Improve Pedestrian Safety

How to improve pedestrian safety

White painted figures of a family with a young child and an infant carriage painted on a black asphalt parking lot.

Pedestrian safety is challenging in public parking lots and private drives. These areas often lack sidewalks or other infrastructure for walkers, so cars and people use the same space. Parking lot safety issues like congestion, blind zones, driver distraction, and unclear traffic flow increase the risk of pedestrian-vehicle collisions.

Parking lot owners want to ensure the people who visit their property have a good experience, but there are also legal obligations and liability concerns. These problems extend to owners who use private drives not maintained by the government.

Parking lot and drive owners can address all three of these concerns at once with signage, traffic flow planning, spaces for pedestrian use, speed reduction features, and other improvements.

Here’s a look at how to improve pedestrian safety in parking lots and private drives.

Promptly address falling and tripping hazards

A large pothole filled with water in the middle of a parking lot.

Commercial parking lot and private drive owners might overlook tripping hazards. These hidden dangers cause falls or a loss of balance, putting pedestrians in the path of oncoming vehicles.

Even if they don’t cause collisions, falls can lead to visitor injuries and potential legal problems for property owners and managers.

Potholes may escape notice, causing hard falls or sprained ankles.
Uneven steps or curbs may cause people to trip.
Slippery surfaces can become slick when wet or allow water to pool and turn into ice in winter.

Pothole repair and drainage improvements reduce tripping hazards, as can adding traction in the form of textured sidewalks or mats. Also, consider marking curbs or using signs so people have warnings within their eye line.

Install high-quality lighting

Awell-lit facility parking lot in the middle of the night.

High-quality lighting addresses multiple safety concerns. Not only does it help reduce collision dangers, but it also addresses crime and physical safety problems.

Good lighting can help in the following ways:

Tripping hazards are visible at night with proper lighting. Pedestrians and drivers alike can see curbs and avoid cracks or potholes.
Pedestrian and driver visibility also increases with good lighting. They can see each other and avoid collisions after dark or in other low-visibility situations.
Walkway illumination helps pedestrians see where to go at night. For instance, directional lights show crosswalks to both walkers and drivers.

Good lighting may also limit criminal activity. A 2021 article in the Journal of Quantitative Criminology found that well-lit outdoor areas saw less crime in New York City than areas without lighting.

Different lighting setups address specific issues. For instance, perimeter lighting and motion-detector lights in dark corners are designed to increase security for visitors. Directional lights bring attention to specific areas like crosswalks and entrances.

Limit distractions

White sign with a red general prohibition sign over a cellphone icon displaying the text 'drivers no hand-held cellphone use' in black.

Distractions pose significant dangers to both drivers and pedestrians in parking lots and on the road. The National Safety Council (NSC) lists distracted driving as a major danger in parking lots.

Drivers can take steps to reduce dangers by using devices in hands-free mode or selecting destinations before starting their car. Pedestrians can likewise look up from their phones when walking through the parking lot.

Posting signage to remind both drivers and pedestrians to remain alert is also highly recommended. Traffic calming measures may also help with driver alertness. These include rumble strips or speed bumps before pedestrian crossing areas.

Implement proper signage

Proper parking lot signage is fundamental in improving pedestrian safety, streamlining traffic flows, and safeguarding lot owners from potential legal liability.

Here’s how effective parking lot signage can benefit both pedestrians and drivers.

Well-placed signage provides clear directions to drivers and pedestrians, guiding them to designated walkways, crosswalks, and entrances.
Signs indicating pedestrian crossings and right-of-way zones tell drivers to be extra aware of walkers.
Speed limit signs in parking lots help control vehicle speeds, reducing the risk of accidents and giving pedestrians and drivers more time to react to avoid collisions.
Traffic flow signs indicate one-way routes, proper parking areas, and specific pick-up and drop-off points.

Use our 5 step checklist to evaluate your facility’s current parking lot situation.

Proper parking and traffic signage play a crucial role in reducing legal liability for lot and drive owners. Inadequate or unclear signage may lead to accidents and expose owners to potential legal consequences.

Owners must consider specific factors when they install signs in their drives or lots. For instance, reflective and illuminated signs ensure visibility at night, and sign positions ensure both drivers and pedestrians can see them from all angles. Finally, familiarize yourself with local regulations to ensure all signage adheres to these standards.

Intersections

Well-placed signage at intersections not only guides drivers but also ensures the safety of pedestrians by clearly indicating right-of-way, crosswalks, and potential traffic hazards.

Here are factors to consider for intersection signage:

Crosswalk identification should be visible to both pedestrians and drivers.
Traffic control signage, such as yield and stop signs, slows vehicle traffic.
All signs need to use standardized symbols and colors to ensure universal understanding.

Ensure signage is consistent throughout the parking lot or drive. Consistency reduces confusion and reinforces a safe traffic culture.

Crosswalks

Properly marked crosswalks enhance pedestrian safety on roads and in parking lots. In 2016, 72% of pedestrian accidents happened in places without crosswalks.

Use crosswalk signage and surface markings to clearly designate these crossing areas for both drivers and walkers. Signs can make drivers aware of the upcoming crossing and allow them to slow down or stop to give crossers the right of way.

Crosswalks should be highly visible, even in adverse weather conditions and at night. Also, signs should have standardized crosswalk symbols and markings should match those of other crosswalks in the area, such as zebra stripes on the road surface and yellow and black pedestrian crossing signs.

Designated parking areas

Designated parking areas help with pedestrian safety, accessibility, and compliance with local ordinances. Parking signs also improve the user experience for drivers, who will clearly see where they can park without having to guess.

Parking signs also help with traffic flow, ensuring vehicles move in an orderly way between designated areas and entry points. Most jurisdictions also require guaranteed access for emergency services workers, such as firefighters. No-parking signs help keep these spaces free and also ensure no one blocks traffic flow.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires accessible parking in lots or drives used by the public. The law requires clear signage designating these areas. For instance, you must use blue accessible parking signs in addition to symbols on the surface of the parking space, which won't always be easily visible.

Speed control

Speed limit signs are crucial to preventing accidents and injuries. Speed affects the risk and severity of pedestrian crashes, so speed control can make your parking lot or driveway safer and give drivers more time to react to potential problems.

Clear speed limit signs should be visible to drivers and follow standards for such signs. All signs inside the parking lot should have the same designs and symbols. Additionally, speed bumps can also play a role in controlling speeding in your parking lot.

Traffic flow

Parking lot owners can utilize signage to ensure safe and smooth traffic flows. In addition to safety, you can use directional traffic signs to limit congestion and wait times for drivers as they navigate the parking lot. A well-designed lot helps drivers find parking quickly and easily, reducing frustration and improving user experience.

These signs also help separate pedestrians from vehicles or help create a predictable traffic flow that makes pedestrians aware of where to look for danger.

Here are traffic flow signs to consider:

Lane designation signs help reduce waits at stop signs and improve predictability for drivers and pedestrians.
Directional signs allow drivers to find entrances and exits easily. You could also designate one-way parking lanes to reduce congestion and confusion.
Stop and yield signs help both pedestrians and drivers at crossing areas and intersections.

With the right signs and markings, parking lot and private drive owners can ensure the safety of pedestrians and drivers, and create a better user experience for everyone using the lot.