Parking Lot Safety

July 7, 2023

Parking lots are often overlooked for not being as hazardous as they have the potential to be. The best deterrent to a parking lot motor vehicle/pedestrian collision and safety is awareness and preparedness.

Pedestrian Safety

  • Stay alert and be aware of your surroundings when walking in a parking lot. Refrain from an activity (e.g., texting or checking email) that puts your attention elsewhere.
  • Remember that vehicles have blind spots; drivers may not see you even if you see them.
  • Look both ways before crossing an aisle or main corridor, use crosswalks, and always use sidewalks whenever possible.
  • Watch out for the gate arms; the sensors usually only detect vehicle movements and not human movements.
  • Walk down the parking lot aisles and not in-between vehicles when walking to and from your vehicle.
  • When walking to your vehicle, be aware of vehicles that are running, look for back up lights. Ensure that the driver backing out of their parking spot sees you.
  • Wear proper footwear during periods of snow, ice, or rain.
  • Parking lots present other dangers, such as robbery and car theft. Never leave valuables in clear sight. If you’re alone and your vehicle is equipped with a remote door lock or unlock, ensure that only the driver’s door is unlocked.

Driver Safety

  • Stay alert and be aware of your surroundings when driving. Always be aware of cars and pedestrians that might drive or walk into your line of travel.
  • Whenever possible, pull all the way through the parking space to avoid backing out. Doing so reduces the number of blind spots for the driver.
  • If you must back out of a parking space, before shifting into reverse, look around. You must be aware of the clearances between your vehicle and the vehicles on either side, and you must also verify that nothing is behind your vehicle.
  • When maneuvering through any parking lot, drive slowly (15 km/h is recommended) and watch for vehicles entering or exiting their parking spots.
  • Drive even slower in the event of rain, snow, or ice or at any time of reduced visibility.
  • Parking garages call for extra caution, due to factors like low ceilings, tight corners, and reduced lighting. Watch out for all the caution signs and follow the arrows.
  • Drivers of motorcycles and bicycles are to follow the same traffic rules as drivers of motor vehicles.

Personal Safety

  • Be aware of the exits and emergency call stations.
  • Keep your cell phone handy if you need assistance. Call 5555 for emergencies and 6090 for non-emergency situations.
  • If you work alone during non-regular hours, let security know. They will accompany you to the parking lot if need be.

Please direct your safety concerns to Abinaya Selvakumar (Safety and IPAC Specialist, Occupational Health Department) at abinaya.selvakumar@wchospital.ca or to ohs@wchospital.ca