First impressions really do count, and the last impression you want anybody to have of your business is that it’s chaotic or unsafe. Between crime and collisions, accidents are more common on parking lots than people might realise; parking lots are the 3rd-most frequent place where violent crimes happen. Therefore, parking owners need to ensure the utmost safety and the best possible parking management in their facilities. Don’t worry! To help you keep your parking lot patrons safe and happy, we have put together some useful tips that will help make life easier for not only motorists but also for you. Let’s take a look.
Install Ample Lighting
Parking space lights should be bright but not too bright. In cases like these, you need to strike a good balance between lighting and shadowing so as not to make it easy for criminals to hide from or ambush daytime passersby. This is especially true of stairs, elevators, and areas where your customers will feel safe such as a place where they can take cover in case of an attack.
Think about how you can use lights for driver safety in addition to daylighting. If there’s a drastic shift between bright sunlight and a dark garage, we want drivers to make the transition as safely and smoothly as possible. By over-lighting the entrances to parking garages, you can minimise the risk of vision impairment from this kind of dramatic light changeover.
Access Control Systems for Secure Parking Management
The key to making a parking lot or garage much more secure is to keep track of who has access. Systems like security booths, gates, and mechanical arms are great ways to keep unauthorised people away from entering certain areas. So, if you install an access control system in your parking space, no one will be able to enter it without getting your permission.
So, if you have plenty of parking available near private/restricted areas, make sure that the site is well-lit. Also, ensure that pathways leading up to those spots have no obstructions or accessible hiding places for intruders like cement blocks, fencing, or other obstacles, as these elements can easily mask an attacker’s approach! Therefore, installing an access control system is vital for improved safety and better parking management.
Practice Impeccable Parking Management
Having smart parking management systems can help you deter criminals from hanging around your parking area for too long. People will know there’s a lot of action being taken to ensure the safety of visitors to your company! Replacing a burnt-out light does more than keeping your parking lot well-lit. It will message that your parking lots are well-maintained, signalling to would-be offenders that the area is receiving consistent attention.
When criminals see security cameras and other parking management systems in your parking space, they will likely get discouraged from taking a chance. They might be afraid to see how vigilant you are in keeping track of these details yourself by installing security cameras, license plate capture technology, or motion sensors, among other solutions which help curb criminal activity before it happens.
You Can Hire Security Officers
Having security patrols in your parking lots is a standard method of improving the safety of those using your business. A presence that’s authoritative can serve as a powerful deterrent to crime. Adding on-site or mobile security patrols in parking lots can significantly enhance your business’ safety mechanisms, helping to minimise threats and concerns related to less-than-savoury incidents. It can even increase your business’ appeal and attractiveness by attracting outdoor customers looking for an environment where they feel safe. Therefore, hiring a well-trained security officer can be a game-changing decision for your business & also in terms of parking management.
Install Surveillance System
Where there are cameras, crime dwindles. Additionally, to ensure your parking areas have the requisite security measures in places like landscaping and lighting, installing a CCTV parking system helps create a visual record of what’s happening within these areas. It allows security officers to keep on top of things much more manageable. This is one of the tools that make it possible for parking lot patrons to be aware that something is happening versus needing any inside information about activity occurring within specific areas.
However, having security cameras in your parking space doesn’t mean you won’t have to deal with criminals; it just doesn’t happen right away. Criminals are coming up with bigger ways of countering CCTV services, and many of them aren’t getting much attention these days because we humans tend to take things for granted after a while. Therefore, it becomes indispensable for parking owners to have an attentive CCTV monitoring team to keep a watchful eye on their parking spaces.
Integrate Panic Buttons & Phones
Panic Keypads and alarm boxes are great devices that you can install in parking lots to help discourage crime. Just the presence of these safety tools helps to assure people feel safe and immediately alerts you or the authorities if someone is trying to break into a vehicle or attack somebody.
Emergency phones allow customers instant access to security personnel in case of an attack, accident, or health emergency. When the panic button is pressed, alarms sound and security personnel are alerted to the emergency location. The provision of such devices empowers many consumers to take better care of their guards and make them more efficient by allowing direct access to help whenever they need it.
Erect Unambiguous Signage
As a point of clarification, signage means something very different in this context. It is more of an announcement about rules and general parking lot safety for cars and pedestrians alike to make sure everyone is in the known. Just so you know, a parking lot doesn’t actually refer to the parking spot itself but rather the area where cars park. Communication is king when ensuring public safety during transactions between drivers and pedestrians! (And no one wants to see any mugging or carjacking).
Erecting clear signage in your parking space can help motorists reach the most appropriate parking spot without needing extra time. It will prevent them from getting to a location where they should not go. It is an effective way of parking management and improving security.
Businesses can do their bit to prevent crime by letting people know what security devices are in use and how to use them; this could be done via signage. The more visible an emergency phone is, the more likely someone will call if they need help. In terms of driving, signage can remind drivers not to leave valuables exposed and inside cars or vans due to potential vehicle break-ins.
Get in Touch
So, these are the top 7 parking lot safety tips that can help you make your parking space more secure. However, if you are looking for a car park management company in the UK, consider contacting Euro Parking Services. We can provide a wide range of parking management services that will significantly enhance the efficiency of your parking lot. Our services include CCTV enforcement, parking enforcement, ANPR technology integration, cash for land, etc.