What are Wheel Stoppers? Types, Regulations, Applications, Installation and More

In parking lots, most accidents happen when drivers enter into pedestrian walkways, colliding with other vehicles or rolling back from their spots. Here, wheel stoppers become saviors. When a vehicle is parked, they firmly hold the vehicle’s wheel at their spot to prevent it from rolling back into pedestrian walkways and colliding with walls or any other vehicle.

As a road safety professional or commercial/ residential building owner, it’s important for you to know about wheel stoppers, how they work, types, uses, and the installation process. And that’s exactly what we’ve explained in this guide. As a leading road safety & parking products manufacturer, we’ve also discussed best practices and maintenance tips for wheel stoppers that you can follow and get the most out of them. 

What are Wheel Stoppers? 

Wheel stoppers are a parking safety device (often known as curb stops, parking blocks, wheel stops, parking curbs, parking chocks, or parking bumpers). Looks vice, they are horizontal in shape with colored reflective bands embedded over them. These stoppers are mainly used at every parking lot to keep the car firmly parked within its designated spot. Plus, they also prevent the car from rolling back and colliding with other vehicles, property, and pedestrians. 

You can install them anywhere where there are parking spaces, such as in public parking lots, garages (residential or commercial), warehouses, underground parking spaces, and public and government buildings (hospitals, airports, shopping malls). Plus, the reflective plates on them increase visibility, especially in low-light places, to make them visible to pedestrians so they can’t trip. 

Working of Wheel Stoppers

Here’s the actual working mechanism of wheel stoppers:

Once a driver enters a parking spot and slowly moves the vehicle’s front/ back wheel (depending on the parking lot infrastructure) to the end of the parking space, the vehicle automatically comes in contact with the wheel stopper. When the driver feels the resistance, they instinctively know they’ve reached the end of the parking zone. 

After the drivers leave the vehicle in the parking lot, these wheel stoppers stop and hold vehicle’s wheels and prevent them from doing any movements or rolling back. That is how they work.

Apart from that, the reflective bands on wheel stoppers, which are usually yellow or orange, do the visibility job. During low-light conditions or in underground parking spaces, these bands become highly visible due to their bright color. That way, all pedestrians in a parking lot can see them and carefully pass over so they can’t trip and harm themselves.

Different Types of Wheel Stoppers

• Concrete Wheel Stoppers

Concrete wheel stoppers are one of the most common and traditional types of wheel stoppers. They are made from a solid concrete mix that makes them heavy, durable, and strong. These stoppers are widely used in outdoor commercial and public parking spaces with heavy traffic flow and where long-term durability is required. 

They are highly resistant to vehicle impact. Means if any heavy vehicle hits them while parking, they won’t break easily. Plus, concrete wheel stoppers can easily withstand extreme weather conditions. However, due to their heavyweight installation and relocation, you may have to hire extra labor and tools. Although concrete wheel stoppers are expensive compared to other types, on top of that, the installation process can increase overall costs.

• Rubber Wheel Stoppers

Rubber wheel stoppers are highly flexible, impact, weather, and wear resistant. Plus, they are easy to install and remove as well. Means that a low installation cost is needed. Although they are suitable for both indoors and outdoors, we suggest that you do not install them in high-traffic areas such as highways. But for indoors, they are the perfect solution for both commercial and residential parking spaces. 

Currently, rubber wheel stoppers are mostly used in a market subject to high competition, making it difficult for road safety professionals or commercial/ residential building owners to find the best ones. If you don’t want this hassle, JACKWIN’s rubber wheel stoppers are made with 100% rubber materials. Plus, they are compression-resistant, flexible, eye-catching (due to yellow and black colors), anti-skid, weather-resistant, and wear-resistant.

• Plastic Wheel Stoppers

Plastic wheel stoppers are made from high-density plastic (often polyethylene or nylon) and are well-known for their lightweight nature. Although they are not as durable as concrete and rubber ones. That’s why they are commonly used in temporary or lightweight parking setups. Such as malls, restaurants, schools & universities, and event spaces.

Plus, due to their light-weight nature, they are easy to install, remove, and move around. JACKWIN’s plastic wheel stoppers are made with nylon material that is impact-weather resistant. Plus, they have a long lifespan, are easy to install, and have highly reflective bands. That makes them highly visible in low-light parking lot conditions.

• Metal Wheel Stoppers

Metal wheel stoppers are less common compared to others. Usually, they are heavy, made from durable steel or aluminum. Mostly, they are used in high-impact zones. Such as industrial areas or loading docks, where there’s a high need to control heavy-duty vehicles.

One downside of these metal wheel stoppers is that they are highly prone to rust. So you will need to do their regular maintenance to maintain their performance. Plus, they are a bit noisy too when a vehicle comes in contact with them. 

Compliance and Regulations

Wheel stopper compliance and regulations are standards that are set by ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), IBC (International Building Code), IFC (International Fire Code), and MUTCD (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices). According to them, wheel stoppers must meet these regulations:

• If installed in commercial parking lots, wheel stoppers must not obstruct any accessible routes. 
• The blades/ strips on wheel stoppers must be in a contrasting color (e.g, yellow, orange) for high visibility. 
• Wheel stoppers’ height must be 90-100mm (as per AS2890.1:2004) and width 150mm, so it can’t cause tripping hazards. 
• In parking lots, wheel stoppers should be placed properly so they do not block fire lanes, emergency vehicles’ access, drainage, and pedestrian pathways. 
• If using concrete wheel stoppers, they should be installed in high-traffic-flow parking spaces. 
• If using rubber/ plastic wheel stoppers, they must be UV, weather, and wear resistant. 
• When installing, the distance from the parking space should typically be 2–3 feet from the parking zone line.
• Facilities should regularly check wheel stoppers. If any stopper is found damaged or broken, immediately replace or repair it. 
• If wheel stoppers are used in loading docks or warehouses, they must not interfere with forklift operations and be durable enough to withstand impact. 

Wheel Stopper Australian Standard

Common Applications of Wheel Stoppers

• Parking Lots

Well, using wheel stoppers in parking lots (in both commercial and residential zones) is very crucial. In such zones, vehicles are entering and exiting throughout the day. So, commercial building owners or facilities can install wheel stoppers in parking lots to create an organized parking space. Plus, doing so also helps avoid damage to property, other parked cars, and pedestrians walking around.

• Garages (Residential or Commercial)

As we all know, garages are full of vehicles at all times. So in garages, wheel stoppers provide a safe solution to park several vehicles without damaging any other vehicle, garage property, or affecting any pedestrians.

• Shopping Malls and Supermarkets

You may have seen that in such zones, vehicles exiting, entering, and pedestrians moving around are common. Here, wheel stoppers play a huge role. They prevent parked vehicles from moving, and keep them firm in their spots. That way, vehicles don’t roll back and collide with any passing vehicles or pedestrians.

• Airports and Train Stations

In airports and train stations, hundreds of cars arrive daily and often stop for a few minutes, either to pick up or drop off. Here, wheel stoppers in the parking space ensure that vehicles don’t even move an inch from their space, especially in tight areas. This helps maintain a safe gap between moving vehicles and foot traffic.

• Electric-Vehicle Charging Stations

Several EV owners come to charging stations and wait in line. Unlike traditional parking, the position of the vehicles here needs to be exact. With wheel stoppers, drivers don’t go too far forward or too far back. That way, charging equipment, cables, and other EV owners stay protected.

Choosing the Right Height and Size of Wheel Stoppers

Different wheel stoppers are used for different parking space settings and vehicles. So, if you are planning to purchase wheel stoppers, to save your effort and money, we suggest that you follow these instructions to choose the right height and size:

1. Firstly, know where the wheel stoppers are going to be installed. So you can choose the stopper material accordingly. Concrete wheel stoppers are ideal for high-traffic spaces like highways. For commercial (schools, garages, shopping malls, hospitals) or residential spaces, plastic or rubber wheel stoppers are best.
2. The second thing you should check is what types of vehicles will be parking there. For regular cars and SUVs, a height of 3 to 4 inches is ideal. For sports cars or luxury vehicles, low-profile wheel stoppers (around 2 to 2.5 inches). For trucks, vans, or forklifts, go for taller stoppers (around 5 to 6 inches).
3. Next, examine the length and width of the parking spot. Generally, standard parking space (requires 6 a 6-foot-long stopper) and tight spaces (3 to 4 feet long).
4. Regardless of the parking space and expected vehicles, if you plan to buy plastic or rubber wheel stoppers, we highly suggest you go for stoppers with contrast (e.g., yellow, orange, etc.) reflective strips.

Alert: Choosing an inappropriate size of wheel stoppers compromises both safety and performance.

How to Install Wheel Stoppers?

1. Firstly, you need to prepare the installation surface. For that, you need to sweep or clean the surface to clear away the dirt or debris. Plus, ensure the surface is leveled. So that wheel stoppers can be properly installed.
2. Next, position the wheel stopper at the correct spot in the parking space. Typically, you will need to place it about 2–3 feet away from the end of the parking line or wall.
3. Then, take a marker or chalk and highlight the spot while the wheel stoppers are positioned.
4. After that, remove the stopper and drill holes into the ground. You can use a hammer drill for this purpose. Double-check and confirm that the drill bit must match the size of the anchor bolts.
5. Now, place the wheel stopper back in its spot. Then pass or insert anchor bolts/ screws through the holes into the ground.
6. Next, grab a wrench and securely tighten all the bolts/ screws. After that, try to move it a bit to confirm that the stopper isn’t shifting or wobbling. 
7. Finally, double-check the alignment and clean the area.

Tip: If possible, do a parking test on wheel stoppers to confirm if they are correctly installed.

How to Remove a Wheel Stopper?

1. Firstly, check the type of bolts or fasteners that have held wheel stoppers in place.
2. Then, grab a wrench or socket tool to loosen and unscrew all the bolts. If the bolts are rusted or too tight, then apply a bit of lubricant and wait a few minutes. Then try again to lose and remove.
3. Once you have removed all bolts, grab and lift the wheel stopper. If it’s a concrete or metal stopper, ask someone for help to avoid injury.
4. After that, clean the place to clear away the dust or debris around the holes.
5. Lastly, dispose of the stopper or store it for future use (if it’s still in good condition).

Best Practices for Drivers’ Safety With Wheel Stoppers

Although installing wheel stoppers is simple, there’s more to it. If you install them incorrectly or choose the incorrect size or material for your parking lot space, instead of ensuring safety, they’ll cause more damage. That’s why below we have compiled a list of all the best practices that you can adapt to ensure drivers’ and pedestrians’ safety:

• Always install wheel stoppers at a visible distance. Means, a few feet away from the end of the parking spot. That way, drivers can park safely without hitting a wall, sidewalk, or another car.
• Although this practice is recommended for all parking spaces, if your parking lot is in low-light or underground, we highly suggest you choose wheel stoppers with bright reflective strips. These strips enhance visibility and guide pedestrians to be cautious while passing.
• Run an inspection check regularly. Check all stoppers for cracks, loose bolts, or signs of wear, or strips fading. If you find any stoppers broken or misaligned, replace them. Otherwise, they can be dangerous and can lead to tire punctures or tripping. Plus, by not replacing them, you violate safety compliance and regulations. 
• For electric vehicle stations, you must make sure that the stoppers are perfectly aligned so that cars stop exactly at a point. That way, the charging cable will be easily accessible.
• If not regularly, then after a few days, try to clean the area around wheel stoppers to clear away dust or debris. This prevents dirt from accumulating on stoppers and helps maintain their good state. Plus, during winter seasons, you should also remove snow or ice around outdoor wheel stoppers.

JACKWIN’s Advice for Avoiding Common Mistakes and Solutions

JACKWIN is the leading Chinese supplier and manufacturer of road safety and parking products. So, according to our experience, you should keep the following factors in mind to maintain your wheel stoppers in good condition and extend their lifespan.

1. Not Doing Regular Maintenance: If you make a routine of regularly checking wheel stoppers, it helps you identify an issue earlier before it causes a serious issue. So you must daily check wheel stoppers and replace the faulty ones, and tighten the loose ones.
2. Loose Installation: You have no idea how serious an issue or damage a loose wheel stopper can lead to. So during installation phase, you must ensure a professional install all wheel stoppers. Apart from that, you also ensure that you conduct regular checks for any loose stoppers, so you can fix them in a timely manner.
3. Not Using Stoppers with Strips: Strips on wheel stopper do the visibility job and become visible to pedestrians and even drivers from a far distance. If you do not use the wheel stoppers with bright strips, especially in low-light conditions, it can lead to frequent pedestrian falls and property damage.
4. Installing the Wrong Size: If you install the incorrect wheel stoppers at high-traffic parking places, it doesn’t help in stopping and holding the car in place. Instead, it damages the tire. For instance, using a concrete wheel stopper in a shopping mall parking space.

Wrapping Up

Now we can say that you have enough knowledge and understanding about wheel stoppers. As you may now have an idea of how crucial wheel stoppers are in parking lot spaces to maintain an organized and safe environment for everyone out there.

If you’re looking for a trusted wheel stopper supplier, JACKWIN is the best fit for you. We have a large stock available across (new & recycled) rubber and plastic wheel stoppers for both indoor and outdoor parking spaces, which is also available at a competitive wholesale rate. So, Contact Us to get your quote.