9 Ways to Make Parking Lots Safer

From violent offenses and vehicle theft to car crashes, parking lots face several security risks that can place those utilizing your facilities at risk.

Due to your duty of care, any security breach could lead to you facing large financial implications and potential legal proceedings, depending on the type of incident.

There are various ways you can improve your parking lot’s safety in order to prevent you and any individual using your facilities from falling victim to these security challenges.

What can you do to improve Parking Lot Safety?

We have compiled a set of 9 practical tips to assist you in ensuring the safety and satisfaction of your parking lot patrons, making life easier for both motorists and yourself.

There are a number of steps you can take to improve safety in your parking lot. Some of these involve equipment and technology, while others are more planning focused.

Install Access Control for Entry and Exit Points

Keeping track of individuals and vehicles entering your parking lot can be difficult, especially if you have multiple entry and exit points.

Try to minimize your parking to have just one main entrance and exit to stop any unauthorized vehicles from gaining access. This works best for apartment blocks and condominiums.

For retail store parking lots, one entrance and exit could create traffic management difficulties depending on size. Although multiple may be required, remain mindful of the number there are as too many could increase the risk of vehicle collisions.

Lighting

When it comes to lighting, you need to strike the right balance. 

Due to their open access, vast space, and quietness at night, parking lots are targets for crime and lighting can be used to remove blind spots and hiding spaces that intruders can use to commit crimes.

However, installing heavy lighting across your parking lot could be counterproductive and simply place targets in the direct sight of criminals.

Therefore, implementing motion-sensored lighting could strike that balance you require. It activates when any movement is detected, removing any concealment of intruders whilst remaining unlit to avoid displaying individuals’ vehicles or belongings. 

Always think about how you can use lights during the daytime as well to help dark spots become visible. Pay close attention to stairs and lifts, as these can be hotspots for ambushes no matter what time of day!

Install Surveillance Cameras

Parking lots present a range of complex security challenges. Mobile surveillance units help mitigate, deter, and report any potential theft, vandalism, property damage, or violent crime that may occur, and ensure parking lots and people are safe and shielded from potential threats.

Surveillance cameras paired with solar trailers are one of the most effective ways of securing your parking lot. Our LotGuard Pro Surveillance Trailer can be installed in 20 minutes, providing immediate security for your parking lot. It’s fully portable, too, so simply move it to a new location if your needs change.

With LotGuard PRO, you don’t need to provide mounting poles for the surveillance cameras, and there’s no need for onsite power or internet connectivity at your lots. LotGuard PRO is entirely self-sufficient.

Backed by remote monitoring services, we supply a fully-managed security solution that allows you to be as hands-free or hands-on as you like.

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Panic Buttons and Alarms

To help discourage crime in parking lots, you can install panic keypads and alarm boxes. This security measure provides any individual present with the ability to immediately alert you, security guards, or the local authorities.

When panic buttons are pressed, an alarm will sound, alerting the relevant personnel that there is an incident.

Emergency phones around the parking lot can have multiple uses. They can give instant access to customers who want to contact security if there is an attack, accident, or even a health emergency.

Pedestrian Walkways

Poor pedestrian safety poses a big threat to any shoppers or employees using your parking lot.

Implementing well-lit, clearly signposted walkways for pedestrians can minimize these risks. They help to guide individuals down the designated pathway to avoid them cutting across the parking lot and disturbing the flow of traffic or at worst, being hit by a vehicle.

Additional features such as pedestrian crossings can work to further boost pedestrian safety within your parking lot, allowing for the safe passage of both shoppers and employees.

Bollards and Posts

Adding bollards and posts around storefronts, the parking lot perimeter, and between parking spaces can help prevent vehicle damage and pedestrian injury.

The addition of such features can also prevent parking lot takeovers as it disturbs the flat, open space that drivers will take advantage of to race and perform tricks. 

This growing crime of parking lot takeovers can cause injuries and in the worst case scenario cause death, all of which you could be held liable to. Therefore, consider the type of bollards you implement to ensure maximum protection from this also.

Clear Signage

Signage around parking lots can be used for traffic flow, speed limits, warnings, security, and pedestrians. 

Controlling the speed and flow of traffic with clear signage is a great way to keep both drivers and pedestrians safe in your parking lot.

Warnings about blind spots or low beams, etc., help with providing awareness of space. Whereas signs about security will inform and deter thieves by informing them of any security measures and the implication of any illegal activities.

Traffic Flow

Designing a parking lot that controls the flow of traffic will help to keep facilities running seamlessly whilst reducing the risk of accidents.

One effective method to control traffic can include adding speed humps to encourage drivers to reduce their speed, and ensuring that markings are visible on parking spaces and pedestrian crossings.

What is Parking Lot Management?

Parking lot management is the organized and strategic administration of parking facilities aimed at ensuring efficient operation, optimal utilization of parking spaces, and a positive user experience.

It encompasses the implementation of diverse policies, procedures, and technologies to effectively oversee parking areas. This includes controlling vehicle access, enforcing parking regulations, and offering essential services to drivers.

Parking management involves a wide range of activities, such as monitoring parking space availability, implementing reservation and booking systems, processing payments, regulating entry and exit, deploying parking guidance systems, enforcing violations, maintaining and enhancing parking facilities, providing customer support, and analyzing data for decision-making and optimization.

The ultimate objective of car park management is to create well-organized, secure, and easily accessible parking spaces that cater to the needs of drivers while maximizing revenue and minimizing traffic congestion.

What are the Benefits of Parking Management?

Parking Lot Management is a crucial part of your business that helps maximize space availability as well as mitigate parking abuse. A well-controlled parking lot brings about enhanced benefits which include:

• Enhanced parking efficiency
• Improved parking experience 
• Reduced traffic congestion
• Deter anti-social behavior

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