5 Ways to Improve Parking Structure Safety
Each day in the United States, millions of people park their cars in parking lots. For most of us, parking lots are just a part of the background and don't impact our day much. However, parking areas are some of the country's most dangerous spaces. Even more dangerous than parking lots are parking garages. Their design almost always means that they're relatively dark (especially if they're underground lots), and there are a lot of places - between cars, behind large pillars, behind stairwell doors - where someone could hide.
- 20% of all car accidents happen in parking lots
- 70% of all hit-and-runs occur in parking lots
- Parking lot accidents result in about 500 deaths yearly and over 60,000 injuries.
- 22% of car thefts and 10% of all violent crimes - including assaults, kidnappings, and murders - take place in parking lots
As we all know, basic security measures can dramatically reduce crime rates in general, but in parking areas specifically, they can have a massive impact. To increase parking lot security and make them safer spaces for customers, staff, and vendors, there are a few things that property owners - including independent lot managers - can do.
Video Surveillance
Studies have shown that simply installing surveillance cameras can result in more than a 50% reduction in crime, specifically in parking areas, as they act as a deterrent to criminal activity.
License Plate and Facial Recognition software can also alert security personnel when individuals on watch lists or unauthorized vehicles or people are attempting to gain access to a restricted parking area.
Access Controls
For parking lots and garages for use by specific individuals, such as building employees or residents, access controls can ensure that only authorized vehicles and individuals gain access and that time-stamped records are available for investigators.
Public Safety DAS and Cellular DAS
Distributed Antenna System that will boost both cellular signals for private citizens and radio signals for public safety officials, parking lot (and building) owners can create a safer, more secure environment for their customers, guests, and staff.
Notification and Alerting Systems (MNS)
In an emergency, it's imperative that everyone in the area knows exactly what to do and where to go - and parking lots are no different.
Remote Monitoring
Being able to remotely monitor and maintain your surveillance cameras, access controls, and notification and alerting systems helps to ensure that property and individuals are safe at all times by preventing outages or downtime.
Click to Read the Expanded Article on Parking Structure Safety