In big cities, parking can be mission impossible. In fact, a lot of people leave their cars at home and take the bus or train to work instead. Those who drive and need to park their vehicle in busy areas could spend a lot of time looking for available parking space that when they do spot one, they would immediately take it without thinking whether it’s a safe place to park.
To help you avoid problems when parking your car, take a look at these places so you can properly decide whether it’s worth parking there or not:
An Unsecured Car Park
Paid parking in the city can be costly and usually if we find a rate that’s cheap, we take it without thinking twice. But you do need to think twice if it’s an unsecured car park. There is a higher risk of theft and break-ins in these places. It’s best to just stick to big-name operators that have security systems in place like a CCTV and a gate/fence.
Under Trees
Parking under trees means having to deal with bird droppings, dead leaves and possible falling branches especially when the winds are strong.
Single Yellow Lines
Are single yellow lines safe to park on? Single yellow lines basically mean there are parking restrictions, it all depends on the signage nearby and on where the street is. The road signs for this area are known as yellow time plates and usually include an image of the no waiting road sign along with information on the time of the day (or night) that there are no waiting restrictions. If you don’t see a time plate or road sign, this means that you can’t park at any time.
For the most part, a single yellow line means no parking, but the restriction is usually indicated on the hours marked by a sign.
Near Cliffs, Rocky Areas and Mud Banks
Damage to cars caused by mudslides, falling rocks and water torrents do not come by very often but if you park near these areas, there is a chance your car could get into an accident. To be on the safe side, simply avoid these places especially when the weather is bad.
Bottom of Steep Streets
It’s always risky when you park your vehicle at the bottom of a hilly street. It’s especially dangerous during the winter when the roads could be slippery due to the snow and ice.
Close to the Ocean or Body of Water
Bad weather, freak waves or a raging torrent can make any body of water such as the sea, ocean or river unpredictable. Use common sense and always heed the advice written on nearby signages.
Near Blind Bends
Parking in single lane roads in the countryside can be a nightmare. It’s particularly dangerous to park on blind bends as it could lead to an accident.
High-Crime Areas
Parking on the street can be risky in high crime areas. If you have no other choice, then at the very least make sure your vehicle is locked and you take all valuables with you. You don’t want to leave your Louis Vuitton hand bag on the passenger seat as that could encourage thieves to break your car’s window to steal your purse.