Do You Really Need Wheel Stops?
As a business owner, local council, or facility safety manager, you’re always on the lookout to improve safety and ensure compliance with standards and regulations, whether it’s pedestrian safety in parking areas or traffic management.
If that’s you, and perhaps you might be concerned about the next safety inspector/ WorkSafe check, you’ve likely thought the question:
Do I really need wheel stops, and are wheel stops required?
The answer is, while seeming rather obvious, might be more complicated than you may think.
As you know, wheel stops are commonly used as a traffic management tool to restrict and keep vehicles a safe distance from pedestrian walkways. However, whilst installing wheel stops as a safety barrier in residential, commercial, and industrial areas is essential, there are some key things to know about wheel stops, particularly in compliance with Australian standards.
What you need to do is not only understand why wheel stops are required but also what the standards and regulations associated with them are. That’s what we’ll get into today.
Do I really need wheel stops?
To answer this question of whether you need wheel stops, a good place to start is to look for potential issues within your business parking areas or traffic management plan, whether it is a shared place or you manage a warehouse or logistics operation with forklift traffic, etc.
- Are vehicles in my parking facility interfering with pedestrian pathways?
- Are vehicles parked in the parking lot receiving front-end or undercarriage damage due to high kerbs?
- Do vehicles frequently overhang onto walkways or landscaped areas?
- Is there a risk of vehicles rolling into buildings, other cars, or pedestrian areas?
- Is it challenging for road users to identify disabled and ever-charging spaces in my facility?
- Are forklifts coming into close contact with pedestrian walkways or safety railing systems?
If so, then having wheel stops installed might be a great investment to maximise road and pedestrian safety in your parking area or warehouse facility!
Where are Wheel Stops normally used?
Wheel stops are found in a wide range of carpark areas, industrial and warehouse environments, here are five environments where wheel stops are often being used:
Shopping Centres
Wheel stops in shopping centres, and precincts are vital for the safety, organisation and use of space in shopping centre parking lots. Wheel stops in shopping centres can act as a physical barrier, preventing damage and associated costs to buildings, structures, landscaping, and other vehicles, but also visually indicate limited parking areas like disabled parking, EV-charging stations, employee parking and loading dock areas. In Australia, standards and regulations exist in shopping centres, often requiring wheel stops to be an integral part of safety compliance.
Supermarkets
Wheel stops are commonly used in supermarket parking areas to enhance pedestrian safety, keeping vehicles and pedestrians at a safety distance between one another. In Australia, whether it’s your local Coles or Woolies supermarket parking lot, wheel stops can prevent that annoying feeling for motorists when other vehicles park at awkward angles or park too far forward or backward.
Public Environments
In Public Environments, in a busy city or suburban street, local school, medical facility, or public park, wheel stops play a significant part in keeping parking lots organised, provide motorists with psyical parking guidance and vehicles driving onto sidewalks, medians, or other restricted areas.
Factories and Warehouses
In factories and warehouses, wheel stops protect property, assets and pedestrians from heavy vehicle traffic, whether it’s a forklift or truck. Wheel stops act as an effective traffic management tool to reduce the risk of fatal accidents or damage to goods.
Fencelines
Wheel Stops can prevent vehicles from damaging fences or barriers, protecting both the vehicle and the property.
What are the Australian Standards for Wheel Stops for Placement?
When it comes to car park safety, proper wheel stop placement is key. Understanding correct installation is essential to prevent vehicles from encroaching onto pedestrian walkways, protecting structures, or ensuring compliance with AS/NZS 2890.1:2004.
Compliance with AS/NZS 2890.1:2004
Australian standards dictate that wheel stops:
- Must be between 90-100mm high—many concrete options exceed this.
- Should be placed correctly—distances vary based on kerb height and parking layout.
- Should be avoided in pedestrian-heavy areas to prevent tripping hazards.
Best Practices for Wheel Stop Installation – 3 Easy Steps
When installing wheel stops, make sure you follow these best practices to ensure you meet Australia standards and regulations:
- For kerbs over 150mm high or walls, add 200mm extra clearance.
- Fixing points should be spaced closely for maximum impact resistance.
- Use compliant materials to ensure durability and adherence to standards.
The different types of Wheel Stops
To determine which type of wheel stop would be best suited to your intended application, Traffic Safety Systems has a range of wheel stops to help you with your future safety investment.
Rubber Wheel Stops
Manufactured from durable, high-quality rubber, rubber wheel stops are great for environments that are in areas expected to experience harsh weather conditions. They are great for shopping centres, supermarkets, urban street parking areas, warehouses, and leading zones because of their high visibility, facilitating a safer environment for both vehicle drivers and pedestrians. They are also a low-cost wheel stop option.
At Traffic Safety Systems, our rubber wheel stops are available in a one-piece design at a 1650mm length with black and yellow, green, and blue colour options.
Compliance Wheel Stops (Linear Low-Density Polyethylene)
With sustainability at the forefront, (LLDPE) Compliance Wheel Stops is a ‘greener’ wheel stop choice. Compliance wheel stops with polyethylene are designed to prevent accidental overruns and damage to cars, pedestrians, and infrastructure. This makes these wheel stops perfect for commercial areas as well as warehouses and logistics centres that have heavy car, truck and forklift traffic. Additionally, they are easy to install, maintenance free and cost-effective. They also are made to comply with AS/NZS 2890.1:2004.
Note: Not recommended for gravel or loose surfaces.
At Traffic Safety Systems, our compliance wheel stops made from linear low-density polyethylene are available in a one-piece design with fixing kits available in yellow, blue, green and black. Sold separately, wheel stop signs can be used to allocate various parking lots catering to business and motorist needs.
Heavy Duty Bump Rail
The ideal wheel stops for heavy-duty applications, including trucks and machinery. The Heavy-Duty Bump Rail is designed to offer a higher point for the vehicle wheels.
At Traffic Safety Systems, our Heavy Duty Bump Rail is 2400mm long and supplied pre-drilled and powder-coated yellow.
Truck Wheel Stop
The Truck Wheel Stop is manufactured to tackle the weight of heavy vehicles and machinery driving into parking bays.
Note: Recommended for installation on concrete surfaces only.
Final Word
Wheel stops aren’t just about compliance; they enhance safety and protect vehicles, pedestrians, and property.
If your facility has issues like vehicles overhanging walkways or risking damage, installing compliant wheel stops is a smart move.
By doing so, you can meet Australian standards such as AS/NZS 2890.1:2004, which ensures you avoid regulatory headaches while maintaining safety standards.
Traffic Safety Systems offers durable rubber, eco-friendly, and heavy-duty wheel stops to suit various applications.
If safety and compliance matter to you, the answer is clear—wheel stops are essential.
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