The holiday season can often be very frantic and busy, and it’s no wonder with people leading such busy lives, there aren’t enough hours in the day to get all the preparations attended to. With this in mind, it might not surprise you to learn that so many accidents occur in parking lots throughout the holidays.
According to statistics from an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety publication, 20 percent of all vehicle crashes that result in damage occur in parking lots. Other “accidents” that can potentially occur are instances of theft from cars by opportunists who target vehicles with visible shopping bags left behind.
It’s common to be less guarded and vigilant during the holiday season, however, it’s still imperative to play close attention to your surroundings, as well as use extra caution when driving. Be sure to always lock your vehicle, as well as hide all your valuables, even if you’re just running into a store for a few minutes.
Follow these tips to ensure you don’t have any parking lot disasters during the holidays:
- Plan ahead for your journey, bearing in mind that during the holidays car parking lots are far busier than usual.
- Always wear your seat belt, no matter what you’re doing, or intending to while you’re in the parking lot.
- Avoid shopping on weekends, as of course, Saturday is a very busy day during the holidays, as well as generally. If your schedule allows, shop on early weekday mornings as parking lots will be at their emptiest.
- Adjust your mirrors to minimize blind spots, and ensure you manually check on your blind spots before you pull out of your space. Also, keep a lookout for small children who might be difficult to see.
- Refrain from distracting yourself by chatting or texting on your cell phone.
- Park further away from stores, as this way, you will find less crowded areas to leave your car. You’ll also minimize the risk of scratches from shopping carts and other car doors.
- Park in well-lit areas at night time, and stay closer to others for safety reasons.
Sometimes parking lot accidents are unavoidable. That’s why it’s imperative to be covered with auto insurance. If you’re involved in one, report it both to the police, and to your indepependent insurance agency immediately, no matter how minor it may seem.
