What to Include in Your Body Corporate Safety Audit

Car Park safety is a legal requirement. Shared car parks and driveways are accidents waiting to happen for body corporates managing residential estates. One scratch on a vehicle, injury to a pedestrian, or near miss can quickly escalate into an over $10,000 claim. The good news is that an on-site audit will prevent most of these events.

This guide provides you with what to include in your Body Corporate Safety Audit, the car park area specifically, if you are making a formal report to the committee or if you simply want peace of mind.

1. General Site Conditions

Start with a walk-through. Take note of:

• Surface Conditions: Are there cracks, potholes, uneven sections, or faded markings? These can pose trip hazards for pedestrians and damage vehicles.
• Drainage Issues: Standing water can cause slips, especially near accessways and bin bays.
• Lighting: Poor visibility increases risk. Check that all areas—especially entry/exit points and pedestrian paths—are well-lit.

2. Pedestrian vs Vehicle Conflict Zones

Anywhere people and cars cross paths is a potential incident waiting to happen. Focus on:

• Pedestrian Pathways: Are there clear walkways? Are they obstructed by bins, bushes, or parked vehicles?
• Crosswalks: Are there marked pedestrian crossings? Are they visible at night or in poor weather?
• Garage Entrances: Check if vehicles have limited sight lines when entering or exiting.
• Letterboxes and Entry Doors: Are these to close to moving traffic?

📍 Checklist:

☐ marked pedestrian paths

☐ No obstacles encroaching paths

☐ Visible crosswalks

☐ Safe access to shared facilities

3. Speed Control Measures

You might have signage, but if no one’s slowing down, it’s not working. Assess:

• Speed Humps: Are they compliant in height and spacing? Are they in good condition, not crumbling or lifting?
• Rumble Bars: Do you have tactile or visual cues to alert drivers in tight areas?
• Speed Signage: Are speed limits displayed? Are signs faded or placed too high to see?

💡 Did you know? Flat-top speed humps are preferred in shared driveways because they slow traffic without causing driver frustration—which is essential for resident retention.

4. Blind Spots and Visibility Hazards

Next, identify pinch points and vision barriers:

• Mirrors: Are convex mirrors installed at blind corners?
• Obstacles: Are there hedges, walls, or bins reducing driver visibility?
• Lighting: Is visibility compromised at night or during bad weather?

🔍 Example hazard: A delivery driver exiting a garage can’t see a child walking past a fence until it’s too late. These are the kinds of preventable risks an audit should flag.

5. Traffic Flow and Signage

An unclear arrangement makes people hesitant, and hesitancy leads to mishaps.

• Directional Signage: Are there pointing arrows or signs?
• No signs for exit or entry: Is the direction to go obvious?
• Visitor Bays: Do guests just pull wherever they can, or are visitor bays provided?

Are fire lanes clearly identified and maintained free of obstructions?

Observe any inconsistent or missing signage. This easy and inexpensive solution can eliminate confusion and complaints.

6. Parking Bay Safety

Check the safety and compliance of all bays:

• Dimensions: Are they wide enough for modern vehicles (SUVs)
• Wheel Stops: Are they installed and in good condition? Missing wheel stops can lead to vehicles overhanging footpaths.
• Line Marking: Faded lines reduce parking discipline. Cars start creeping into pedestrian space or across fire lanes

🛑 Tip: If your wheel stops are cracked or misaligned, note that replacement costs are low—especially compared to a pedestrian injury claim.

7. Entry and Exit Points

The most dangerous areas are often the entries and exits:

• Boom Gates: Are they functioning properly? Sudden closures or failures can damage vehicles.
• Sightlines: Can drivers see oncoming pedestrians or vehicles?
• Speed upon entry: Do drivers accelerate into the complex without awareness?

⚠️ Consider installing a short row of rumble strips before entry gates to alert incoming drivers.

8. Compliance and Insurance Considerations

Even the best intentions don’t mean much if your layout doesn’t meet basic standards.

• Australian Standards Compliance: Are your speed humps, wheel stops, and line markings up to spec?
• Fire Access: Are designated emergency zones free of parked vehicles or obstructions?
• Insurance Requirements: Have you checked with your insurer what safety obligations are tied to your policy?

📁 A good audit will reference applicable AS/NZS standards, especially for line marking widths, signage height, and wheel stop placement.

9. Resident Feedback and Complaints

Your residents are . If you’re hearing your eyes and ears, Hearing complaints about the same issue—take it seriously.

• Are people complaining about speeding drivers?
• Have there been near-misses or recorded incidents?
• Is there confusion over parking rules?

📣 Include a section in your audit summarising recent complaints. It shows the committee that you’re listening and acting proactively.

10. Suggested Upgrades and Budget Estimates

Don’t just report the problems—suggest solutions. Include:

• Priority fixes (e.g. replace missing wheel stops, repaint pedestrian crossings)
• Medium-term upgrades (e.g. add mirrors, install flat-top speed humps)
• Longer-term improvements (e.g. redesigning layout for better traffic flow)

The Audit is Only the First Step

It is good to recognize the risks, but action is the key. Don’t leave yourself at risk, put everything it in writing and show these issues with photographs, standards documents, and suggested repair, then create an action plan. Ensure the residents are being safeguarded, complaints being avoided, and the committee is being shielded from liability.

If you’d like to help review your car park or need professional installation of safety upgrades like speed humps or rumble bars, Speed Humps Australia can assist with both inspections and installation.