Look out holiday shoppers: mall parking lot crashes peak in December

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – ‘Tis the season for holiday shopping, and parking lot crashes, it seems.

As shoppers rush to pick up presents, there’s also an increase in minor accidents in parking lots. Ever year there are 1,500 parking lot crashes in B.C., and most of them happen in December, according to ICBC.

While most accidents only result in minor vehicle damage, 5,400 people were hurt in these crashes in 2017. Joanna Linsangan with ICBC says the aftermath can result in an onslaught of headaches from ICBC claims.

“Crashes do increase based on when is the most popular time people go to malls,” she says.

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That means most of them happen between noon and 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Now ICBC is asking drivers to take extra care when they start holiday shopping on Black Friday.

“What we’re hoping is that people can just slow down, pay attention to the signs, and just be hyper-aware of vehicles and pedestrians who may not be paying attention,” she says.

In 2017, there was an average of 200 crashes in mall parking lots.

Data: ICBC

 

Tips to stay safe in parking lots from ICBC:

– The rules of the road still apply, even on private property, like in a parking lot

– Park with your car facing outward to avoid problems with blind spots

– Park further away if you can and avoid the traffic

– Slow down and be alert, especially for pedestrians and children

– Pay attention to arrows and stop signs

– Don’t block traffic by idling by a parking spot

– Let it go: don’t have a showdown with another driver over a parking spot