How to Identify High-Risk Zones in Your Residential Complex

Most residential car parks and shared driveways weren’t designed for the sheer volume and variety of traffic they now handle — think delivery drivers, rideshare pickups, tradespeople, residents running late, and visitors unfamiliar with the layout. And while rules and signage help, they’re not enough if your layout has hidden risks.

If you’re managing a residential complex, here’s a blunt truth: your liability starts the moment someone gets hurt in a ‘shared zone’ you’re responsible for.

This guide breaks down how to identify high-risk areas in your complex using nothing more than your eyes, common sense, and a walk around your site.

What Counts as a High-Risk Zone?

A high-risk zone is any part of your complex where:

• Vehicles and pedestrians share the same space
• Visibility is obstructed (fences, bins, columns, overgrown hedges)
• Traffic naturally speeds up (downhill ramps, long straight driveways)
• There are awkward turning points, tight corners, or narrow entries
• Conflicting movements occur, like entry and exit traffic converging at the same point

The 5 Most Common High-Risk Zones in Strata Complexes

Let’s start with what typically goes wrong and where:

1. Blind Corners Near Exits or Entry Ramps

Residents coming in and out often pick up speed, especially if they’re in a rush. Combine that with a tight bend or fencing near the exit, and you’ve got a blind corner that can cause serious near-misses — or worse.

Red Flags:

• Narrow lanes without convex mirrors
• No warning signs before the turn
• Landscaping or bins blocking the view

Fix:

• Install convex mirrors, signage, or flat-top speed humps
• Consider pruning or relocating obstructive items

2. Shared Pedestrian and Vehicle Zones

Footpaths that suddenly vanish or routes that force pedestrians to walk on the road are a problem. And night-time visibility issues are a legal nightmare waiting to happen.

Red Flags:

• No designated pedestrian walkways
• Poor lighting in car parks or laneways
• Driveways used as cut-throughs by foot traffic

Fix:

• Add bollards, painted lines, or tactile ground surface indicators
• Use speed humps to slow traffic where pedestrian paths cross roadways

3. Delivery and Drop-Off Zones

From Uber Eats to furniture deliveries, these spots are often chaotic, especially when they’re not properly marked or managed.

Red Flags:

• No designated loading/drop-off zones
• Couriers blocking shared driveways
• Double parking that forces cars into blind spots

Fix:

• Clearly mark delivery-only bays
• Use signage and surface paint to show ‘keep clear’ zones
• Install rumble bars or flat-top speed humps at approach points

4. Visitor Parking Next to Play Areas or Walkways

If visitor spaces are close to where kids play or people gather, the risk of collision increases dramatically, especially when drivers don’t expect foot traffic.

Red Flags:

• No physical separation between cars and pedestrians
• No speed control between parking spots and walkways

Fix:

• Install wheel stops to prevent vehicles from overhanging into walkways
• Use bollards, raised kerbing, or rumble strips as physical separation

5. Driveways With No Speed Control

Long, straight driveways invite speeding, especially for drivers who live in the complex and treat the route as routine.

Red Flags:

• No speed humps or signage along long stretches
• Residents or tenants complaining about speeding
• Rubber marks or scrapes from harsh braking

Fix:

• Add flat-top speed humps spaced evenly to reduce speed
• Install speed limit signage at entry and mid-points

Step-by-Step: How to Perform a Risk Audit in 30 Minutes

You don’t need a full-blown traffic engineer to start identifying problems. Do this instead:

✅ Walk the site during peak hours (morning and evening)

Watch how cars and pedestrians behave when the site is busiest. Look for:

• Where people walk (and if it’s safe)
• How fast vehicles travel
• Areas where two movements (like reversing and walking) cross paths

✅ Talk to your residents and on-site manager

Ask:

• “Where do you feel unsafe?”
• “Have there been any near misses?”
• “Where do kids play or run out suddenly?”

This uncovers blind spots that signage alone can’t fix.

✅ Take notes and photos

Document what you see. You’ll want to mark:

• Locations of bins, letterboxes, blind corners, entry ramps, etc.
• Pedestrian access points and shared zones
• Any faded paint or worn signage

✅ Highlight risk level per zone

Use a simple rating system (Low, Medium, High) and list any contributing factors, like poor lighting or visibility.

Turning Observations Into Action

Once you’ve identified your high-risk zones, start planning your mitigation measures.

Consider:

• Flat-top speed humps for slowing traffic near pedestrian zones
• Wheel stops to stop vehicles from creeping over walkways
• Rumble bars to provide tactile and audible warning near corners or walls
• Convex mirrors and signage to improve visibility
• Line marking to define safe pedestrian routes

If the budget is tight, prioritise based on the highest risk. Often, the most effective changes are also the simplest.

Don’t Wait for an Incident

Most property managers only act after a complaint or a claim. Don’t be one of them. A proactive audit takes less than an hour and can protect you from serious liability, not to mention injury or property damage.

Need help?
We offer free on-site car park safety inspections for strata complexes. No obligation — just straightforward advice backed by years of experience.