Hundreds Die in Parking Lots and Garages Each Year Because of Distracted Driving

You’ve been there. You were in a parking space getting ready to back out. You checked both mirrors and turned to look out of the back window and all was clear, so you start inching out of the space – when out of nowhere, a car whizzes past. You hit the brakes. Your heart might be beating fast, but you’re safe.

And yet, you’re one of the lucky ones. Many accidents occur in parking lots and parking garages each year. According to the National Safety Council, there are about 500 deaths in nearly 50,000 traffic crashes in parking lots and garages each year in the United States. The report attributes the leading cause of these parking lot crashes to distracted driving.

Deborah Hersman, president of the National Safety Council, said, “It’s just as dangerous to be distracted in a parking lot going 5 mph as it is going 50 mph. People have their heads down; they’re on their phones whether they’re behind the wheel or whether they are pedestrians. There’s just a lot of inattention out there.”

The NSC conducted a poll and found that 66% of drivers made phone calls while driving through parking lots, and 56% of drivers were texting. With motor vehicle deaths up 9% through the first six months of 2016 as compared to the year before, the number of crashes in parking lots might be even higher this year according to a NSC release.

Here is how poll respondents said that they would behave while driving in parking lots and garages:

• Program GPS (63%)
• Send or receive emails (50%)
• Use social media (52%)
• Take photos or watch videos (49%)
• Use a smartwatch (43%)
• Surf the Internet (43%)
• Video chat (42%)

Interestingly, teen drivers were less likely than adults to talk on the phone while driving, but they were more likely to groom themselves. The National Safety Council urges drivers to be more vigilant when driving in a parking lot or garage. They encourage drivers to make the most of their crash avoidance technology, as 51% of deaths in parking garage and lot crashes occur when a driver is backing up. A backup camera and other electronic safety features can be helpful in preventing crashes, injuries, and deaths.

Don’t let your guard down when driving in a parking lot or garage. Keep a vigilant eye out for pedestrians and for other drivers who might be distracted as they drive around the parking lot. Unfortunately, too many people these days are more focused on checking their email than on not causing a crash.

At the law firm of Bailey & Greer, PLLC, we protect the rights of those who have suffered significant injuries in auto accidents caused by the negligence of others throughout West Tennessee. To learn more about what we do or how we can help, please call 901-680-9777, or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case with one of our skilled auto accident attorneys in Memphis or Jackson today.