Driving Tips > Safety Columns
Drive defensively in parking lots
We all hear about high-speed crashes, but did you know that more than one in 15 Manitoba Public Insurance claims comes from low-speed crashes?
Many of them are in parking lots, where there are lots of lines and signs meant to help drivers avoid each other. But there are also many distractions at busy malls – especially at this time of year.
“The holiday season is a hectic one for many drivers,” says Lou Gervino, Manager of Driver Education at Manitoba Public Insurance. With other vehicles trying to park, shoppers loaded down with packages and, pedestrians walking immediately beside your car, it’s important to remember to drive defensively.”
The following recommendations can help:
- Whenever possible, park so you can drive forward out of the parking space. If you have to back out of a parking space, keep looking around you continuously.
- Obey the signs and stay within lanes. Cutting diagonally through unoccupied spaces leads to many crashes.
- Use your signal lights to let fellow drivers and pedestrians what you’re about to do.
- Don’t block an aisle waiting for someone to leave a space.
- Be wary of abandoned shopping carts. They can do a lot of damage if they get rolling in the wind. Be considerate – if you come upon an abandoned cart on your way to the store or mall, take it in with you.
- If you’re a pedestrian watch for vehicles backing up. They may not have seen you.
Lou said that for personal safety, shoppers should always try to park in well-lit open areas, and look into and around their vehicles when they return to them.
For more information, watch The 60-Second Driver on CTV,
and see the following topic on our website:
- Backing Your Vehicle Into a Parking Spot in Driving Tips
- You can also access the 60-Second Driver video on Parking Backwards directly
