4 Tips to avoid parking collisions

Parking collisions often go overlooked, resulting in elevated expenses and decreased productivity for fleets. Explore some tips to mitigate the risk of parking, reverse, and side collisions within your fleet, promoting safety and cost-efficiency.

 
One of the primary concerns for fleet managers is undoubtedly events such as collisions during their drivers' work. One type of collision that does not get much attention is parking lot collisions since they don't result in injury or death. While they may not cause injuries, these collisions lead to financial expenses for vehicle repairs, ultimately resulting in lost productivity.

In this article, we have compiled some tips emphasizing the importance of awareness and prevention of this type of event and some careful maneuvers to implement in your fleet to reduce the risk of parking collisions, reversing, and side collisions.

4 tips to avoid parking collisions

1. Pay extra attention

When entering parking lots, drivers often become less vigilant than on the road, assuming it's a safer environment. However, parking lots are typically congested areas with numerous vehicles and pedestrians, demanding heightened awareness. This means drivers must pay special attention to distracted drivers and pedestrians moving freely to avoid collisions.

2. Avoid reversing

Whenever possible, drivers should avoid reversing. If parking spaces are ahead, drivers should take the opportunity to park in those available spaces, eliminating the need to reverse, which is always riskier, as it increases the possibility of colliding with other vehicles or fixed obstacles.

3. If you can't avoid it, reverse into a parking space

If it is impossible to avoid reversing, the driver should resort to backing into a parking space. Opting for this approach is considerably safer than backing out into an uncontrolled traffic lane, and the driver will have a much better view when exiting, reducing the risk of colliding with other vehicles and pedestrians.

4. Take a good look behind the vehicle

If the vehicle's rear window provides good visibility, drivers should use it for a better view before reversing. If it does not have a rear window, the driver should adjust the mirrors to cover the widest area possible. Ideally, if a passenger is present, their assistance monitoring the rear can enhance overall visibility. Drivers can also use a reversing camera, but while a 360-degree view is beneficial, drivers should always conduct a visual check.

Instilling these tips in your fleet can considerably reduce the risk of parking, reversing, and side collisions. While adopting new driving habits may be necessary, the potential reduction in collisions and associated costs makes it a worthwhile investment for your fleet.

Source:
Automotive Fleet