Ensuring people’s safety in a car park can be a difficult task. With moving vehicles and pedestrians – not to mention the general stress that comes with finding the car park- creating a smooth traffic flow presents a challenge even to the smallest car parks out there.
Solutions!
Wheel stops and car park bollards are two highly effective ways of introducing order and safety into a car park – no matter the capacity. While both might seem to be doing similar things at first glance, wheel stops and bollards are two very different solutions regarding car park safety.
So which one of these is right for me?
Here’s everything you need to know.
Wheel Stops
Wheel stops play many roles in a car park. You’ll notice them lining the barriers between car parks, conveniently placed at the head of parking bays separating out adjacent lots.
Bringing order to chaos
Wheel stops aren’t just for stopping a car from rolling forwards. They also serve as crucial parking barriers that prevent one car from encroaching into the opposite parking spot. As such, they serve to provide order and structure to a car park.
Preventing low-speed accidents
Wheel stops can also prevent vehicles from bumping into a hard curb or bollard – by stopping the wheels from moving further, the front of the car is spared the dent.
Improve Traffic Flow
Wheel stops can provide effective solutions to car park traffic flow management – by stopping cars from rogue and dashing across other parking spots, wheel stops ensure cars stay within their lane and keep moving in the right direction without stopping the traffic flow.
Types of Wheel Stops
Depending on your parking layout, there are multiple different kinds of wheel stops available to choose from:
- Rubber Wheel Stops
- Compliance Wheel Stops
- Concrete Wheel Stops
- Heavy-Duty Wheel Stops (for trucks and vans)
For more information on choosing the best type of wheel stops for your parking needs, read our blog on Installation Guide for Wheel Stops in your parking lot.
Car park bollards
Bollards can be found almost everywhere in the city or town centres. Rather than stop cars from rolling over a mark, car park bollards provide a vertical and almost impenetrable barrier to deter and stop cars from moving at higher speeds, thus protecting pedestrians, other vehicles, or property. Many different kinds of bollards exist – for multiple different purposes; safety in car parks can warrant a few different kinds of bollards, for example:
Types of Parking Bollard
Here are some different kinds of bollards that aim to provide different safety solutions within a car park:
1. Permanent Bollards
These are usually heavy-duty or stainless steel bollards that will resist the force of a vehicle moving at high speeds – and can protect against property damage or, in the case of heavy-duty bollards, a ram raid.
2. Retractable Bollards
Suppose you want to manage accessibility while providing a level of safety. In that case, retractable bollards can provide a more seamless traffic flow – with qualified drivers remaining in their car as the board is lowered for vehicle access. If you have reserved parking bays for delivery drivers, you may consider installing a retractable bollard.
3. In-ground Safety Bollards
An in-ground safety bollard will be sufficient for everyday safety and protection in preventing vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-property damage.
4. Fold-down parking bollards
As an alternative to retractable bollards, fold-down parking bollards are a simple way to secure individual parking spots or manage traffic flow through certain areas of your car park. With easy installation, fold-down bollards can be raised and lowered on demand.
5. Removable Bollards
For a lightweight and temporary solution to a traffic flow issue, removable bollards are a cheap and easy way to divert traffic while construction, special events, or other extraordinary events are happening.
6. Cast Iron Bollards
Sometimes it’s not just safety that counts. Having stylish bollards adds to the architectural design of a parking space; with a cast iron bollard, this can easily be achieved with its shapely and prestigious look.
Are bollards or wheel stops better for car park safety?
The answer depends on three main points:
- Car park layout and size – is it flat and open, one-way or multilane? Often open-air car parks around shopping centres will benefit from wheel stops rather than bollards, with little or no surrounding property or walls to crash into. However, bollards may be needed to protect pedestrian and wheelchair access points.
- Property, critical assets, or structures – anything that might need protection (eg utilities) will benefit from bollard protection
- Kinds of vehicles us using the car park – if you’ve got large delivery trucks coming in daily, you might want more than just wheel stops to protect the side of your building.
Finding the balance
In many ways, wheel stops and bollards work together to create a safe and secure parking environment for all vehicles and pedestrians. Using a combination wherever necessary in your parking lot can make a huge difference in your car park’s operation.
Secure your parking lot today with Image Extra
Whether you’re in the planning stages or hoping to upgrade your safety plan, Image Extra is your Perth car park bollards and wheel stop expert. We supply local and Australia-wide businesses with high-quality parking bollards, durable wheel stops, and other safety products you need to reduce liability and create safe and functional car parks. For an obligation-free quote, give us a call today to talk about your wheel stops or bollards installation.