A smooth, even, flat surface is ideal for walking because it reduces the likelihood of twisted ankles or loss of balance which can lead to falls and other painful mishaps. In fact, guidelines require that parking areas be level and even, with cracks, holes and lumps not exceeding 1 cm.

However, heavy use by both pedestrians and vehicle traffic both cause a parking surface to deteriorate. Figure 1 shows examples of damage to look for: broken pavement, and gratings.

Leaks and spills of engine oil or antifreeze, which commonly occur wherever cars are parked, can further add to risks of slips and falls.

In outdoor parking lots, severe weather conditions additionally aggravate even slight damage to the parking surface. As a consequence the risk for falls due to slips and trips is relatively high in this environment.

Speed bumps and tire stops are usually not necessary in a well-designed parking lot. Besides potentially causing damage to vehicles, they create a yet another hazard for tripping - see Figure 2.

The layout of the parking area should make it impossible to drive unsafely or fast.

Otherwise, if speed bumps or tire stops are absolutely necessary:

• locate them away from pedestrian traffic (such as at entrance and exit areas).
• use a speed bump sign and post the recommended speed wherever such bumps have to be used
• speed bumps should be designed according to the provisions of American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) standards

Falls can be prevented through a number of steps:

• good lighting
• good housekeeping
• good quality walking surface in the parking area
• appropriate walking pace: walk, don't run
• paying attention to where you are going
• selection of proper footwear - see Figure 5

Good housekeeping includes:

• cleaning all spills and oily spots immediately
• marking oily or icy spots and wet areas - see Figure 6
• clearing ice or snow as soon as possible
• removing clutter, debris and any obstacles from walkways