Glossary A–ZLetter P
Parking guidance system
A parking guidance system uses displays to direct drivers to free parking spaces, for example in a town to car parks with spare capacity or within a car park to the free level and the free space.
It counts occupied spaces and shows the free ones.
In urban areas, signs on approach roads show how many spaces are free in which car parks. In a car park, barriers or sensors count vehicles per level, and lights above the spaces show free or occupied. In addition, screens at the entrance and exit show tariffs, notices and sometimes advertising.
A parking guidance system is only as good as its counting: errors build up when sensors fail or counts are not reconciled. The displays stand outdoors and must be readable in all lighting conditions. On public roads they are part of traffic management and are coordinated with the responsible authorities. Advertising does not belong on these signs.