THE CURB PARKING EFFECT

THE CURB PARKING EFFECT IS DISCUSSED IN REFERENCE TO THE FOLLOWING THREE BASIC ELEMENTS: ROADWAY, VEHICLE, AND DRIVER. CURB PARKING CAN LEAD TO THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF ACCIDENTS; (1) A STANDING VEHICLE BEING STRUCK BY A MOVING VEHICLE, (2) A DRIVER STOPPING TO PARK INVITES REAR-END COLLISIONS, (3) MANY DRIVERS OPEN THE STREET SIDE DOOR WITHOUT LOOKING, (4) A VEHICLE PULLING AWAY FROM THE CURB AND (5) RESTRICTED SIGHT DISTANCE AT STREET INTERSECTIONS OR DRIVEWAYS. SEVERAL STUDIES HAVE SHOWN IN TYPICAL CITIES THAT CURB PARKING IS DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ABOUT 1-IN -5 TOTAL URBAN ACCIDENTS. A FIVE-YEAR STUDY WAS MADE IN ONE CITY TO DETERMINE THE RELATIVE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PARKED CAR ACCIDENT RATE AND ITS RELATION TO STREET TYPES. WHEN EXAMINING THE MINOR OR LOCAL STREETS, THE RESULTS SHOWED THAT 43 PER CENT OF ALL ACCIDENTS ON THESE STREETS WERE DIRECTLY CAUSED BY CURB PARKING. IF MID-BLOCK ACCIDENTS, ONLY, ARE CONSIDERED, IT IS FOUND THAT 2-THIRDS INVOLVED CURB PARKING. ANGLE PARKING DISCUSSED AS BEING VERY HAZARDOUS. ONE RECENT STUDY OF ANGLE PARKING FOUND AN ACCIDENT RATE OF 63 PER MILE PER YEAR. COMMUNITY METHODS TO DEVELOP ADEQUATE OFF-STREET PARKING FACILITIES ARE DISCUSSED. ENABLING LEGISLATION IS NEEDED IN MANY CASES AT THE COMMUNITY AND STATE LEVELS TO ALLOW THE LOCAL GROUP TO CONDEMN PROPERTY, AND ASSESS BENEFITTED OWNERS FOR PROVISION OF ALL TYPES OF PARKING OF ALL TYPES OF LAND. DEVELOPMENT OF PARKING PROGRAM LEGISLATION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS AUXILIARY TO ADEQUATE ZONING PROVISIONS. INFORMATION OF PARKING NEEDS IS ESSENTIAL IF ZONING PROVISIONS ARE TO BE OF MAXIMUM UTILITY.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 18, No 2, PP 6-10, 2 FIG, 2 PHOT
• Authors:
  • Box, P C
• Publication Date: 1970-2

Media Info

• Serial:
  • TRAFFIC DIGEST AND REVIEW
  • Publisher: Northwestern University, Evanston

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Angle parking; Crash causes; Crash rates; Crashes; Doors; Drivers; Highways; Legislation; Motor vehicles; Off street parking; On street parking; Parking; Property condemnation; Rear end crashes; Sight distance; Traffic crashes; Urban areas; Zoning
• Uncontrolled Terms: Parked vehicles
• Old TRIS Terms: Enabling legislation
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00220851
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 15 1970 12:00AM