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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Family Fun Bike Ride set for Saturday ... Grading to close Ashland Loop Road, White Rabbit Trailhead on Friday ... Local Take: Is the Iran deal a peace step or misstep? ... Family Fun Bike Ride set for Saturday ... Grading to close Ashland Loop Road, White Rabbit Trailhead on Friday ... Local Take: Is the Iran deal a peace step or misstep? ... SAFETY Parking lot dangers: How to stay away from accidents, even at slow speeds How to stay away from accidents, even at slow speeds Comment By Melissa Erickson More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Melissa Erickson More Content Now Posted Mar. 19, 2015 at 10:24 AM By Melissa Erickson More Content Now Posted Mar. 19, 2015 at 10:24 AM » Social News Parking lot accidents account for more than 20 percent of all automobile crash claims, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. One out of every four accidents involves backing out of a parking space. “There’s a lot going on in a parking lot,” said parking expert Casey Jones, vice president, SP Plus Corp., a provider of professional parking management services. “The slower speed gives drivers the perception that we can be less vigilant, but we can never let our guard down. You always have to be on your game. There are pedestrians, shopping carts, confusing or non-existent striping, so drivers are not always aware of where they should be. Plus, drivers are distracted looking for a space.” In parking lots, drivers need to be attentive and focused until they reach their final destination, Casey said. A better way One reason parking lot accidents are so common is that a cautious driver “can be doing everything right and still be at risk for a collision,” said Ben Langley, director of driver training for Driving Dynamics, which trains fleet-based auto drivers. “Someone can come out of nowhere barreling down the lane,” and you don’t have a chance to avoid an collision, he said. One of the insider tips that Driving Dynamics teaches is to “pull through” a parking space rather than backing out, which is inherently more dangerous, Langley said. Find a parking spot that has an empty space in front of it, and pull through to this space so your vehicle is pointing forward when parked. This will avoid the need to back out when it is time to leave. Moving forward out of a parking space is a much safer exit strategy, as you immediately benefit from the improved visibility. “The pull-through method is highly recommended. Backing out should be a last resort,” Langley said. By Melissa Erickson More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Melissa Erickson More Content Now Posted Mar. 19, 2015 at 10:24 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501