Pay Attentino in the Parking Lots
Parking lots are notorious for being accident prone! In fact, driving in a parking lot can be like the bumper cars at the amusement park. So many people don't pay attention in the parking lot that the odds of having a fender bender, or something more serious, go up dramatically. Between their shopping carts, impatient people looking for a parking space, and speed differences between pedestrians and auto traffic, there are bound to be mishaps. The question is, how can you avoid getting caught up in the maelstrom? By paying attention, for one thing.
How many times have you seen a mother with a few kids running around by her feet, talking on the cell phone, while pushing an overloaded shopping cart? And then some gear-head teenager blasting through the parking lot, stereo thumping away, thinking they are at the Indy time trials? Many times, I'm sure. This is an accident waiting to happen, and they do. The first thing the mother should do is get off of the cell phone and PAY ATTENTION, not only to her kids, but to all the surrounding traffic. That is her first responsibility, because it's not about some gossip over the phone, she has other lives at stake, namely her kids. Do you think that teenager is worrying about her and her brood? No, that teenager is trying to impress the checkout girl who is sashaying through the parking lot. This scenario has disaster written all over it. By paying attention to scenes such as this, and avoiding them whenever you can, you increase your chances of not ending up talking to your insurance provider about how much the damage to your vehicle is going to cost! Or God forbid, somebody gets hit....
During the holidays, the symptoms of parking lot accidents rise tenfold, but you don't have to be another statistic if you pay attention. First off, stay away from that scene previously discussed. Don't try to squeeze yourself into a parking space where there is a lot of activity. It's better to walk a few extra feet where you can get a generous-sized parking space, plus you can get some exercise to boot! Another problem with racing to get a favored parking space is the potential of getting there when someone else gets there at the same time. Sure, you would think the holiday spirit would increase friendliness right? Wrong. People are that much more under pressure, and you just can't trust other people to be in the giving mood. People have been killed, literally shot to death, over parking spaces! This is an offshoot of road rage, only it happens in your neighborhood parking lot!
Avoid confusion by not shopping at the busy times if you can. Why fight the crowds and get all worked up with crowded parking lots if you can help it? Visit the stores in the off hours, where you can drive with less traffic and can think with a clearer head. It's just not worth the aggravation. Nobody wants to get into an accident anywhere, let alone a parking lot. You can avoid this by planning your trips, otherwise the risk goes up of getting into an accident, and your insurance premiums will follow!
