Uses and Misuse of Wheel Stops at Parking Spaces in California
As documented in the following photographs, wheel stops are physical barriers installed at parking spaces to deter potentially problematic vehicle movement. It is important to emphasize that these devices do not function as a protective safeguard against moving vehicles – serious injuries and/or extensive property damage are the not-uncommon consequences of cars accidently being driven over standard wheel stops.
Instead, in most situations, the main purpose of a wheel stop simply is to serve as a physical signal to the driver that no additional forward movement is advised. For example, when a slowly-moving vehicle comes into contact with the concrete wheel stops seen in Photo 1, the driver knows that any further forward movement could lead to a physically damaging interaction with this massive wall.
Photo 1 – These wheel stops protect drivers and their cars from damaging interaction with this concrete wall.
Photo 2 – These wheel stops prevent: a) encroachment into the marked accessible pathway, and b) damaging interaction with steel posts that hold required signage. (Also note the structural bollards at right.)
Photo 3 – These wheel stops protect drivers and their cars from damaging interaction with required steel posts.
