A new study has revealed that drivers are finding it increasingly difficult to get in and out of parked cars due to the growing size of their vehicles.
The research, conducted by Churchill Motor Insurance, found that despite most UK car park spaces being designed based on 1970s guidelines, many manufacturers have increased vehicle widths. The study analysed 10 popular family car models and discovered that their average width has grown from 168cm at launch to 180cm. British Parking Association guidelines suggest parking spaces should be 240cm wide, leaving typically just 30cm between each side of a parked car and the bay's edge.
The research highlighted that the Ford Fiesta's width has expanded from 155cm at its introduction to 174cm. Other examples of widening cars include the Vauxhall Corsa (up 24cm to 177cm), the Nissan Qashqai (up 6cm to 184cm) and the Hyundai Tucson (up 4cm to 187cm).
According to a survey commissioned by Churchill Motor Insurance, two out of five (40 per cent) respondents admitted they have to squeeze into their car when parked next to another vehicle at least once a month. Shockingly, 22 per cent claimed they have even resorted to climbing into their parked car via the boot on at least one occasion.
A survey has revealed that nearly one in three (32 per cent) drivers are now behind the wheel of a larger vehicle compared to five years ago, with the quest for more internal space, a preference for the design of bigger cars, and the need to accommodate leisure and work gear being the top reasons cited for upsizing.
Life on one of the UK's cheapest streets where homes sell for just £25,000
Nicholas Mantel from Churchill Motor Insurance said: "Ask almost any driver and they will have a story about having to creatively escape their car due to a lack of space when in a car park, even crawling out through the boot. Widening cars combined with parking bays that haven't been redesigned to accommodate today's models means motorists all over the country are at risk of damaging their cars, through no fault of their own."
The firm also reckons that mishaps involving vehicles scraping against walls, bollards or other cars while manoeuvring in or out of tight parking spots are costing British drivers a hefty £424 million annually. RAC's head of policy Simon Williams added: "After spending ages looking for a place to park, it can be very frustrating for drivers to discover there's not enough room to get out of their vehicle, not least if you have a family in tow, have mobility issues or need room to use a wheelchair.
"Returning to find damage from a door being opened onto your vehicle is even more annoying due to the hassle and expense of having to get dents and scratches repaired. The problem centres on modern vehicles becoming wider due to the introduction of side impact protection technology.
"Operators are faced with the dilemma of having to repaint spaces to accommodate these larger vehicles, which is especially difficult at some older multi-storey car parks where space is already restricted. Unfortunately, this would lead to an overall reduction in the total number of spaces available and an inevitable increase in charges to compensate for the loss of revenue."
The survey of 2,000 UK adults was conducted by research company Opinium in January.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
