As the holiday shopping season officially kicks off this week for Black Friday, drivers are being urged to prioritize safety over finding the perfect parking spot.
About 150,000 crashes happened in or near parking lots last year resulting in 5,400 injuries, according to Insurance Corporation of British Columbia statistics.
A sample of seven malls showed they were the scene of about 200 crashes per lot per year. Most occurred on a Friday or Saturday, and between noon and 3 p.m. and they peaked in December.
"Although some mistakenly believe that driving in parking lots is 'safer' due to lower travel speeds, drivers need to continue practicing their safe driving habits, even while travelling in parking lots," the insurer said in a bulletin issued Tuesday.
"Parking lots present drivers with unique challenges such as increased congestion and heavy pedestrian activity. The holiday season could add a layer of distraction with people more apt to be preoccupied with their shopping list or finding a parking spot."
ICBC offered the following tips to keep claims down:
- The rules of the road still apply, even on private property: Drivers should know that the law still applies, even in mall parking lots. Avoid cutting diagonally through a lot - travel only in the appropriate lanes. Don't use your phone while driving, instead, program your navigation or holiday tunes before you start your car.
- Have your car facing out in your parking spot: This position is safest for drivers because it helps you avoid the risk of reversing into a lane with potential blind spots when leaving.
- Park further away, if you can: Instead of circling endlessly to get a spot that's closest to the mall entrance, pick a spot that's further away. You'll avoid a high-traffic area where you're more likely to crash with another vehicle or hit a pedestrian.
- Slow down and be on alert: Drivers should drive slowly in parking lots to have enough time to react to an unexpected vehicle backing out of their parking spot or an unanticipated pedestrian, especially young children, who may be harder to see.
- Pay attention to the arrows and stop signs: Many parking lots are quite narrow, restricting certain lanes to a single direction. Pay attention to the signs and markings on the road to avoid getting into a crash.
- Don't block traffic: Deciding to follow a shopper, then waiting for them to load their car, buckle up and leave, jams up traffic behind you and likely takes you much longer than if you had just found a spot further away. Sitting idle in a lane can leave you vulnerable to a collision, and you could be blocking other drivers who are trying to leave.
- Let it go: No sense in having a showdown with another driver for a parking spot. Move along, and maybe that good karma will net you something really nice this season.
ICBC representatives will be talking to customers about driving safety and handing out a limited quantity of large, reusable shopping bags at Pine Centre Mall, in front of the main entrance, this Friday, noon to 1 p.m.
