehicle.
