Maybe you rarely travel anywhere on foot, particularly if your Indiana community lacks decent sidewalks and intersections with well-marked crosswalks. However, most people find walking across parking lots a part of everyday life. At the Doane Law Office, LLC, we understand that these short trips between the vehicle and the final destination can at times be even more dangerous than walking across town.

The National Safety Council explains that driver distraction is one of the major dangers you face in parking lots. Someone who would never send a text on the highway may have no problem programming a GPS while coasting down the aisle toward the exit; in fact, in a nationwide public opinion poll, 63 percent of drivers claimed they would do this. Other activities participants would engage in while driving through a parking lot include the following:

• Texting
• Making phone calls
• Using social media
• Sending or reading electronic messages
• Taking photos
• Watching videos

Many adults may also be so wrapped up in their to-do lists and errands that they forget to make sure you are out of their path before backing out. Teens tend to be more engaged in grooming than cellphone use.

Other common behaviors that are a threat to your safety include cutting across lanes, ignoring directional signs and stop signs, and driving at an unsafe speed. Some drivers may also rely too heavily on the vehicle systems such as rear cameras and fail to check mirrors before backing out.

Whether you are walking or driving across the parking lot, your best bet for safety is to put away your phone until you reach your destination and remain alert to everyone else around you. More information about how negligent drivers put pedestrians at risk is available on our webpage.