Properly utilized curb stops can provide a great deal of utility to your parking lot or garage. Unfortunately all too many lots feature curb stops which are used at inappropriate times or are inappropriately installed, and this instead leads to a great deal of frustration for drivers on the lot who see more harm than good coming from the stops. If you’re considering adding curb stops to your property, here are some important considerations to ensure that you get the best possible results.
Good Uses of Curb Stops
A curb stop which is being used correctly should be in place in order to prevent greater harm from occurring than the stop would cause on a car which strikes it. There are three primary situations in which adding a curb stop is extremely helpful:
- When a parking spot is up against a wall, adding a curb stop reduces the chances of a vehicle striking the wall. This protects the car as well as the building and anyone inside the building on the other side of the wall.
- Oftentimes permanent structures like metal poles are protected by curb stops. This is particularly helpful if the pole is sturdy and could cause massive damage to the car or elements attached to the pole.
- When a parking spot abuts a pedestrian path, a curb stop is an essential safety tool to reduce the chances of a vehicle accidentally striking a person.
Bad Uses of Curb Stops
The main concerns when installing a curb stop come down to errors in the installation process.
- Improperly aligned curb stops can cause more risk than they prevent. Placing stops with narrow gaps between them creates too small of a pedestrian lane and are a hazard.
- Choosing the wrong size for your stops is another safety risk. While too large stops are likely to reduce pedestrian access, a stop that is not wide enough for the expected vehicles may fail to stop the vehicle sufficiently.
For the best curb stop installation contact NVM Paving & Concrete today at (703)-423-0471.
