The INK Zone
Number 106 January, 2002
Letter to the Editor
October 25, 2001
Safety at the Shopping Mall
Perhaps it has happened to you, driving in front of the food store on your way to find a parking place near the office supply outlet, you are forced to dodge not only people walking well outside the designated cross walks, there are vehicles parked in front of the stores. Right in front of the signs, (Phoenix Fire Code Section 28.16) stating that by order of the Fire Chief, this is a no parking / no loading zone. Clearly, these folks must be more important than the rest of us to feel they have some special rights to park or wait in front of the store. The rest of us park a full 25 to 50 feet away in spots set aside for safely leaving our cars. In one case, I found a United States Postal delivery vehicle parked right under the Fire Chief’s sign, blocking enough of the road as to restrict the traffic to only one lane.
While it is annoying that some feel they are above having to park and walk, the real issue is the safety of the people in the store. The fire chief posted these signs and prohibiting parking to allow safe and unrestricted access to these facilities in case of an accident, emergency, or fire. If a heart attack victim fails to get the necessary treatment because a Cadillac SUV is blocking the access, who is responsible? Morally, the owner of the car for sure, legally is it the store or the public departments for not enforcing the posted regulations? While that is an issue likely more important after an injury, perhaps what is required is a shift in the behavioral attitude of the public at large. Make us all part of a solution. It is one thing not to have an injury (all accidents are preventable!) and quite another to change our behavior so as not to create the situation where a tragedy could occur. No time in our history is this situation more vivid than since the attacks on September 11.
Is there a solution to the shopping mall parking safety issue or any other no parking areas at schools, hospitals, museums, and public building? There must be. One might be to authorize off duty fire department people the right to give a written “warning” to people they see creating a safety hazard. Some non-binding document that they read and sign that explains the reasons for these regulations and empowers these folks to take a more proactive role in elimination of unsafe conditions. Safety needs to be an attitude not just simple statistics. Often these stores and their parking lots are on private property. Perhaps the owners should be encouraged to take a more proactive role in making safety a focus in their business. The best solution is for each of us to take a proactive role, think what it would be like to be placed in an unsafe position, and let our actions not harm others.
Several global companies have embarked on ambitious and achievable safety programs that go beyond eliminating accidents, to making it a way of life every minute of our life. Phelps Dodge has and excellent program designed and working toward the best of both, no injuries and eliminating the conditions leading to injuries at home and work. I encourage the storeowners, the fire department, and the citizens learn more about these programs and find a fun and effective way to embed the message in the community. We can prevent going to the shopping mall form being an unsafe journey.
Let us respect the needs of others and work toward a safer world. Please.
G.E. McKelvey
The above letter, sent to several newspaper originations in Phoenix, was published in the local new paper. Apathy prevails and no contacts or questions have yet been received by the newspaper, Phelps Dodge, or myself. I still get aggravated when someone creates a safety hazard for others. Sort of makes me want to print some sort of card for their windshield. Any suggestions what it should say??
G.E. McKelvey
GEMPress
9485 East Conquistadores Drive
Scottsdale, Arizona
85255-4345
Gempress@qwest.net
http://www.users.qwest.net/~gempress/index.htm/