Difficult reversing: Unsafe

Find out how this scenario can be made safer

Site description

An industrial unit sits at the rear of a small shopping centre. There is a shared entrance to a courtyard area, part of which was set aside for staff parking. Cars parked amongst the bins, pallets and other rubbish.

The accident

A delivery driver, knowing there is nowhere to turn his vehicle around, reverses to his drop off point. His route is made difficult by cars parked on the corner. A shop assistant arriving back from lunch walks out from behind his car and is hit by the van.

The consequences

The shop assistant suffered a severely broken leg, and was unable to return to work. The delivery company was subsequently ordered to pay heavy damages. Some of the staff threatened strike action if the parking situation was not improved.