Breathe in, breathe out.
As holiday shopping ramps up, parking lots around Greater Victoria are becoming increasingly hectic, and new data suggests these busy environments may be more stressful and dangerous than many realize.
A survey conducted by Ipsos on behalf of ICBC reveals that 51% of drivers report feeling more stressed navigating parking lots compared to open roads, with only 18% saying they feel more relaxed.
In fact, nearly half of respondents (47%) feel less safe in parking lots than on the road.
Conditions like poor weather and darkness only add to the stress. About 37% of drivers feel “very” or “extremely nervous” when navigating parking lots in heavy rain or snow, with the number jumping to 42% in dark, rainy or snowy conditions.
The risk of collisions in parking lots is also a significant concern. The survey found that 7 out of 10 drivers have either been involved in or witnessed a collision or near-miss.
Notably, 13% of respondents have been in an accident while driving in a parking lot, and 16% have experienced one while parked.
While drivers report being highly aware of potential hazards—99% are “somewhat” or “very aware” of risks—there’s a noticeable gap in how they perceive other drivers.
Just 7% believe that other drivers are as aware as they are, suggesting a lack of confidence in the attentiveness of fellow shoppers.
Despite these concerns, almost half of BC drivers (47%) prefer to reverse into parking spaces for better visibility, although 23% still see parking lots as only a “moderately risky” environment.
With holiday shopping in full swing, it’s clear that navigating these spaces requires patience and caution.
The survey, conducted between November 7th and 12th, gathered responses from 628 BC drivers.
