When you think of accidents that affect your fleet, you probably think of major highway collisions. While highways are danger-zones for accidents, parking lot collisions are actually some of the most common locations of accidents for fleet vehicles.
The minor bumper bashing's that take place in parking lots can prove to be a major headache for fleet managers because they are costly and add to the administrative burden.
However, it’s really easy to get involved in a parking lot collision as anyone who has misjudged the crowded, stressful parking area at a shopping centre will tell you. The aim of this blog is to help you avoid this kind of accident.
Here are our top tips for avoiding parking lot accidents:
Many vehicles are damaged during parking or while they are parked and drivers who practice defensive driving can help to minimise damage.
Motorists who make a conscious effort to drive slowly and carefully in parking lots are more likely to be safer and more observant every time they enter a parking lot.
Use technology to your advantage by installing Telematics in your vehicles.
Telematics will help you to track driver behaviour and reduce fleet accidents. This technology will allow you to gauge if a driver is speeding, over-revving, braking too fast, or taking an inefficient route.
Intelligent vehicle tracking will instill a sense of accountability in drivers and lead to a change in driver behaviour.
Clearly marking the parking area in your company and enforcing strict safety rules will send a clear message to your drivers that your organisation values high safety standards.
Employers should also ensure that the parking lot is clear of debris as a reminder that you care about the safety of all employees.
Thinking ahead will help you avoid parking lot collisions. Make sure that new vehicles are fitted with blind-spot mirrors.
Drivers should also keep weather conditions in mind, for example in windy weather, doors might blow open and damage surrounding cars. Similarly, drivers leaving their vehicles need to be aware of the vehicles and pedestrians around them.
Prevention is always better than cure and being prepared is the most valuable item on any checklist.
At Avis Fleet, we offer our customers total peace of mind that if something does go wrong, we’ll be there to help you every step of the way.
Our comprehensive fleet management solutions take the sting out of dealing with the unforeseen. Have a look at our Accident Management solution to see how we can help you.