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Parking bays widened for bigger cars, says NCP | Parking bays widened for bigger cars, says NCP |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Car parking spaces are having to be made bigger to meet the growing size of family cars and 4x4s, the UK's largest car park provider has said. | Car parking spaces are having to be made bigger to meet the growing size of family cars and 4x4s, the UK's largest car park provider has said. |
National Car Parks (NCP) said it had widened some bays in London, Manchester and Bournemouth to cope with the popularity of increasingly large cars. | National Car Parks (NCP) said it had widened some bays in London, Manchester and Bournemouth to cope with the popularity of increasingly large cars. |
The firm told the Times it planned to widen parking bays "wherever possible". | The firm told the Times it planned to widen parking bays "wherever possible". |
Accident Exchange, which loans courtesy cars, estimated there had been a 35% rise in parking accidents since 2014. | Accident Exchange, which loans courtesy cars, estimated there had been a 35% rise in parking accidents since 2014. |
NCP said there was an "extremely fine balance" between the demand for wider spaces and the need for the most number of parking spots as possible. | NCP said there was an "extremely fine balance" between the demand for wider spaces and the need for the most number of parking spots as possible. |
However, it told the Times: "We are moving towards making the bays wider as we recognise that vehicles are growing in size, especially SUVs." | However, it told the Times: "We are moving towards making the bays wider as we recognise that vehicles are growing in size, especially SUVs." |
The standard parking space in the UK is 15.7ft (4.8m) in length, by 7.8ft (2.4m) in width. | |
However, the latest models of the Audi Q7, Land Rover Discovery, BMW X5 and the Mercedes GL-Class are all longer than 4.8m, while many smaller models have also increased in size. | However, the latest models of the Audi Q7, Land Rover Discovery, BMW X5 and the Mercedes GL-Class are all longer than 4.8m, while many smaller models have also increased in size. |
From one transport story to another: | From one transport story to another: |
Accident Exchange said the number of crashes and scratches while parking was now costing UK insurers about £1.4bn per year. | Accident Exchange said the number of crashes and scratches while parking was now costing UK insurers about £1.4bn per year. |
Parking-related incidents now account for more than 30% of all accidents, it said, adding that more than 675,000 parking collisions are now registered every year. | Parking-related incidents now account for more than 30% of all accidents, it said, adding that more than 675,000 parking collisions are now registered every year. |
Director of operations, Scott Hamilton-Cooper, said drivers were "having to squeeze increasingly large cars into spaces that generally haven't got any larger for a very long time". | Director of operations, Scott Hamilton-Cooper, said drivers were "having to squeeze increasingly large cars into spaces that generally haven't got any larger for a very long time". |
"Manufacturers follow the market, and so cars are outgrowing parking spaces," he said. | "Manufacturers follow the market, and so cars are outgrowing parking spaces," he said. |
"Not only are popular SUVs usurping smaller hatchbacks when it comes to new cars sales, older smaller cars are being taken off the street. | "Not only are popular SUVs usurping smaller hatchbacks when it comes to new cars sales, older smaller cars are being taken off the street. |
"The undoubted success of the SUV segment will have played its part - perhaps the roads aren't quite ready for them because some drivers feel certain car parks are no-go areas due the sheer length and width of their cars." | "The undoubted success of the SUV segment will have played its part - perhaps the roads aren't quite ready for them because some drivers feel certain car parks are no-go areas due the sheer length and width of their cars." |
Minimum size | Minimum size |
Sarah Lewis, from the AA, said the overwhelming majority of the organisation's members wanted the size of car parking spaces to be increased. | Sarah Lewis, from the AA, said the overwhelming majority of the organisation's members wanted the size of car parking spaces to be increased. |
"We spoke to our members and over 90% said that they feel that parking spaces are too small comparatively to the size of modern cars," she told the BBC. | "We spoke to our members and over 90% said that they feel that parking spaces are too small comparatively to the size of modern cars," she told the BBC. |
"There is nothing more frustrating than coming back to your car and finding it has been damaged." | "There is nothing more frustrating than coming back to your car and finding it has been damaged." |
Patrick Troy, from the British Parking Association, said the main problem was with older car parks. | Patrick Troy, from the British Parking Association, said the main problem was with older car parks. |
He said: "There is no legal minimum size, there is a design standard which was put in place some years ago which is 4.8m by 2.4m. But it is just that, a design standard and a lot of car park operators use that as the minimum standard these days. | He said: "There is no legal minimum size, there is a design standard which was put in place some years ago which is 4.8m by 2.4m. But it is just that, a design standard and a lot of car park operators use that as the minimum standard these days. |
"The problem here is older car parks, some of which have been around since the 60s and 70s and aren't designed for those larger vehicles." | "The problem here is older car parks, some of which have been around since the 60s and 70s and aren't designed for those larger vehicles." |