By Jeff Hendershot, Loss Control Manager
If you were asked what types of auto collisions are most common, most of us would correctly guess rear-enders, intersection and backing incidents. There is another type of collision that those of us who work in the insurance industry, either processing claims or working to prevent them (e.g. Loss/Risk Control), see fairly regularly that might surprise you. The types of claims to which I am referring are parking incidents, many having to do with parking illegally or unsafely. This information can be valuable for producers to share with their clients.
The parking problem
Businesses often struggle with allocating parking spots to employees and customers. When meeting with customers, I often find there are no parking spots available at their businesses. The temptation is to park as close as possible in a space that is not marked as a parking space, or alongside the street/road immediately outside the business.
The problem with parking in a non-marked parking space is that trucks that are used to coming in/out of the business for deliveries often become accustomed to using the same route. If that route includes the space in which a vehicle is now parked “illegally”, the driver may not see the vehicle (especially if the area is crowded or obscured by a building corner). Incidents like these cause a significant number of claims.
Solutions
So, what can be done to reduce the risk of illegal parking?
If your client is a business and provides parking, you can suggest the following:
- Clearly mark areas of the parking lot and any space (public or private) around the property with signs that not only state “no parking” but provide directions to available parking. Signs should be clear and in a high-visibility color (reflective is preferred). Check with the “Authority Having Jurisdiction” (AHJ) for any regulations.
- When marking areas as “no parking”, note that vehicles that are parked in that area will be towed at the owner’s expense. The name of the towing company and phone number must be noted. Again, check with the AHJ for regulations.
- Provide temporary parking spaces. If available, offer a remote lot. Your client may wish to provide transportation to the remote parking (e.g. golf cart).
If your client is a business and has employees who drive (truck drivers, salespersons, etc.), suggestions include:
- Train company drivers in parking procedures (include “defensive parking”). Include this as part of the organization’s safety program and make sure these policies are distributed to employees that drive. Be sure to include procedures for break-downs and the provision of emergency equipment.
- Supervise drivers: This can include telematics, GPS, camera systems, road observation reports, and old-fashioned ride-alongs for the purpose of coaching and policy enforcement.
- Have drivers perform pre-trip inspections that include mirrors, lights, and emergency equipment (cones, flares, etc.)
- Implement an accountability system: Having policies in place that hold drivers accountable is critical. This can include negative reinforcement (e.g. drivers paying part or all of an insurance deductible if the collision was found to have been preventable), or positive (e.g. acknowledgement of a lengthy time period of “accident-free” driving.)
If your client is a driver, suggestions include:
- Ask a business contact in advance what the parking arrangements are and if there are any challenges/difficulties at their facility.
- Park off the street if possible.
- Avoid parking on the edge of the parking lot (the space by a corner).
- While parking, some tips include:
- Look around the vehicle before getting into it.
- Back into the space. Pulling into a space is when the driver is most aware of their surroundings. This way, when they pull out, they will have better perspective.
- Put a foot on the brake before shifting gears.
- The driver should always look in the direction they are driving.
- Some tips that are not necessarily safety related, but may save a vehicle from getting damaged while parked include:
- Try to leave empty space on both sides.
- Try to avoid parking next to a car with dents.
- Park your car in the center of your marked space.
