DRIVERS have been warned of a mistake at a seaside town which could cost hundreds of pounds.
As Brits try to make the most of the last days of the summer, motorists heading to the beach have been urged to be cautious.
Those visiting seaside towns must be wary of where they leave their cars, as authorities are issuing thousands of pounds in fines.
More than £320,000 in car parking fines were issued in coastal locations around the UK last year.
August was the worst month for penalties, according to an FOI request from Admiral Insurance.
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The figures from 255 coastal car parks show nearly 22,000 penalties were issued last year, with most coming during the summer months.
Langland Bay Car Park in Swansea - a popular Gower surfing beach - is the UK’s hotspot for coastal car parking fines in summer, issuing around six fines a day between the months of June and August 2022.
Another of Swansea’s coastal car parks, Singleton Park Boating Lake - only a few hundred metres from Swansea beach - is also the UK seaside spot facing the highest number of fines over the entire year.
Drivers there are handed an average of three fines per day.
Meanwhile, two coastal car parks in East Lothian, Yellowcraig Car Park, next to the beach that inspired Treasure Island, and Tyninghame Car Park, situated within walking distance of one of the finest beaches in the south of Scotland, are responsible for generating the highest fines in the UK, totalling a combined £70,260 in 2022.
The news comes at a time when many will be considering staying closer to home to avoid the rising costs of travelling abroad, but as research shows nearly half – 45 per cent - of Brits now believe parking at the beach or coast is too expensive.
Of those who have been fined, 91 per cent admitted they parked illegally by either not obtaining a parking ticket in the first place or taking the risk of overstaying allocated parking time.
As three in five, 60 per cent, motorists admit they’ve received a parking fine at some time in their lifetime, these avoidable costs quickly mount up.
The average total paid in parking fines is £155 - enough to buy over 103 soft-serve ice creams, with flakes.
Clare Egan, Head of Motor Product at Admiral Insurance, said: “Many of us are choosing to holiday in the UK this year and with the weather set to improve in the coming weeks, it’s no doubt our beaches and seaside towns can expect an influx of visitors before the summer holidays are out.
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“But there are few things that can take the shine off a fun day out than returning to your car to find a yellow sticker on your windscreen.
“If you are going to be parking up at a coastal location in the coming weeks, park legally and considerately and keep an eye on the time you’ve paid for, to make sure your ticket doesn’t run out.”
