Understanding Wheel Stops and Where They Are Needed

Rubber wheel stops are essential for enhancing safety and organisation in car parks. By preventing vehicles from overshooting their spaces, they protect pedestrians and maintain order. These practical tools are necessary in locations such as shopping centres, office buildings, and residential areas.

If you're in the market for safety solutions and the focus is making car parks safer and more organised, this article is for you. Here’s what you need to know about how wheel stops can help.

Using Wheel Stops Properly 

The most likely place to spot a wheel stop is in a car park or a designated parking area. So, where do you need a wheel stopper? The answer is simple. 

The first and most obvious use for a wheel stop is to designate parking spaces in a car park. In conjunction with linemarking paint, you can clearly define parking bays, giving drivers a view of where they should park. 

Wheel stops improve safety by placing a physical barrier between moving and parked vehicles, which is key to preventing injuries and accidents. They also prevent drivers from overshooting parking spaces and intruding into pedestrian zones. 

Further, a wheel stopper prevents damage to vehicles. By preventing a parking vehicle from overshooting its space, you protect other vehicles, people, and objects from collisions. That's why they are so commonly found in parking areas. In many car parks, you will notice a combination of parking bollards, wheel stops, and linemarking paint. You don't need one solution only, sometimes, the best safety solution is a multi-pronged approach. 

If you have a car park, you should have wheel stops. Whether you manage a stadium, shopping centre, office building, hospital or apartment complex. As long as there are vehicles parking, there should be safety solutions in place to mitigate risk. That goes for neighbourhood parking bays, too, whether parking is assigned or not. 

Wheel stops can also be used around the perimeter of an area to define pedestrian walkways, using reflective tape to ensure it's clearly visible to drivers and walkers. 

Are wheel stops suitable for use outside of parking lots? 

Some mechanics utilise them to create clear working zones in auto body shops, car washes and petrol stations are also common users. Otherwise, the most likely place to spot a wheel stop is a parking lot. Ultimately, their purpose is to control how cars park. Their use is going to make your car park safer and more efficient. 

However, they can also protect vehicles from scraping against plants and hedges, which keeps your landscaping intact. This is something many homeowners utilise wheel stops for, to ensure guests don't damage their plant life. 

If you're looking for quick and practical ways to make parking more organised and safer, then wheel stops are a must in any parking infrastructure. 

Benefits, Maintenance, and Installation 

Wheel stops improve safety, prevent damage, designate car parking spaces, and are as easy to install as they are cost-effective. 

If you don't properly install and maintain your wheel stops, they can increase the risk of injuries. Reflective tape can ensure they remain visible to avoid trips or slips. Most rubber wheel stops are durable enough to be run over without much damage, but this relies on proper installation. If they haven't been properly installed, they may be more prone to damage. 

You can reduce the risk of trips and slips by ensuring they are perfectly aligned, centred in each parking space, and well-maintained. 

As for installation, once you have identified the location, you need to prepare the surface by sweeping the area to remove dirt and debris. Mark the location where it's being installed, install the anchors by first drilling into the surface, and place the wheel stops on the anchors to secure them in place with the bolts or screws provided. 

It's vital to follow the installation guidelines; if you don't have the correct tools or you're unsure whether you're confident in your abilities, Safehub has an installation team who can take care of the process for you. 

Once your wheel stops are in place, be sure to carry out regular inspections for damage, carry out regular cleaning to prevent slips, trips, and damage, and replace or repair a damaged wheel stop the moment you notice the signs. 

Choose SafeHub 

Wheel stops are useful in maintaining space between parked vehicles and are an excellent barrier to protect pedestrians and assets from moving vehicles. They're the most effective solution to stop unintentional vehicle movement. However, if you are concerned about intentional vehicle movement, you may want to check out our range of bollards to bolster your security, whether in your car parks or at the entry points of your premises. 

Whether you're in the market for wheel stops, parking bollards, speed bumps, or safety signs, Safehub stocks a wide range of safety solutions for every industry. We have everything you need to ensure your business or premises are safe and secure. If you want to place an order for wheel stops or you need to make use of our installation service, get in touch with the team to discuss your options.