According to the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers Association, 20 percent of all car accidents take place in parking lots.
That does not include all the minor dents and nicks that often go unreported.
Such crashes happen at slow speed; however they can still cause pricey repairs and increased auto insurance premiums.
Unfortunately, now and then, people walking and drivers are injured.
To lower your parking lot risks...
Park away from hectic areas.
The majority of drivers crowd into the spaces near store entrances, leaving the rest of the lot nearly vacant.
Your automobile is much less likely to be crunched -- and you will be able to view better when you drive out -- if you take a spot inside a little-used area.
Seek out two vacant parking spaces, one behind the other, and drive through to the one in front so that you don't have to back up when it is time to depart.
However make certain no one is pulling into the front spot from the other side.
Steer clear of hazard zones.
By pass spots adjacent to big vans or SUVs if you are in a more compact automobile -- you will have a tricky time seeing around these vehicles when you need to go.
Also, make an effort to avoid spots adjacent to cart-collection areas -- the possibility of dings and dents are most significant here.
Look where you are going.
Diverting your attention while driving is responsible for countless parking lot accidents.
We believe we see an open spot in the next row or a friend might be walking by.
This temporary distraction is all it takes for someone to step or pull in front of us in a crowded parking lot.
If your car is going forward, your eyes must be looking forward.
Use your peripheral vision to locate open parking spaces.
Completely clear fogged or snow-covered windows and windshields.
There is an inclination to dash out of parking areas, but driving with incompletely cleared windows and/or windshields increases the odds of having an accident.
Fasten your seat belt before pulling out, not while driving.
Drivers frequently believe they are "safe" in parking lots, so they wait to put on seat belts.
That's an error for two reasons 1.
You could have an accident with no seat belt on before you leave the parking lot...
and 2.
Messing with a seat belt while you are driving increases the chances of an accident.
Complete any cell-phone calls, put on your sunglasses if you need them, fiddle with your CD player or radio and enter data into your navigation system before you leave your parking spot.
Lastly do not put confidence in your mirrors.
Rearview mirrors don't furnish an accurate picture of what's transpiring behind your car or truck.
Ultra-modern backup sensors and rear-mounted cameras do not reveal all obstacles, either.
To back out of a parking spot in safety- rotate your body to the right, looking over your shoulder so you face backwards, leaving your left hand on the steering wheel.
You shouldn't feel hurried by other drivers.
It causes mishaps.
The driver impatient to have your parking spot can delay a few more seconds as you take the time to pull out carefully.
That does not include all the minor dents and nicks that often go unreported.
Such crashes happen at slow speed; however they can still cause pricey repairs and increased auto insurance premiums.
Unfortunately, now and then, people walking and drivers are injured.
To lower your parking lot risks...
Park away from hectic areas.
The majority of drivers crowd into the spaces near store entrances, leaving the rest of the lot nearly vacant.
Your automobile is much less likely to be crunched -- and you will be able to view better when you drive out -- if you take a spot inside a little-used area.
Seek out two vacant parking spaces, one behind the other, and drive through to the one in front so that you don't have to back up when it is time to depart.
However make certain no one is pulling into the front spot from the other side.
Steer clear of hazard zones.
By pass spots adjacent to big vans or SUVs if you are in a more compact automobile -- you will have a tricky time seeing around these vehicles when you need to go.
Also, make an effort to avoid spots adjacent to cart-collection areas -- the possibility of dings and dents are most significant here.
Look where you are going.
Diverting your attention while driving is responsible for countless parking lot accidents.
We believe we see an open spot in the next row or a friend might be walking by.
This temporary distraction is all it takes for someone to step or pull in front of us in a crowded parking lot.
If your car is going forward, your eyes must be looking forward.
Use your peripheral vision to locate open parking spaces.
Completely clear fogged or snow-covered windows and windshields.
There is an inclination to dash out of parking areas, but driving with incompletely cleared windows and/or windshields increases the odds of having an accident.
Fasten your seat belt before pulling out, not while driving.
Drivers frequently believe they are "safe" in parking lots, so they wait to put on seat belts.
That's an error for two reasons 1.
You could have an accident with no seat belt on before you leave the parking lot...
and 2.
Messing with a seat belt while you are driving increases the chances of an accident.
Complete any cell-phone calls, put on your sunglasses if you need them, fiddle with your CD player or radio and enter data into your navigation system before you leave your parking spot.
Lastly do not put confidence in your mirrors.
Rearview mirrors don't furnish an accurate picture of what's transpiring behind your car or truck.
Ultra-modern backup sensors and rear-mounted cameras do not reveal all obstacles, either.
To back out of a parking spot in safety- rotate your body to the right, looking over your shoulder so you face backwards, leaving your left hand on the steering wheel.
You shouldn't feel hurried by other drivers.
It causes mishaps.
The driver impatient to have your parking spot can delay a few more seconds as you take the time to pull out carefully.
Source...