What is a wheel stop?

Wheel stops are used to stop the accidental movement of cars due to unwanted car wheel movement.

They are installed in various places, including visitor parking areas, accessible parking spaces, downtown parking garages, and public parking garages.

Like speed bumps, speed cushions, speed ramps, and other traffic management devices, wheel stops also help create safer roads and parking areas for people. They make parking boundaries more visible and alert the drivers when parking a vehicle.

Parking areas with wheel stops experience fewer vehicle-to-vehicle or vehicle-to-other property collisions. Keep reading the article to learn everything about wheel stops.

Different names of wheel stops

Wheel stops used in parking spaces and parking lots are known by many names.

No matter what name you hear of this tool, the purpose of wheel stops is still the same – to provide a hindrance to cars, buses, and other vehicles in a car parking space or street parking before they hit a parking wall or any other object while parked.

They control vehicles’ forward or backward movement when parked in garages, parking spots, or public parking lanes.

Here are the other names of wheel stops that you should know so you do not get confused when you hear these names.

• Wheel stopper

• Car stop

• Daily parking bumper

• Parking curb

• Parking stop

• Parking block

• Parking-lot stop block

• Parking place barrier

• Parking curb wheel stopper

Parking curbs not only provide protection to the visitors of a parking spot but also help keep properties safe.

Though drivers know the obstructions around them when parking a vehicle, installing car wheel stoppers ensures that vehicle-to-vehicle or vehicle-to-property/object collision does not occur.

They are an important part of road safety equipment that administration and property owners need to fit in on-street, airport, and garage parking areas. You can attach them to the ground in your city parking garage so that a vehicle does not move beyond them.

Learn more: Different names of wheel stops.

Frequently asked questions about wheel stops

Learning more about wheel stops is important to understand their true value and usefulness. Here are the answers to frequently asked questions about wheel stops.

What is the role of a wheel stop?

The role of a wheel stop is to prevent collisions between parked vehicles and parking area infrastructure.

It is an effective tool that can help you make your disabled parking, campus parking, and motorcycle parking areas safe for all. They can also reduce repair costs for both the parking and vehicle owners.

What are the different types of parking blocks?

Parking blocks can be divided into categories based on their varying characteristics.

You can divide parking blocks into the following types based on construction material.

• Plastic-Rubber composite

• Rubber wheel stops

• Plastic wheel stops

• Metallic wheel stops

• Wooden wheel stops

• Concrete wheel stops

Similarly, you can divide wheel stops into the following kinds based on the vehicles they use to stop.

• Car wheel stop

• Motorcycle wheel stop

• Truck and trailer wheel stop

• Bus wheel stop

Can wheel stoppers damage cars?

Parking blocks used in visitor parking, reserved parking, metered parking, handicapped parking, off-street parking, and event parking can damage car tires and rims if they drive over them at high speed.

Therefore, you should watch what is ahead when driving or parking.

Are vehicle parking stops a trip hazard?

Parking stops can be a trip hazard if you do not consider a few basic factors while installing them. They become a trip hazard when installed in a poorly lit area where pedestrians cannot see them clearly.

They should also have reflective markings that enhance their visibility. You should install them in a prominent parking structure.

Learn more: Frequently asked questions about wheel stops.

Applications of wheel stops

There are numerous applications of wheel stops. Some of the key applications are:

• Wheel stops are ideal for motorcycle parking, street garages, paid parking, handicapped parking, and accessible parking. They can create an order by maintaining a proper distance between vehicles and clarifying the parking spots.

• They also ensure that all vehicles parked at parallel parking in public or private areas stop at the right position without causing trouble for the other motor vehicle drivers.

• Parking blocks help create enough space for pedestrians who walk around parked vehicles in parking garages, car parking, and free parking areas.

• You can also use them to create a curb around a traffic circle.

• They effectively reduce car damage that cars may experience when contacting an end barrier.

• You can use wheel stops in your paid parking lot, economy parking area, public parking garage, employee parking, perpendicular parking lot, parking facility or other areas where parking is available to protect your physical assets.

• This tool also guides people on parking their cars correctly and prevents parking tickets. You can install wheel stops in areas where forklifts and similar vehicles are used to store items near a pedestrian zone. It will help in keeping pedestrian zones safe by preventing encroachment by vehicles.

Benefits of wheel stoppers

Wheel stops in parking facilities and services offer many benefits.

Some of the benefits are listed below.

• Compared to other competitive tools, they are an economical option for securing vehicles parked at overnight, valet, visitor, per-hour short-term, and monthly parking areas.

• They can be fixed on asphalt and concrete, so you can install them on various driveway parking options.

• Wheel stops made of recycled plastic, rubber, and other materials have reflective tapes that enhance visibility and make them prominent even at night.

• They are easy to install. If you know how to use a drill, you may be able to install them on your own after reading basic instructions and guidelines.

• They are available as temporary and permanent installation options. You can install them in any angle parking, centre parking, guest parking, day parking, green parking, or free parking space based on your temporary or permanent needs.

• They come in different sizes, so you can easily buy your desired tool. If your parking structures are for oversized vehicles, you can get longer and wider wheel stops.
  On the other hand, if your per-day monthly parking or self-parking areas are for motorists, you can easily get wheel stops of smaller lengths and widths.

Conclusion

People having parking permits can securely park their vehicles in permit parking areas with the help of wheel stops. This tool will guide them on where to stop the vehicle according to the parking availability while preventing property and vehicle damage.
Like speed bumps, speed humps, ramps, traffic cones, and other traffic-control tools, wheel stops help manage traffic and reduce the number of accidents in general parking and additional parking sites.

Use wheel stops in your residential parking, individual parking, garage parking space and public parking areas for vehicular, property and pedestrian safety. They are an effective tool that can help make parking areas more organised and safer.