What is the difference between a parking area and a parking lot?
3 Answers
The difference between a parking area and a parking lot lies in: a parking lot is constructed in service areas outside of highways, allowing for long-term parking and rest without affecting driving safety. A parking area is a temporary stopping point set up on highways, such as temporary passenger pick-up points or emergency stops for malfunctioning vehicles, and does not permit long-term parking. Relevant introduction to parking areas: 1. Setup: Parking areas provide facilities such as public toilets, benches, and a small number of parking spaces. The classification of traffic engineering and roadside facilities is divided into four levels: A, B, C, and D. Level A requires the distance between parking areas and service areas or between parking areas to be 15km~25km. 2. Characteristics: In addition to the characteristics of the mobility and flexibility of service targets, the one-time and singular nature of service targets, and the instability of passenger flow, parking areas also have the characteristics of improving highway traffic safety and effectively reducing construction and management costs.
Parking areas are mainly located along highways or national roads, marked with conspicuous P signs, and usually equipped with restrooms and benches. Last month during a long-distance drive, it was common to take a 20-minute break at parking areas along the G15 highway. These spots allow temporary parking but prohibit overnight stays. On the other hand, parking lots are designated fee-based zones, like the underground garage in our residential complex, which have barriers and charge by the hour, allowing overnight parking without issues. The biggest difference lies in their functional purposes: parking areas address driver fatigue, while parking lots cater to long-term parking needs. If you park overnight in a highway parking area, you might be asked to leave by patrolling traffic police.
I noticed that parking areas are more like rest stops, with limited space and simple facilities, such as temporary parking bays with reflective markers by national highways. In contrast, parking lots have a complete management system, like underground garages in shopping malls that must be equipped with fire sprinklers and surveillance devices. Last year at the T2 parking lot of Pudong Airport, I saw automatic vehicle locators on every floor, while parking areas wouldn’t have such complex setups. The key is to check the signs: a white 'P' on a blue background indicates a parking area, while a green 'P' sign with hourly rates denotes a parking lot. Use parking areas for quick stops like buying water, but for events like concerts, always opt for official parking lots.
