Parking your car is a simple enough task. But it comes with some risks, including crime and theft. A dark, desolate parking garage or even a surface lot can be an easy target for criminals. That’s why it’s so critical to create parking sites that prioritize safety through their design and features. The right approach can deter criminals and help people feel more comfortable.
Keep reading to learn about 11 tactics to help reduce crime at parking sites.
1. Focus on Good Lighting
When you’re trying to prevent crime, don’t underestimate the importance of good lighting. Ensuring that there is consistent lighting within parking lots means everyone is more visible. Account for stairwells and all corners within parking areas, too. You don’t want to create hiding areas where anyone walking by is more vulnerable.
2. Avoid Glare
While even lighting is critical, you also need to account for glare when you’re looking at parking lot security. When the lighting is too strong, you can create distracting glare as well as large shadows that make visibility difficult. You can steer clear of this issue by keeping lights elevated enough above the parking area and turning to shielded light fixtures, which are opaque caps that reduce brightness.
3. Trim All Landscaping
Yes, landscaping can enhance the appearance of a parking area. But it can also pose a safety threat. Trim all hedges, trees, and plants so they don’t block views or provide hiding spots for people with malicious intentions. Maintain trees so that they have high canopies, and avoid large, dense bushes near walkways or entrances.
4. Use Transparent Cores
Closed-off stairwells and walkways within parking areas can be attractive to criminals. It’s better to design stairways and paths so that they are constructed with glass walls and open spaces. Transparent cores can make it easier to see what’s happening in case there is a criminal act or an emergency.
5. Invest in a Surveillance and Gate Plan
Visible parking surveillance measures, like cameras and access gates, are an excellent investment. You just need to make sure that you’re mounting cameras at optimal heights and in locations where they can capture the most information. Likewise, having guards and gates can add an extra layer of security to your parking site.
6. Build Parking Structures Near Busy Places
Remote parking areas can invite criminal activity. Instead, place new structures in busy areas near retail strips or office complexes. When more people are walking or driving in the area, that can keep criminals away. Additionally, look into adding a ground-level coffee shop or other small business to help keep more foot traffic in the area.
7. Use Clear Signage
If someone looks lost or confused, they can be a bigger target for crime. Help anyone in your parking structure know where to go confidently by using clear signage and logical layouts. Bright colors can guide people toward exits. Use color-coded numbers or letters to label levels and lots, too, so people can find their cars easily.
8. Keep Foot Traffic Safe
Use clear pedestrian lights and pathways so that walkers are never on the same pathway as cars. As people move from parking sites to sidewalks and businesses, they shouldn’t have to worry about wandering into vehicle lanes. Use raised curbs to define walkways and painted lines for visibility.
9. Introduce Convex Mirrors
Convex mirrors can be another piece of your parking site safety strategy. Especially at corners and stairways, these mirrors enable drivers and walkers to know what’s coming before they turn a corner and enter a new space. These mirrors can help cars avoid collisions and help pedestrians feel more aware of their surroundings.
10. Add Emergency Call Stations
Emergency call stations can offer peace of mind in parking structures. They can be lifesaving resources in the event of an emergency, too. Place them in areas with more foot traffic and use bright colors to make them stand out from their surroundings.
11. Turn to Durable Materials
When you use durable materials to construct parking sites and the signage within them, you can trust that they will stand the test of time. Robust materials can resist vandalism and weather-related deterioration more effectively.
Reduce Crime Through Smart Design Choices
You can help limit the potential for crime in parking sites through a multifaceted effort. Introduce clear signage, strong lighting, convex mirrors, and logical layouts. Provide emergency call boxes and place your parking structure near busier retail areas. Taking these steps can help create a safer environment for the people who depend on these structures.
