Retail Store Safety - Crash Prevention

Ever Hear of "Rebounding" Bollards?

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Wright) — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:12:00 +0000

All images courtesy: Impact Recovery Systems

It's important to know all your options when thinking about how to better protect your storefront from vehicle intrusions. Bollards represent one approach. They come in different sizes and types. Kenneth Parrott, senior project engineer at San Antonio, Texas-based Impact Recovery Systems, talks with me here about “rebounding bollards.” [Note: This post is not an endorsement of any company or type of vehicle barrier. It is offered purely for educational purposes. Always do your own research when considering the appropriate protection solutions for your storefront.]

Mark: What are rebounding bollards and how do they work?

Ken: “Rebounding bollards are a newer type of bollard that, as the name implies, rebounds after being impacted. Some will give way completely and allow a vehicle to run over the bollard, while others provide resistance to the vehicle. Our SlowStop Bollards are made of steel with an elastomer hidden in the base. When a vehicle impacts the bollard, the post and elastomer act together to absorb the energy to stop the vehicle, then rebound to an upright position. This reduces damage to the vehicle, bollard, and foundations, and also reduces the chance of injury to passengers.”

Mark: At what vehicle speeds are rebounding bollards most effective?
Ken: “In general, they are used at lower speeds from 0 to 10 mph. We have bollards from 3” to 6” in diameter that vary in their stopping power, which depends on the expected weight of the vehicle as well as the speed. For a typical 4,000 pound car or light truck, our 4” bollard would absorb up to 4 mph, and our 6” up to 8 mph. Multiple bollards, such as in a picket fence arrangement, work together to increase stopping power. You can find tables that show energy absorption capabilities here.”

Mark: In what types of specific locations/applications do rebounding bollards work best?
Ken: “I would recommend SlowStop Bollards for a storefront that doesn’t have direct access to the public street where vehicles might veer off at a high speed. If your parking lot is protected and lower speeds are expected, steel rebounding bollards are a great choice to reduce maintenance and damage from nuisance impacts.”

Mark: Do rebounding bollards require periodic maintenance of any type to ensure their effectiveness and longevity?

Ken: “They do not require any maintenance to maintain their effectiveness outside of periodic inspection for damage. In fact, one of the main reasons to consider them is that nuisance impacts will not damage the bollard and tear your concrete over time. Bollard covers can be used to eliminate occasional re-painting.”

Mark: Generally speaking, how do rebounding bollards compare to other bollard types on cost?
Ken: “The bollards themselves are more expensive than simply buying steel pipe; however, installation costs can be greatly reduced because they are surface mounted. Because they are sold as a system, they are usually pre-pained and come with all necessary hardware such as anchors. Long-term costs can also be reduced due to lower maintenance and replacement costs.”

Mark: Thanks for this information, Ken. One more time…where can people reach you if they have questions?
Ken: “They can contact me right here at Impact Recovery Systems.”

Editor's Note: For general information about various types and applications of bollards, visit the Whole Building Design Guide primer on bollards from the National Institute of Building Sciences.

Car Gets 20 Feet Inside Walmart Store

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Wright) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 22:07:00 +0000

Image: San Jose F.D.

Video: CBS Local

A man crashed his car through the entrance of a Walmart yesterday in San Jose, California, reportedly coming to a stop about 20 feet inside the store. The company made no mention of the incident on its own online news page or in its Twitter posts, but the story made a big media splash.

KTVU and CBS reported today that the 33-year-old driver was under the influence of drugs, according to police.

Bollards on the Radio

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Wright) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 21:20:00 +0000

As you might imagine, Washington, D.C. is full of high-security buildings, around which a lot of bollards have sprouted since 9/11. You don't hear the word 'bollard' in the media much, so today's story by WAMU 88.5 FM reporter Lauren Ober was a nice surprise. I'll encourage her to do a follow-up piece someday that features bollards in a storefront/parking safety context, but...for now...here's a link to her story.

Spinx Committed to Storefront Safety Protection

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Wright) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 21:55:00 +0000

GUEST POST — By Dennis Knittel & Catherine McClary

Spinx Convenience Store

Storefront crash prevention solutions should be simple, easy to attain, and not cost an arm and a leg. Spinx, a convenience store company serving North and South Carolina, believes the same when it comes to storefront crash safety protection.

With 65+ convenience store locations in the Carolinas, Spinx’s mission is to fulfill customer needs in a clean, safe, and convenient environment — what every customer should expect.

Spinx wanted full facility vehicle accident prevention — effective storefront crash safety, gas pump guarding, possible theft deterrence, and everyday protection for customers and employees with solutions that wouldn’t create extra work or costly upkeep just for doing the right thing.

After strategically placing bollards in the right places and spaces for the right protection, Spinx needed a finishing touch — something unique to Spinx branding, but also staying in the focus of storefront safety. In 2008, the decision emerged to achieve a clean and safe appearance using bollard pipes and bollard covers.

“We ultimately decided to go with bollard covers to cover our pipe posts,” says Tony Peters, Spinx Site Manager. “Bollard covers are much better than painting and they stay put. What more do you need?”

Ideal Shield and its variety of product offerings provided Spinx with exactly what Spinx needed and wanted for their storefront safety.

“We chose Ideal Shield, the ONLY manufacturer that offers a variety of sizes and custom color options to blend in with our store locations. We didn’t want the covers to detract from the overall appearance, but rather blend in with the scenery. Essentially, they are there, they are protecting, but no one sees them.”

It doesn’t get more clean, safe, and convenient than that.

Many stores have found bollards and bollard covers are the best way to prevent costly storefront accident damage. In addition, insurance companies favor businesses that ensure customer and facility safety which in turn reduces rates.

When it comes to 'Never Paint Again', durable, maintenance-free bollard covers, Ideal Shield is the only manufacturer to offer a variety of custom options, from sizes to colors, in order to continue their commitment to quality, safety and crash prevention.

Spinx's commitment to employee and customer safety is second to none. Realizing the value in investing a little more upfront for long-term storefront protection makes them a business that's getting it right.

Dennis Knittel is Director of Distribution, and Catherine McClary is Marketing Content Manager, at Ideal Shield in Detroit, Michigan.

Businesses Are Victims, Too

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Wright) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:41:00 +0000

Photo: Chris Randall, Lakewood-JBLM Patch

This is what Queen's Closet looked like before a driver crashed his car into the store on January 31, 2013. The crash injured five people, including Sandra Alonzo, the owner of this Lakewood, Wash., business (see story on Lakewood-JBLM Patch).

In addition to dealing with her very serious injuries, Sandra is struggling to re-open the business. Deciding to re-open wasn't easy for her, but she is determined to overcome this disaster.

Her situation illustrates the truth in storefront safety expert Rob Reiter's observation to me recently that business owners are as much the victims in these crashes as any individuals who were hit.

My next post will highlight a regional convenience store chain that's been proactive about customer protection. (More details to come, with assistance from my friends at IdealShield.)

For now, though, let me thank Sandra for reaching out to me and the Storefront Safety Council and for sharing details about the crash into her beloved Queen's Closet store. It's a local institution with a loyal following. With her permission, I'll talk about her plans for the business and her experience during the ordeal in coming posts. The most important thing right now, of course, is her own recovery as well as the others who were injured.

Teen Parking Manual Out from IPI & AAA

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Wright) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 22:29:00 +0000

Thanks to the International Parking Institute for letting me contribute tips on how to prevent a vehicle-into-building crash for its just-released parking education manual for teen drivers. You'll find 'Avoiding a Pain in the Glass' on page 5 of the PDF manual, which is available for free download at parking.org.

IPI teamed with AAA Mid-Atlantic and the Mid-Atlantic Safety and Education Foundation, affiliated with AAA, to publish the booklet that educates teen drivers about how to park. IPI launched the collaboration because 70 percent of all vehicular crashes involve parking incidents. The How to Park manual is "designed to boost parking maneuvering skills along with insights to encourage greater respect for parking enforcement, and it concludes with a suggestion that high schoolers consider careers in parking! A publicity campaign targeted at teen media and driver education instructors is planned," said IPI.

This Store Almost Got it Right

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Wright) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 23:21:00 +0000

Image: WSOC-TV

If you look real close, to the far right, you can see two short bollards in front of the doors at this 7-Eleven in the University City community of Charlotte, North Carolina. Two thoughts about this: (a) Uh, way to go 7-Eleven...sort of. A little bit of protection is better than none, all things considered. (b) Unfortunately, two lonely little bollards do not prevent cars in other spaces across the storefront from wreaking havoc...as you can see in this February 1, 2013, accident photo from WSOC-TV. In this instance, the driver reportedly had the transmission in reverse when he accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake.

Bollards need to be the right type, the right height, and in the right places (spaced at the right distance) to stop a moving vehicle. Seeking the expertise of bollard companies (like California-based Blockaides) and parking consultants (like Iowa-based Parking Design Group), is a prudent first step before installing them. (Full disclosure: I've done freelance writing work for both companies.)

The Whole Building Design Guide offers a valuable and impartial primer on bollards — both the vehicle resistant type and others. It's author, Dr. Charles Oakes, has been a helpful and supportive expert resource in my past conversations with him.

Installing bollards is a great step, but there are other strategies for protecting storefronts as well. See our past posts and photos on best practices for such examples.

Expert Witness Testimony Plays Important Role

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Wright) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 23:31:00 +0000

Source: Google Images

Talk with any lawyer who's handled a storefront crash case and you'll quickly hear how pivotal expert witnesses can be. An expert witness can explain to a jury — or in a deposition — the factors that led to a crash and the technical reasons for its outcome.

Generally speaking, an expert witness is someone who has knowledge, experience, training, or other background which is not available in the ordinary course of gathering information for a particular case. Such knowledge may be very specialized, or it might be knowledge that is more frequently applied in areas other than those of a particular case. Whichever, the expert witness has one main function — to provide the best judgment available and render very clear opinions to the court to assist in the decision making process.

An expert witness might serve in one or more of a few basic roles, depending on the lawyer's needs: investigator, educator, and/or evaluator. Being able to communicate sometimes difficult concepts in ways that lay persons like jurors will understand is a vital skill for expert witnesses.

"When facts are in dispute, an expert can sometimes make better sense out of events, or provide a larger context for these events," explains storefront safety expert Rob Reiter, who has been retained in a number of storefront and pedestrian injury cases.

"If a case is very simple, or if large dollars are not in dispute, some simple settlement is often reached. But when there are many factors involved, or if there are differing viewpoints as to fault, or if there is resistance to the amount of a claim or the amount of an offer of settlement, then it is important for an expert to be involved to ensure that there is greater understanding for informed decisions," Reiter says.

Reiter's own work as an expert ties directly to storefront crashes and pedestrian accidents — specifically their causes, the frequency with which they occur, and the many means of prevention. "Using the facts supplied, and using my research and knowledge and experience, I offer opinions to the Court that can be used by all parties in the process," he says.

I can vouch for Reiter's deep knowledge of the subject. (Contact him via LinkedIn.)

In addition, if you're looking for a lawyer with experience in storefront crash cases, I'm happy to make referrals to those with whom I've had contact. (Just drop me an email: mark [at] storefrontcrashes.com). Also, here's a link to the American Bar Association's list of lawyer referral services.

Survey Time: Your Input Needed

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Wright) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 00:33:00 +0000

Source: Google Images

Your thoughts about this site are very important, so I used SurveyMonkey to create a quick questionnaire. 2013 might be a great time for some changes...or not...depending on how you feel about your experience of using StorefrontCrashes.com.

With only eight questions (plus a final comments box), this should take just a couple minutes. I know you're busy and very much appreciate your time and feedback. Please take a moment right now if possible to provide your answers.

Here's the link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NKKSKTS. It will pop up in a new window or new tab in your browser. Please email me (mark [at] storefrontcrashes.com) if you encounter any difficulties or have questions.

I'm still collaborating with colleagues on establishing and nurturing the Storefront Safety Council (StorefrontSafety.org + LinkedIn group). For now, however, they and I believe that continuing this original StorefrontCrashes.com site is a good idea. Let us know if you agree, disagree...or suddenly find yourself in desperate need of a nap after reading this!

You don't need to include your name on the questionnaire, unless you'd like me to follow up with you. I'll let you know via a future post about the survey's results. Thanks as always for your assistance and input.

Coughing Attack Sends SUV through CHP Entrance

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Wright) — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 22:36:00 +0000

The California Highway Patrol got an unwelcome New Year's surprise at its Madera office on Sat., Jan. 5. The Merced Sun-Star reported that a former mayor of nearby Chowchilla suffered an apparent "coughing attack" and plowed through the CHP's entrance.

In the process, he took out "two concrete, sand-filled trash cans, placed to protect the front door of the building" and "destroyed two vending machines" before his vehicle stopped inside the lobby.

Driver Jim Kopshever — whose city council term just ended last month — was not cited due to the medical condition that sent him careening into the CHP lobby. (Good thing. This just isn't the sort of thing a candidate would want to talk about during a campaign.)

Luckily, no one was standing in the normally-busy lobby when the accident occurred. We can only hope the CHP decides to replace those sand-filled containers with something less moveable after its building repairs are complete.

Here's a link to the KFSN-TV video: http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/video?id=8940040&pid=8941528

Thanks to Rob Reiter from Blockaides for the heads-up on this story and for providing the photo.

Wheel Stops Didn't Help this 7-Eleven Store

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Wright) — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 22:20:00 +0000

Photo: WAVY.com

First off, Happy New Year! Second off, this post is not meant to beat up on 7-Eleven. Really. But for pete's sake...we're only two days into 2013 and already here's another reminder of 'The Wheel Stop Follies'.

This 7-Eleven in Chesapeake, Virginia, got nailed this morning by a driver who put her SUV in drive instead of reverse (see WAVY News).

Is the driver to blame? Yes! But this kind of mistake is so common, no business with nose-in parking spaces can think it's immune from such accidents — especially not one with as many stores and as many storefront crashes under its belt as this one.

Moreover, no 'nose-in' parking space should have only a shallow bumper stop between it and the storefront. While the proverbial picture is worth a thousand words, this one is worth just seven: "Wheel stops don't 'stop' a moving vehicle."

When this driver put her SUV in 'drive' and crashed forward through the window, who knows if she had even pressed the accelerator yet before the vehicle moved forward. Either way, there was nothing there to stop her vehicle from quickly causing damage to the store. Luckily, no one was injured in this one.

WAVY reported that, "The 7-Eleven will be closed until further notice and the crash remains under investigation." So, just to summarize: (a) A zillion-dollar company put nothing but wheel stops between its customers' cars and its store. (b) The wheel stops (as usual) didn't prevent a vehicle from crashing into the storefront. (c) Said zillion-dollar company lost revenue from having to close, incurred significant property damage, and was just lucky no one (including its employees) got hurt.

Again, 'not beating up on 7-Eleven. It's just one of many brands putting its property and people at risk by apparently trusting in wheel stops.

Farmers Insurance Employee Killed in Office Crash

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Wright) — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 21:43:00 +0000

Photo: Mark Harrison / © The Seattle Times

Tragedy struck in Renton, Wash., last month when an 80-year-old driver crashed her car into a Farmers Insurance office, pinning office manager Kaye Hall. First responders were unable to revive her.

Note the yellow-striped wheel stop (aka 'bumper stop') at the head of the parking space in this Seattle Times photo of the accident scene. As parking design experts have told me in the past, wheel stops don't actually stop or prevent a vehicle from moving forward. While the devices might serve as a guide for cautious drivers slowly inching forward toward the head of the parking space, bumper stops can serve to launch a vehicle up and forward if the driver hasn't come to a full stop.

Note also the nose-in (aka 'front-in') parking configuration. With no effective barriers/bollards between the parking spaces and the building, the people occupying those offices are sitting ducks for another crash of this type.

According to news reports, this accident was under investigation and no charges against the driver were announced ahead of its conclusion.

Sources:

7-Eleven Crash Memories

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Wright) — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 02:47:00 +0000

Photo: East Portland News

This recent crash into a 7-Eleven store in Portland, Oregon, reminded me a little too much about my own encounter with a vehicle about four years ago at a 7-Eleven. In both instances, the driver was elderly. Luckily, no one was injured in this Portland episode. As the East Portland News notes: "It is not clear if the driver had had a medical issue which caused the incident, or if he had just become confused and stepped on the gas instead of the brake."

Given how frequently these types of accidents happen, I just shake my head when I see that ~~useless~~ shallow curb in front of the 7-Eleven. It's so easy for a vehicle to roll right up and over that curb — and keep going right through the glass — as you can see.

Thanks to David Ashton at East Portland News for covering the story and for allowing use of the above photo. Thanks also to Rob Reiter for the heads-up on the crash.

NPR Story: 'When to Hang Up the Keys'

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Wright) — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 14:25:00 +0000

NPR featured a compelling piece this morning about driving as we age: When Should Seniors Hang Up The Car Keys? A doctor interviewed in the segment suggests developing an 'advance driving directive' to make the decision, and the conversation, easier.

(Photo: NPR – Martin Novak/iStockphoto.com)

A Near Miss: Eyewitness's First-hand Account

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Wright) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 17:27:00 +0000

Convenience store crash in Chula Vista, California
(Source: Ricardo Sarmiento)

When Ricardo Sarmiento emailed me yesterday about a storefront crash near San Diego, California, I asked him if I could post his story. Here it is, in his own words:

Earlier this week, I went to my local convenience store with my cousin to buy a coffee. While standing at the register a car crashed through the window. It was a terrifying experience.

Only moments before that happened I was going to walk through the area where the car smashed through the glass. However, my attention had been diverted and I chose to walk the long way around the counter to look at a product my cousin wanted to show me.

Fortunately, I was not struck by the vehicle, but was hit by flying glass and debris. While waiting for the police and fire department to arrive, I was speaking with the staff and owner of the store. What I found shocking was that the owner told me "this has happened before."

Over the last several days, his comment has stuck with me. If he was able to reasonably foresee that this could happen, why hasn't he installed vertical barriers?

Source: Ricardo Sarmiento

While we were lucky to walk out of the store and return home to our families, this could have been a tragic event.

The more I think about what happened—and believe me it has popped into my head quite a few times this past week—the more outraged I am that there were not vertical barriers installed or some type of pedestrian protection barrier on the property.

I am sure many people have seen the videos of cars crashing into stores. Usually, they show these on "Caught on Camera," but I don't think anyone can truly appreciate how quickly the things happen.

There was no warning, it happened so fast. I keep playing the event back in my mind and I cannot believe how quickly it all happened.

It was a miracle I walked out of that store.

Many thanks to Ricardo for contacting StorefrontCrashes.com and writing about his experience.

100-Year-Old Driver Backs into Crowd

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Wright) — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 23:45:00 +0000

Photo: AP via Daily Mail

A 100-year-old driver accidentally hit 11 pedestrians on a Los Angeles sidewalk August 29, 2012, apparently while trying to back out of a parking space. Nine of the victims were children. Some were trapped under the car, according to news accounts.

News links: Daily Mail | San Francisco Chronicle

Follow-ups: Car examined (L.A. Times) | He'll stop driving (L.A. Times)

Thanks to Marc Silverstein of Rockville, Maryland-based On The Marc Media and Beverly Hill of Abbey, Weitzenberg, Warren & Emery law firm in Santa Rosa, California, for the heads-up to this story.

[KTLA video]

Two Crashes, Same 'Shock'

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Wright) — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:00:00 +0000

People on the receiving end of a storefront crash — whether or not they're actually injured — describe strikingly similar emotions afterward. These two examples from August 2012 crash scenes provide good insight into what people go through. While I don't like to dwell on psychological trauma, per se, reminders about the true impact of these crashes help us all remember there's more at stake than some broken windows.

[CBS2 video]
In a Jersey City, New Jersey, crash, a 55-year-old drunk driver slammed into a Dunkin' Donuts August 13, 2012 (see details via CBS2 New York). One of the eight people injured recalled her fear for CBS2 the next day: "I thought that was it for me...Not only me, but the other people. I thought, ‘That’s it.’ I still haven’t slept, I’m still awake. I see the vehicle, I see the glass, I see everything now."

In New York City's Hudson neighborhood, a 17-year-old driver crashed a minivan into Palmer Market August 23, 2012 — luckily not injuring the store clerk but leaving her shocked and exasperated, not only by the crash but by the kid's nonchalant attitude immediately afterward. She tells the story best herself, in this NashuaTelegraph video.

Photo: NashuaTelegraph, attributed to Hudson police

Bad Day for a Good Business

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Wright) — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 17:20:00 +0000

While I hate seeing any storefront smashed in like this, it's even worse when the business belongs to one of my favorite restaurant chains. Glad to read no one was injured, at least. Details: http://www.nbcdfw.com/traffic/stories/Car-Crashes-Into-Five-Guys-in-Fort-Worth-167586015.html

Photo: NBCdfw.com

Five for Friday: Recent Crash Examples

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Wright) — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 15:13:00 +0000

Photo: WSAV.com

Savannah, GA: Elderly driver plows into Wendy's restaurant when her foot slips off brake pedal – photo left (August 3, 2012 - WSAV)

Commack, NY: Driver charged after daughter dies from July crash into 7-Eleven (August 1, 2012 - Patch.com)

Bowdoinham, ME: General store and restaurant destroyed when pickup truck crashes through building (July 25, 2012 - PressHerald.com)

McKees Rocks, PA: Three injured in DUI-related late-night crash into building (August 10, 2012 - CBSPittsburgh)

Colorado Springs, CO: Driver runs over handicapped parking sign and crashes into glass entrance of shoe store – see video below (August 2, 2012 - KKTV.com)

Convenience Store Clerk Takes a Hit

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Wright) — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 22:09:00 +0000

“Raj” Kumar got a huge surprise July 23, 2012, during his night shift at a Hi Ho convenience store in Navasota, Texas. Luckily, he's still alive to talk about it.

This article in the Navasota Examiner and the video below (source: KBTX) tell the story of what happened to him and the store when a 36-year-old driver (allegedly under the influence and possibly confusing her gas/brake pedals) crashed her SUV through the wall.

Thanks to paralegal Beverly B. Hill for the heads-up on this crash.

New ASTM Standard on Low Speed Barriers Coming

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Wright) — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 05:51:00 +0000

In a move that will help local jurisdictions as well as specifying architects and engineers, ASTM International is developing a proposed new standard for testing low speed vehicle barriers to be installed to protect storefronts and other pedestrian areas from errant vehicle crashes.

This is a big deal, because ASTM International standards are used by manufacturers, engineers, architects and others in designing, building and specifying thousands of products and materials used in the built environment that the rest of us in everyday life just take for granted.

Formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM International develops international voluntary consensus standards "to improve product quality, enhance safety, facilitate market access and trade, and build consumer confidence."

With 12,000+ standards already in use around the world, an ASTM standard for testing barriers will give confidence to designers, property owners, and municipal and building officials who want to specify barrier products that will be both cost effective and completely dependable for the protection of the public wherever they live, work, eat, play, and shop.

ASTM International Committee F12 on Security Systems and Equipment is developing the proposed new standard, ASTM WK13074, 'Test Method for Low Speed Barriers for Errant Vehicles'. The standard is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee F12.10 on Systems Products and Services.

Dean Alberson, Ph.D, P.E., a research engineer with Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University, co-chairs Subcommittee F12.10 along with Storefront Safety Council co-founder Rob Reiter.

See the whole story in ASTM International's Standardization News.

Young & Old Alike Cause Crashes

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Wright) — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 21:37:00 +0000

Photo: WWBT NBC12

A 13-year-old girl driving in a grocery store parking lot (while accompanied by an adult) struck a 25-year-old pedestrian, then crashed into the store's entrance. The accident occurred July 22, 2012, in Comstock, Michigan.

In Ashland, Virginia, an 81-year-old driver plowed into a restaurant on July 13. Luckily, the restaurant was closed that day. Bystanders said had it been open, people very likely would have been sitting right where the car came crashing in (photo above left).

Photo: WWBT NBC12

In nearby Henrico, Virginia, two people were hurt on July 9 — one with life-threatening injuries — when a driver crashed into a dialysis center (photo below right).

Both the 13-year-old and the 81-year-old drivers reportedly confused their pedals, hitting the gas instead of the brake.

Your Feedback Needed

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Wright) — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 21:15:00 +0000

For those of you not on LinkedIn, I'm posting this request for input here as well.

Explaining the Storefront Safety Council's mission as concisely and briefly as possible will help us as we connect with more people.

Here are five variations. Do you like any? Dislike any? Have changes or alternatives to suggest?

The Storefront Safety Council wants to stop vehicle-into-building crashes.
The Storefront Safety Council works to prevent crashes into buildings.
The Storefront Safety Council works to prevent vehicle-into-building crashes.
The Storefront Safety Council promotes vehicle-into-building crash prevention and protection strategies.
The Storefront Safety Council engages key stakeholders to prevent vehicle-into-building crashes.

All comments welcome. You can send feedback via the comments form here with this post, or email me: mark [at] storefrontcrashes.com.

I know not everyone is into this wonky stuff, but your thoughts will be valuable. Thanks!

Creating a Team

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Wright) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 16:14:00 +0000

Well, we're in for quite a ride.

One of the suggestions that emerged from the roundtable discussion in Phoenix last month: Focus this effort through a single entity, a primary identity, to avoid confusion and simplify engagement. Folks there also liked the Storefront Safety Council name over alternatives we tossed around.

So, I'm collaborating with others to form the Storefront Safety Council — which until now was only 'virtual' as a LinkedIn group — into an actual organization. That will most likely mean incorporating, filing with the IRS for non-profit status, creating a distinct Web presence, and — most importantly — building a team.

If you have already signed up on this site to automatically receive new posts (thanks!) then you're already part of the team. You're an informed ambassador who can help educate others about vehicle-into-building crashes. Consider the new Storefront Safety Council a tool to help you do that even more effectively — and a way to make common cause with others who want to help.

A lot of behind-the-scenes work will be needed to establish the Council, and I'll keep you posted via this site as specific milestones are achieved.

Once the Council has its own website and email system up and running, I will probably put 'storefrontcrashes.com' on life support and leave it as an archive. The new domain name has been purchased, but the site needs to be designed and populated with content — so I'll announce the new URL once it's ready for prime time.

While this is, obviously, a serious initiative aimed at solving a serious safety problem — there's no reason we can't have fun working together. As this train chugs out of the station and heads into the first of what will be many hills and curves...feel free to scream, wave your arms, and feel the excitement. Oh, and bring your friends, too.

— Mark

Five Injured in Dunkin Donuts Crash

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Wright) — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 21:55:00 +0000

A driver described as an 'elderly woman' accelerated while pulling into a parking spot in front of a Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Dunkin' Donuts and crashed through the entrance today, injuring five people, according to LehighValleyLive. The driver's car came to a rest inside the shop in front of the cash registers.

While the injuries from this crash were reportedly not deemed serious, LehighValleyLive noted that two fatal vehicle-into-building crashes had occurred in the area:

"On Nov. 21, 2006, a 59-year-old woman was killed when a car crashed into the front of an Allentown jewelry store. Joan E. Zamborsky, of the 900 block of North St. Lucas Street, Allentown, died shortly after being struck by a car at Bixler's Jewelers in the 3100 block of Tilghman Street. Three other customers were hospitalized. The driver, 82-year-old Sung Yeung Kam, of Allentown, and store employees were uninjured, police said."
"On Feb. 25, 1999, Chantal Rodriguez, 2, of Whitehall, died after an automobile crashed into La Fontana restaurant at 960 Broadway, a Fountain Hill pizza shop owned by her father, Chavez "Chance" Rodriguez. Two other restaurant patrons were injured in the crash."

I can't help noting the two bollards in front — set so far apart at the far sides of the shop's entrance that, well, a vehicle could drive straight between them. 'Just sayin'....

Photo: LehighValleyLive

Thanks to Rob Reiter for the heads-up on this accident.