How to Prevent Drop Box Traffic Accidents

Drop boxes are placed in a variety of different businesses, from banks and video stores to post offices and government buildings. Many of these drop boxes are very close to traffic, and potentially dangerous for people who are not careful when using the drop box. Good engineering and proper safety design can prevent a lot of danger when this happens, averting accidents and even fatalities.

Things You'll Need

• Drop box "island" design
• Signage and lot paint

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Instructions

• 1

  Isolate pedestrians from vehicles. Situate the drop box on a "safety island" accessible only by foot, not car. Putting the drop box on a sidewalk with a 6-inch curb, installing speed bumps and even erecting concrete pillars or concrete planters are good ways to put barriers between the drop box users and any traffic coming through.

• 2

  Put up signs to direct traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian. Signs that warn vehicles to watch for pedestrians, and which alert that people are on foot will warn drivers to be extra careful. Also, making sure no parking exists near the drop box, helps direct drivers toward other parking spaces. Also include road markings such as crosswalks and handicapped parking markers.

• 3

  Place the drop box as far away from danger zones as possible. Putting the drop box right at the curbside could be dangerous because it would encourage motorists to just pull to the curb, leading to direct conflict of foot and vehicle traffic. If the drop box is across the sidewalk, though, it is clearly impossible to just drive up without getting out of the car. Making users go on foot to use the drop box eliminates accidents since there is far less chance for cars to come into contact with people.