According to a report commissioned by Peter Vardy, nearly half of Brits depend on technology to assist them with parking.
Panic and parking
When it came to locations, busy city centres seem to be the most stress-inducing, closely followed by supermarket parking. Surprising, even parking outside their own home was another stress point for an unlucky one in ten of the respondents.
Particularly as a new or learner driver, parking manoeuvres tend to instil a feeling of panic. However, many British drivers carry this fear onwards well into their driving lives – according to the survey, parallel parking still makes 42% of drivers feel anxious, despite years of practice behind the wheel.
In comparison, 21% of drivers cited reverse parking as making them anxious, followed by angle parking (17%) and then forward perpendicular parking (just 9%).
Reliance on in-car technology
The research also revealed that an estimated 12 million UK drivers can’t park without using parking sensors – 44% of British drivers require technology to assist them with parking. Out of these, 39% regularly rely on sensors, 14% regularly rely on cameras and 8% regularly rely on park assist.
But the findings of the study show that many drivers may be over relying on their car’s modern features in order to fit in a space. Manual tests, undertaken by Peter Vardy representatives, also showed that on average it took drivers 2.3 attempts to parallel park successfully within a bay without using technology.
The best cars to help you park
For those who are looking to embrace the technological revolution in parking efficacy, carbuyer.com found that the below were ideal for handing over complete control to a self-parking feature;
- Mercedes C-Class saloon
- Vauxhall Astra hatchback
- Peugeot 3008 SUV
- Citroën C4 SpaceTourer MPV
- Ford Fiesta hatchback
- Jaguar XF saloon
Claire Rogan, Digital Marketing Manager at Peter Vardy, commented on the findings: “Whilst it could be a worry that overall parking skills could be diminished over time due to an over reliance on parking technology, it is important that drivers choose a car which best supports them and their motoring skills.
“If space is not an issue for your family, opting for a small car might be a good idea. With their petite sizes and funky features, Mini offer a range of cars that are good for getting into tight spaces. The Mini One 3-Door Hatch is a popular car for city driving, and its compact size and low-centre-of-gravity handling make it ideal for nipping into tricky parallel parking bays.
“Surprisingly for some, Vauxhall also rank very highly in the self-parking stakes. The Astra hatchback has proved itself well-equipped to fit into the tightest of spaces thanks to the speed and accuracy of its Park Assist technology. Its folding mirrors and blind-spot monitoring are also popular features too.
“Whether that be a smaller car with better manoeuvrability or a vehicle with the most up to date parking technology assistance, drivers should ensure they utilise everything that’s on offer to ensure a safe and secure experience.”
