MALL PARKING LOT SURVIVAL TIPS FROM AAA           

NEWS from AAA South Dakota, Dec. 20 – With just a few more shopping days left before Christmas, mall and shopping center parking lots will be busy places, filled with cars, pedestrians and, unfortunately, risk.

AAA offers the following tips to help motorists navigate lots and make better, safer decisions to protect their cars and themselves:

• Eliminate distractions. Turn off or stow cell phones and set up navigation and GPS devices before you begin driving.

• Watch for pedestrians. Remain cautious of pedestrians on crosswalks and moving in between and behind cars. Be alert especially for children who are not always paying attention.
• Be a smart walker. Use walkways and crosswalks, if available. If you must walk in the traffic lanes, be alert for subtle cues – such as car exhaust or reverse lights – that signal a car is about to pull out.
• Head for the side door. At the mall, everyone wants to park near the stores, especially near the main entrance. But most malls have secondary entrances on the sides, and those entrances usually have less traffic and more convenient spaces.
• Learn to play the outfield. Outlying areas have more spaces, lighter traffic and a lower risk of collision.

• See and be seen. Use your headlights when scouring parking garages for spaces, even in the daytime.
• Don’t put yourself in a tight spot. Avoid parking between a pair of tall SUVs or minivans where it might be hard for you to back out of the space. If you can’t see well enough to back out safely, get help from one of your passengers.
• Refrain from reverse. If possible, avoid backing out of a space by either backing into it or “pulling through” two spaces that are open nose-to-nose.
• Don’t let the Grinch steal your gifts. Place packages and shopping bags in the trunk so they are not visible to would-be thieves. It takes a thief just seconds to smash a window and steal your shopping loot.
• Buckle up. Even a low-speed collision can result in injuries. Make sure that everyone is strapped in a seat belt or child car seat while the car is in motion, even if it’s just a short trip to another part of the parking lot.

“People are often injured in fender-benders and collisions caused by drivers who are inattentive or who aggressively cut off others in attempts to get better parking spaces,” said Mark Madeja, spokesman for AAA South Dakota. “Don’t let safety take a back seat as you rush to do your last minute holiday shopping.”

AAA South Dakota is a not-for-profit organization with 10 local offices across the state serving 89,000 members.