If you regularly go shopping with your family, you`ll be no stranger to the chaos of a busy car park. Keeping safe and calm can be difficult, especially for elderly people and young children – but there are steps we can take to reduce the dangers. In this guide we`ll look at ways to improve safety in public car parks, without compromising on functionality or reducing the space available.
Slowing traffic down
Driving at speed is of the biggest risks in car parks and can be difficult to prevent. Putting speed limits in place is one thing but enforcing them is another matter entirely, with alarming figures from the RAC proving that almost half of all drivers in the UK speed on 30mph roads.
One of the most effective methods used to slow traffic is installing speed bumps onto the road surface throughout the car park. Realistically, drivers are much more likely to slow down to protect their car against damage rather than to keep other people safe – but this tendency makes speed bumps work.
Aiming for visibility
Blind corners, tight lanes, and uneven levels: sometimes multi-storey car parks can be the worst offenders for a limited view of oncoming traffic and dangers.
Modern car parks should be designed to allow clear visibility both for drivers and pedestrians to reduce the risk of accidents. Open plan, wide layouts should be used where possible, with automatic lights to aid visibility in the darker hours.
Accessibility
It`s important for car parks to have clearly marked, reasonably sized parking spaces. Plus, separate walkways could also be painted onto the tarmac to provide a safer area for pedestrians.
Extra-wide bays for blue-badge holders and families with children should be outlined with bright colours and placed away from the main thoroughfare into the car park.
With the availability of parking being a top concern for 14% of drivers, it`s important for urban designers and car park managers to be as inclusive as possible. There`s a critical balance to strike between maximising the physical space available and making room for as many people as possible.
Boosting convenience
Particularly in shopping centres, supermarkets and busy public car parks, parking spaces should be positioned as close as possible to wherever drivers and their passengers need to get to.
To keep up with modern technology, designers of car parks should also consider installing bays for electric car charging. Not only could this widen up the range of customers, but it would also reflect an environmental concern.
Overall, safety in car parks can be determined in the design process – but adding physical barriers including speed bumps to reduce driver speed is also imperative to protect pedestrians.