The Psychology of Holiday Parking

(BUSINESS WIRE) - Finding the perfect parking spot during the busy holiday shopping season is like hitting a hole-in-one. But according to those who study the psychology of parking, shoppers who circle parking areas on the hunt for that ideal space often ratchet up their stress levels and inevitably spend more time getting into the store. Andrew J. Velkey II, a psychology professor at Christopher Newport University in Virginia who has conducted studies on parking behavior, says if distant spots are still available, the most effective strategy is to pick a row and then pull into the closest space in that row. 'Perching,' the practice of waiting and following someone to their car, is only your best option when there are no spots left.

The International Parking Institute, the leading association of the parking profession, offers the following tips to keep shoppers stress-free and safe during December, the most challenging parking month of the year:

• Check your parking options before leaving the house. Many retailers and restaurants list parking facilities on their Web sites.
• Choose the distant parking spot. The area may be less congested with traffic and the walk to the store or restaurant is good exercise that will burn calories from all those holiday treats.
• Take a few seconds to note where you parked, perhaps even jotting down information before you leave your car.
• If you park at a metered spot, note the expiration time and plan to return a few minutes early.
• Always lock your vehicle, close the windows, and hide valuables and packages in the trunk.
• Avoid parking next to vans, pickups and large vehicles. They make it more difficult to see pedestrians and other vehicles when you back out of the space.
• Slow down in parking lots to avoid collisions with other vehicles or pedestrians.

"Increasingly, architects, city planners, merchants and restaurateurs are paying more attention to parking and transportation flow," explains Shawn Conrad, Executive Director of the International Parking Institute, "but no matter how well you plan, the nation's more than 100 million parking spaces are in high demand this season and allowing a little extra time to park during the holidays may be the best, stress-reducing strategy of all."