You are almost done driving. All you have to do is reverse your car into the parking lot.

The last thing you'd expect at this point is for an accident to happen.

Roy, a 36-year-old operations executive, was backing his company van into a parking space in the multi-storey carpark at Block 414A Pasir Ris Drive 6 on 10 Apr, when he heard something crack.

He got out, and was shocked to see the rear windscreen of his van shattered. Sticking through it was a metal railing from the deck above.

Roy, who only wanted to be known as such, was meeting a friend for lunch that day and it was his first time parking at the multi-storey carpark there.

He told The New Paper: "I didn't notice the protruding railing at all. The reverse sensors were on as well, but didn't give any warning that there was any obstacle in the way."

Thankfully, no one was in the back of the van, but Roy said he would have to spend $600 on repairs. Apparently, this may not be an isolated incident.

BROKEN GLASS

When The New Paper was interviewing Roy at the carpark after the accident, broken glass shards were seen lying under the protruding railings along the same stretch of parking lots.

There were similar sightings at the other levels in the carpark. One motorist there said he was lucky that he spotted the protruding structure before parking his van.

Mr Kevin Goh, 46, said: "I was surprised to see the railings because they are not common in many multi-storey carparks."

The protruding steel railings are likely to damage taller vehicles like SUVs, MPVs and vans - which have straight backs and higher windscreens - when they are reverse-parked.

For sedans and sports cars, the allowance of space for their boots help to ensure they do not hit the railings. At the Pasir Ris carpark, the protruding railings are marked by yellow-and-black warning stickers, and there were also warning signs on the pillars.

The Housing Board (HDB), which built and designed the carparks, said measures are in place to improve the visibility of the structures so that motorists can be alerted to them.

The New Paper spoke to 10 motorists who drove SUVs, MPVs or vans and had parked at the carpark.

Six said they noticed the railings as they had seen such structures at other HDB carparks.

Four said they only realised that the railings were there as they were backing into the lot.

Some decided to park in lots without the overhanging railings.

However, all 10 failed to spot the warnings on the pillars.

Mr Teo Hock Kim, 42, said more could be done to warn motorists about the protruding structures.

He said: "The cement kerb at the back of the lot should be placed further in front so that those who reverse park will stop earlier before hitting the railings.

"Right now, the kerb only works for sedans and cars with extended boots."