Parking Lot Striping

If for the general public parking lot line striping is an afterthought, as a business owner or manager, you can’t afford to let it be. Maintaining crisp, clear, and easy-to-read parking lot stripes and traffic markings are an important  signal that your business is reputable, inviting, and trustworthy. Moreover, they help prevent the accidents and injuries that can deal businesses a serious—even potentially fatal—blow.

When parking lot line striping is faded, degraded, or otherwise not visible, the risk of preventable accidents and injuries soars. Drivers who can’t clearly see the parking lot markings must resort to using their best judgment when navigating the parking lot and surrounding areas. Given the epidemic of distracted driving, this is a very dangerous situation, and a perfect example of the proverbial “accident waiting to happen.”

Restoring your parking lot striping restores visibility and proper traffic organization. It helps direct pedestrians to walk in safe areas, and reminds drivers that there’s a logic to the traffic flow (and rules to follow). The result is a greatly reduced risk of accidents, lawsuits, and fines.

Over and above concerns around safety and traffic flow, there are those customers or building residents with disabilities to consider. As outlined in the Americans with Disability Act (ADA): 

“When a state, local government or business re-stripes the parking spaces in its parking lot or parking structure, it must do so per the requirements set out in the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design.”

According to the Act, parking lot striping provides the owners and managers of commercial facilities the oopportunity to “remove barriers to access in existing parking lots.” In other words, the Act encourages regular re-striping to further increase access for those with disabilities.

Sound like too much work? Here’s something to consider: If a disabled person feels discriminated against, they can file a lawsuit. Also, if the lack of clear striping causes injury, the costs of legal defense (and higher insurance premiums) will be significant.

How Parking Lot Striping Works: Fire Lane Maintenance

Fire codes require that commercial properties and housing developments maintain a designated fire lane in case of a fire emergency. Any commercial property manager who fails to mark or maintain designated fire lane markings can be found guilty of an infraction. 

For instance, in the State of Washington, the maximum penalty for failing to mark a designated fire lane is $150.00, with each day during which the unlawful act occurs constituting a new violation. And believe us: That’s something we don’t want you or your business to suffer!