The Weekly Shopping Trip
During a normal driving life time a car park crash will happen at least once. The reason many people are more likely to have a prang in a car park, is because most people do a weekly shopping trip and tend to spend quite a considerable amount of time maneuvering in and out of the various supermarket car parks. This is one of life’s chores that we must perform in modern living. Therefore, it is not surprising to learn that we are more at risk of an incident while shopping than during any other motoring activity. A car park accident is unlikely to be life threatening, unlike a motorway accident where vehicles are traveling much faster. However, it will be still the same inconvenience as not being able to use your car for days or weeks, as it will be on repair. There will also be a certain amount of upset and shock for all involved.
Reversing the Car
Some supermarket car parks are not very user friendly, i.e. many of them include spaces on slopes with tight spaces. Shoppers have to drive bonnet first into parking slots as their shopping has to go into the boot of their car. It sounds easy enough, but the difficulties start when it comes to leaving the supermarket car park. When reversing the car there are many obstacles that can not easily be seen; such as people with shopping trolleys, small children, elderly people and staff pushing a number of collected trolleys. Then there are other cars coming and going and it is difficult to see when it is clear to leave. The most common accident in car parks is when two shoppers are leaving the car park opposite each other at the same time and reverse into each other like bumper cars.
Danger of Being Preoccupied
Most people have busy lifestyles and often forget the dangers that surround them. Drivers tend to enter their cars with thoughts preoccupied with where they are going next and what their next chore is, forgetting the immediate moment of leaving the supermarket car park. Be aware of this particular dangerous time and always focus on the surrounding vehicles, watching for any movement.
Long Life Habit
The most important thing to remember is that every vehicle is a potential accident waiting to attack the unwary. Leave the radio off for a short while and drop the car windows so sounds outside the vehicle can be heard. Always remember to look in all directions to check it is clear before reversing out and always make a habit of pulling out very slowly. Keep looking to make sure it remains clear. Make this a life time habit of inching the car back out slowly and this alone will help most people avoid the potential crash with another car.
If an incident happens in a supermarket car park always remember to report it to the car park's duty manager. Most supermarkets have cameras installed and it may be used to help with any subsequent insurance claim.
Eileen Grainger - My name is Eileen Grainger. I am from the Isle of Man in the British Isles and residing with my family in the extraordinary land of New ...
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