PetrolPrices now has a new website, helping new members understand what we do and how we do it. We’ve enhanced existing features and created new ones, including:
This is just one small step towards making the service smarter and more effective at saving you money on the road. It’ll probably be a bumpy ride, so put your seatbelt on and enjoy the trip.
With new car sales falling for the twelfth consecutive month in March and new registrations being down 16%, dealers are dramatically reducing their prices to encourage people into their showrooms and make some desperately needed sales.
This drop is bad news for dealers and manufacturers, but great news for anyone who is in the market for a new vehicle as you are very likely able to pick up a great discount now. What Car? agree and they think that it’s a buyers’ market to the extent that anyone thinking about buying a new car should take advantage of this rare opportunity.
WhatCar? found that the average discount on a new car is currently 8.6% which equates to £2560, but some dealers will slash prices by up to 5x that amount with staff more willing to offer a greatly reduced price to boost sales.
Not only are dealers feeling the pressure to sell cars due to falling sales overall, but discounts also need to be offered to those looking to buy due to the influx of new products on the market which is causing competition between dealerships.
Nearly 25% of car manufacturers are now offering potential customers discounts in the double digits, with the Seat Toleda 1.6 TDI 115 SE being found to have the greatest price reduction as its price was almost halved by 42.3%.
Other new cars which have been heavily discounted include the Fiat Punto 1.2 Pop+ 5dr (25.3%), the Seat Mii 1.0 Design Mii 5dr (25.3%), the Citroen Berlingo Multispace 1.2 PureTech Feel (22.7%), and the Volvo s60 T4 [190] SE Nav [Leather] (22.3%).
There are many people in the motor industry who agree that now is the best time to buy a new car.
James Hind, founder of Carwow has pointed out that there are particularly great offers on diesel cars at the moment, as sales of this type of vehicle have taken a real hit recently, the usual price differential between petrol and diesel cars has been cut by around a third. He also added that motorists can get a great price on petrol cars too if they are savvy when choosing and purchasing their new vehicle.
Director of Strategy at Close Brothers Motor Finance, Chris Bosworth, has taken this opportunity to say that dealers need to adapt to the changing market in order to get potential customers into their showrooms, and the best way to do this is to offer them a range of great finance options and a wide variety of cars, including petrol, diesel, and electric models.
With so much focus on the falling sales of new cars it may have been missed that data from AA Cars has shown that sales of used cars are also on the rise, which is partly due to the fact that finance deals are now available for used cars when they used to be predominantly for new cars. This means that more people are able to afford the type of car that they want to drive without getting tied up in expensive car finance leasing deals, where they don’t own the vehicle they buy until full payment is made.
Using carwow makes choosing and buying your perfect car easy and enjoyable. Their top-rated local and national dealers will send you their best offers to compare – meaning you get the car you want, from the dealer you like best, at a price that’s right for you.
Jaguar E-pace £2140 average saving and additional £1000 off on deposit contribution.
Audi A3 Sportsback £1738 average saving and additional £1000 off on deposit contribution.
Land Rover Discovery Sport £2533 average saving and additional £500 off on deposit contribution.
Skoda Citigo £840 average saving and additional £500 off for test driving.
If you are looking to buy a new car, take these main points into consideration which will help you to get a great deal:
Finally, don’t be afraid to get impartial advice. PetrolPrices has a partnership with Carkeys, they provide a free and impartial, no obligation telephone based advice service where they can help you find the very best new and used car deals out there at the moment, which can save you up to £3000 on a car. Click on start now and fill in your details and an adviser will call to assist you.
Are you currently hoping to take advantage of these great new car offers? Would you be tempted to change your car due to the massive reductions that are on offer? Let us know in the comments below.
According to data obtained by the RAC, drivers in the 20 largest cities around the UK have received over one million penalty charge notices (PCNs) over the last year for driving in bus lanes. Figures from a Freedom of Information (FOI) enquiry showed that between 2015-17 over 3.4 million people received a fixed penalty notice for this.
Bus lane penalties can be very different in cost, but the RAC estimates that these charges have amounted to a staggering £200 million across three years – around £68 million each year in extra income for local councils.
In their press release on the topic, the RAC looked at city councils in London and around the UK. It showed that there had been a 5% rise in the actual number of penalty charge notices issued for bus lane misuse from 2015 until 2017. This figure was higher outside London with a 9% increase over the time frame while inside the capital, the number had dropped by 5%.
The greatest concern for the RAC is that many drivers aren’t deliberately misusing bus lanes but rather there is poor or confusing road signs meaning that it has become a common mistake. And it’s also one that local councils are quick to punish. That’s why they are calling for a review of national signage guidelines and other steps including the use of ‘smart bus lanes’ to make it easier and clearer for motorists.
The picture when comparing the different cities presents a varied one. The data analysed by the RAC showed that Manchester City Council issued the most notices between 2015-17, totalling over 350,000 and a massive 172,311 in 2017 – an increase of 175% on the 2015 figure. Second place was Glasgow with over 339,000 across the two years. Followed by Cardiff (267,00+), Bradford (208,000+) and Nottingham (194,000+).
Birmingham City Council topped the list of the councils that saw the highest increases. The city has 19 miles of bus lanes and sent out 2,368% more fines for infringements in 2017 than in 2015. It is despite there being no extra bus lanes or even any more cameras supervising them. Three of the London boroughs – Croydon, Havering, and Southwark – also saw increases of 787%, 439%, and 187% respectively.
Overall, the picture in London was varied. Of the 33 local authorities, 27 provided information for the study. Of these, half had seen a rise in the number of bus lane fines while half had recorded a decrease in penalties for the period 2015-17.
The complete picture is a confusing one. Bristol has the most enforcement cameras, numbering 51 and issued an average of 944 fines per camera. But Manchester had just 22 and issued the equivalent of 7,832 penalties per camera. Lewisham Council in London had the highest total number of PCNs per camera, with one bus lane camera issuing a shocking 9261 notices in a year.
RAC spokesman, Simon Williams, admitted that bus lanes have a vital role to play in keeping city centres moving. But, the sheer number of fines that councils are issuing suggests there is a bigger problem. And, they firmly believe this is because people don’t realise they are breaking the rules.
They are campaigning for better signage and a reduction of ‘clutter’ that can mean it is easy for drivers to miss them. They also advocate the use of modern technology that could make better use of available road space in a similar way to smart motorways.
Fines for bus lane violations vary across councils with London the highest at £160, or £80 if paid quickly. Most cities average around £60. Motorists who receive one can often get a discounted rate if they pay speedily but need to be aware that the cost can increase if they take more than 28 days to pay.
The only advice we can provide is to make sure you steer well clear of bus lanes if you know that they are in operation, many now have cameras monitoring their use as this research confirms, so don’t risk it. But also, be aware that if you are driving in an unfamiliar location and accidentally drive on a bus lane without realising, stating that you didn’t know it was there may be an acceptable defence if you appeal against the fine, but it is solely at the discretion of the council when you appeal.
Have you ever had a penalty notice for driving in a bus lane? Did you know what you were doing or were you unaware until the fine came through? Do you think this is a cash cow for the councils and being misused? Let us know in the comments.
In total there are 182 different medical conditions that need to be declared to the DVLA which they consider could affect someone’s ability to drive safely, but many of these are not as obvious as others and are not being declared by many motorists who suffer from them.
If you suffer from one of these 182 different conditions and are involved in an accident, and have not notified the DVLA about this condition, you could face a £1,000 fine plus prosecution. It is important that all drivers are aware of exactly what they need to declare to avoid this.
The list of medical conditions which need to be declared to the DVLA consists of 182 separate issues, but many of these may not have been considered by motorists due to them not realising the affect they could have on their ability to drive.
The website; LeaseCar.co.uk carried out research on the most common conditions that drivers may not be aware of which they need to declare to the DVLA and this is the top five which people should be alerted about:
Although many people suffer from déjà vu every now and again the DVLA need to know if you have medically induced déjà vu which can be associated with epilepsy. This type of déjà vu is caused by a neurological anomaly which could affect an individual’s ability to drive, but those who get ‘standard’ déjà vu occasionally do not need to declare this.
Linked to an inflamed Labyrinth, which can be found deep within the ear, Labyrinthitis can cause headaches and hearing loss at different levels of severity, and often passes in a few weeks. However, it can also cause vertigo which may last a bit longer, and if a motorist is suffering from this it may make it dangerous for them to drive.
A relatively common condition, sleep apnoea refers to when the walls of the throat relax and narrow during sleep which affects both breathing and sleeping patterns. This can lead to sleep deprivation which could result in the individual falling asleep behind the wheel. The DVLA have stated that anyone suffering from sleep deprivation for any reason should not be driving, whether this is due to sleep apnoea or any other condition. However, you can undergo treatment which will allow you to drive as normal, although the DVLA should still be informed.
Due to causing the sufferer to feel weak and dizzy, those who have eating disorders may be unable to drive safely which is why if you have an eating disorder, such as anorexia nervosa, you must inform the DVLA in order to cover yourself should you be involved in an accident.
Another common condition, arthritis affects around 10 million people in the UK and causes pain and discomfort in the joints of the individual. Any pain felt in the joints of the hands, spine, knees and hips could mean that the sufferer is unable to drive safely, and the DVLA should be notified if you use special controls or if your doctor believes they should know.
If you feel that you may have a condition which could affect your driving you can access the full list on the gov.uk website.
If your condition does appear on this list you simply need to contact the DVLA who will be able to log this for you. You will be required to give up your driving licence if your doctor tells you that you must stop driving for 3 months or more, or if your medical condition means that you don’t meet the required standards for driving.
It is also important to know that this may affect you even if you suffered from the condition historically, so it is always safest to check this with the DVLA if you are unsure.
Were you aware of how many different conditions needed to be declared to the DVLA? Are there any on the list which surprise you? Let us know in the comments below.
After steadily decreasing for 10 years, car thefts are now on the rise with the number of cars being stolen tripling in the worst affected areas. The leading cause of the increase in thefts is due to keyless car technology and the availability of technology bought online that can counteract it.
Despite being designed to be convenient for motorists, keyless technology is actually causing security concerns as thieves are finding it easier to hack the systems used and steal cars from both driveways and public car parks, using technology that can be bought online.
Car theft has been declining over the past decade due to vehicles being fitted with immobilisers, alarm systems, and tracking devices, but the introduction of keyless technology has seen incidents increasing with some areas experiencing 3 times as many car thefts than they did three years ago.
There were 85,688 reported car thefts in 2016 which is up 30% on 2013’s figure of 65,783, and Warwickshire has seen a 189% increase in car theft over the past three years which makes it one of the most affected areas in the country.
Other areas which have seen significant rises are Hampshire with a 59% increase, West Yorkshire with an increase of 57%, and Norfolk which has seen a 56% rise.
In addition to this, Cleveland Police have stated that 90 keyless cars have been stolen in their region since December, and half of these were Ford Fiestas which have been the top-selling car for 10 years and are very popular with families.
With the right equipment, a thief can steal a car in just 30 seconds, all they need to do is boost the key fob signal so that it reaches a device held by a second thief waiting by your car door. The first thief simply holds a relay box by the front door and this box can detect a keyless fob from up to 100 yards away.
The car door will then unlock due to receiving the boosted signal from the fob, and the second thief can get into the car, press the ignition button, and drive away in no time at all.
Relay boxes are not hard to get hold of and can be picked up from Amazon for £260.29 or eBay for £278.77 which makes them very accessible to those who want to steal keyless cars.
Many of these stolen cars will then be taken to illegal ‘chop shops’ where they will be dismantled so that the parts can be sold. It is for this reason that cheaper, popular models such as Ford Fiestas are being chosen as there is a lot of demand for these spare parts.
Despite 25% of all keyless car thefts in the West Midlands being Fords, Ford themselves have said that the numbers do not suggest that their cars are being targeted, and most car manufacturers currently say that cars are more secure now than they have been before.
If you are concerned about your car being stolen there are things that you can do to ensure that you are keeping it as safe and secure as possible, both at home and when parked in a public place:
The important thing is to be aware that car theft is on the rise across the country, make sure that you are aware of the car theft statistics in your local area, which should help you make an informed decision as to whether you need to be more protected in various ways from this rising threat. Investing in a metal box or faraday cage bag to put your keyless car fob in is probably the simplest and cheapest thing to do right now and costs around £10.
Have you experienced any security issues due to keyless technology? Do you feel that cars are the most secure that they have ever been? Let us know in the comments below.
Any motorist who has had to stop for fuel on the motorway will have experienced the problem that the Government is now looking into, which is the abnormally high cost of fuel at motorway service stations. For many years motorists have complained about them and avoided them as much as possible.
Last week the Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling announced that the Government will be launching an inquiry into the ‘exploitative’ pricing of motorway service stations. If they do find that the pricing is taking advantage of the scarcity of fuel options on motorways then they could follow it up with reforms to how much motorway service station operators can charge for fuel.
The announcement came from the secretary this week and accused the big three motorway service station operations: Moto, Welcome Break, and Roadchef for exploiting motorway drivers. He launched an investigation to make sure drivers get a ‘fairer deal’ because motorway forecourts can be up to 19p more than elsewhere.
In response, Roadchef said it was not responsible for setting the prices for petrol and diesel in its stations while Moto said that the price reflected the cost of ‘building and running services.’ It added that many of the forecourts were owned by fuel companies who set prices to reflect the ‘complexities of motorway trading’ such as round the clock opening. They also added that where they do own the forecourt, they make sure they match the fuel company’s price.
The third company mentioned on the list, Welcome Break, have yet to issue a comment on their position regarding motorway fuel prices and their stations, but no doubt they will have a similar set of reasons to explain why pricing is much higher.
In his letter to Andrea Coscelli, the head of the Competitions and Markets Authority, Mr Grayling, said that he was concerned that these forecourts exploited drivers in the situation where there were less choice and competition. He added that it discouraged motorists from stopping and refuelling, which they need to do for safety reasons.
He requested a view from the CMA (formerly the Office of Fair Trading) as to whether the three companies currently operating the majority of motorway service areas (MSAs) were exercising ‘market power to the detriment of motorists.’
The three companies in question run a total of 112 MSAs around the UK. Industry figures published this week show that the average unleaded petrol price from an MSA is 137.7p while the average price around the UK is 120.11p. The average price at the supermarket is just 116.74p. It would mean filling up the average car would cost around £10 more at a motorway station.
Many motorists would happily tell Mr Grayling this isn’t a new problem and figures show it is one that is getting worse. In 2011, the RAC compiled figures that showed that the prices at the motorway pump were 7.5p higher than elsewhere. Another study in 2013 found prices were ‘significantly’ more expensive in motorway service stations.
The Secretary admitted that he understood that MSAs have higher overheads and infrastructure costs but that the higher prices were not ‘fully explained’ by the companies. Other previous concerns involved not being able to see the price of the fuel until they had left the motorway, or making companies add signs visible from the motorway, which could encourage operators to lower prices to bring more drivers in.
Others are against the idea of regulation and interference in the market. They say that motorists know that it is more expensive to fill up on the motorway and this is why the price signs trial on the M5 had no impact on things. And drivers make their preferences known by not using the services and filling up before they depart. Although that view may be true to regular UK motorway drivers, a visiting driver from the Continent will have no idea of this disparity and will suffer an unfair price difference due to ignorance of this unique UK price differential.
Motoring agencies were quick to offer an enthusiastic response to Mr Grayling’s move. Simon Williams from the RAC welcomed the minister’s intervention and said they had been calling for measures to be taken around the topic for a long time. They believe that there’s nothing to justify the sky-high prices at the motorway pump and the prices mean motorists fill up only the minimum and risk running out of fuel.
Luke Bosdet from The AA said that motorists had been treated like ‘hostages’ by MSAs and that they welcomed any move to deter ‘rip off’ prices at motorway pumps.
And Jason Lloyd, Managing Director of PetrolPrices.com added: “This is great news for motorists if something actually happens this time. MSAs have been very good at being able to argue that the costs of running a motorway service station are much greater and therefore a higher price is needed.
I think the MSAs and the Government need to pull in the same direction. Price transparency and better availability of information about where you can fill up from motorways are more important than operators who choose to have high prices.
At the moment it’s a captive market, if you break the captivity by making it easier for people to see where to get it from off the motorway nearby and the price difference then the normal laws of price competition start to operate.”
Is this Government inquiry and the reform of motorway service station fuel prices long overdue? Should fuel pricing be regulated or do you think allowing market forces to set pricing is the best way? Let us know in the comments below.
Stricter new rules around MOTs are being rolled out across the country next month and could see drivers facing a fine of up to £2,500 if they are caught breaking any of them. The new fines cover areas such as not having a valid MOT certificate in place or not reaching new MOT standards, particularly around failing to reach new emissions standards from diesel cars.
The new rules will start to take effect on May 20th, but the worrying thing is that most drivers are not aware of the forthcoming changes, nor are they aware of the massive increase in fines for non-compliance of the new rules that are coming into place.
At the beginning of this year, we reported on a series of new measures put into place as part of the new MOT system that could catch out drivers. Now the rules are set to become law; drivers aren’t entirely aware of the new fine print that could end up costing them a lot of money, which can be up to £2,500 in some cases.
One example is putting your car in for the MOT early. If you put your car in for an MOT before it is due, and the vehicle fails, you could face a hefty fine if you continue to drive the car, despite the fact that the original MOT certificate still has a period left to run. That’s because if the car doesn’t get through the tighter new MOT rules, then it will no longer be classed as road legal, regardless of an existing MOT certificate or not.
The new rules starting in May will also include points on the licence and even a driving ban for drivers who are caught breaking them, which is unprecedented. Quite how this will be policed has not been made clear by the Government, and the Police have not indicated whether they would chase evaders from breaking the new MOT rules.
The new, more complex MOT rules also include a new series of defect types – dangerous, major and minor. There are also more strict rules on emissions for diesel cars, while cars that are 40 years or older could become MOT exempt.
RAC spokesman, Simon Williams, said “rather than MOTs being a straightforward black and white system of pass or fail, the new defect types could create confusion for drivers and testers. Each tester will have to use their judgement as to whether a defect is dangerous, major or minor and this could lead to differences from one garage to another.”
The types could also confuse drivers, especially between the dangerous and major fault categories. In the current system, if a car has a fault that means it fails the MOT, then it must be repaired before being used again. But under the new test, a vehicle with dangerous or major fault will automatically fail.
And, a minor fault on a diesel car could end up being a major one simply because of the fuel type. Any minor defects will be listed on the MOT certificate alongside the existing advisory notices system for things that the driver may want to get fixed before they deteriorate.
The new MOT rules also include yet more stress for diesel drivers with the introduction of more stringent regulations around emission testing. A diesel car can face an automatic fail if there is any smoke emitted from the exhaust in some cases. The diesel particulate filters or DPFs will also be checked, and if these are missing or altered, then the car will automatically be failed.
Other harsher tests revolve around the lights on the car. Reverse, front fog, and daytime running lights have all now been included as part of the MOT test. Reversing lights were introduced on inspections from September 2009 while daytime running lights were first added to tests in March this year. Front fog lights were also added last month.
Other tests being introduced next month include:
You can sign up for a free text alert to remind you when your MOT is due which will tell you again if you haven’t had your car tested two weeks before the certificate runs out. You will need your number plate, mobile number or email address to sign up for this new service and avoid the chance of a fine for having no MOT in place.
What do you think of the new MOT rules? Are you as confused as we are about the changes? Do you think these fines are enforceable or will it go the way of the £75 million in missing road tax each year and very few fines? Let us know in the comments.
Throwing litter out of your vehicle could now land you with a £150 fine, which is 50% more than the £100 you could be charged if you were caught speeding. The fine not only applies to drivers but also to passengers who litter, however it will be the driver who is sent the penalty notice to pay.
This new fine increase came into force on April 1st, 2018 and it can be charged on the spot or retrospectively with video evidence. It aims to deter people from littering and decrease a form of anti-social behaviour, which is having such devastating effects across the country’s highways.
The Government have decided to tackle the litter problem which can be found across the country by increasing the maximum fine from £80 to £150 starting from the 1st of April 2018. However, this comes with fears that councils struggling with funding may use this new fine to make money through hiring private firms to pursue those who have offended.
The fact that this new littering fine is more than the current speeding fine shows just how seriously the Government is taking it, and should really encourage people to stop littering and simply use bins instead. In line with this, at major service stations and motorway services, new bins with much wider openings are being rolled out so that people can drop litter into them from their cars.
The fine can be charged on the spot to anyone seen dropping litter, or throwing it from their car windows, and includes emptying car ashtrays onto the roads or pavements, or discarding food and drink wrappers out of the vehicle rather than waiting to use a bin.
In addition to this, motorists are being asked to share dashcam footage if they capture other drivers or their passengers throwing litter out of a car so that they can be tracked down and issued with a fine retrospectively.
As well as the Police, Community Support Officers, the Environment Agency, and conservation area officials will be able to fine those spotted littering, although ministers have urged that the fines are issued fairly following some unnecessarily harsh actions in the past.
For example, a lady was recently threatened with a £75 fine for tipping a stone out of her shoe which is completely unreasonable, and serious thought needs to be put into the fine before it is issued.
Fines cannot be given to anyone under the age of 10, and the minimum penalty is currently £50 although this will be rising to £65 in April 2019.
In a Government study, over 80% of the public stated that they supported higher fines for littering as cleaning up this rubbish costs around £700 million per year, which takes a big chunk out of the budget required to keep the road network well maintained.
Environment Minister Therese Coffey hopes that the increased fine will help to tackle anti-social behaviour by targeting those throwing litter out of a vehicle, or dropping it as they are walking.
Not only is littering costing councils’ money, but it also has a very negative effect on the environment as it can contaminate natural water sources, harm wildlife, attract vermin, and facilitates the breeding of bacteria, which is why it is important that people take notice of this new fine, refrain from littering in the future, or report anyone they see littering if they have video evidence to prove it.
The best way to ensure that you do not litter from your car, and avoid the potential £150 fine, is to invest in a car bin or always have a plastic bag to hand which can be used to keep rubbish in until you get to your destination.
You should also make your passengers aware that they should not throw litter from the car as this could also mean that you end up getting fined, especially young children who cannot be fined themselves but may not understand the consequences of their actions if they do discard rubbish out of the car windows.
Whenever you stop the car for a break on a long journey or at your end destination take the litter out with you and dispose of it. As mentioned earlier, some service stations now have wide-mouthed bins so you don’t even need to leave the vehicle to dispose of the litter.
Do you think that the increased littering fine of £150 is fair? Would you expect to be fined more for littering than for speeding? Let us know in the comments below.
Motorists are finding it increasingly hard to give other cars enough room when they park due to modern cars getting wider by a foot on average despite car park spaces remaining the same size as the 1980’s. This leads to frustration among drivers and can result in angry notes being left on windscreens, as well as many bumps and scrapes in tight car park spaces.
However, if parking spaces were made bigger there would be less available car park spaces for drivers to use, which would also cause an inconvenience as there are more cars on the road than ever before, all battling for somewhere to park.
The size of parking spaces has been brought into the spotlight recently as an angry motorist took to Facebook to complain about the fact that a note had been left on their car, which described their parking as being “disrespectful”.
The owner of the offending car wrote a response back on Facebook to defend their parking. They went on to say that the reason they had parked off centre was to compensate for the parking of the cars either side of them and suggested that the spaces were too narrow for their Volkswagen Tiguan SUV.
The individual who left the note stated that they had ended up having to access their Volkswagen Golf via the passenger door with great difficulty, as they were unable to get into the vehicle through the driver’s door due to how close the Tiguan was parked to them (see image below). This is one example of parking rage, but it is on the rise. In a recent survey by Yourparkingspace.co.uk, 1 in 10 people admit they have had the threat of physical violence because of their parking.
The RAC Foundation has said that it is unsurprising that motorists are finding it increasingly common that people are parking too close as spaces are getting smaller while cars are getting bigger.
For example, in 1988 a Ford Escort was 5-foot-wide, and the latest model is 6-foot-wide, so drivers of this vehicle will be taking up an extra foot which will make the parking space seem very narrow compared to those driving the slimmer model.
This issue is generating high emotions among drivers which is why notes such as the one left in Hertfordshire are being found by drivers more often than they were before. However, wider car parking spaces would mean there would be less available, which would also cause frustration.
In 2016, car park firm National Car Parks (NCP) widened some parking spaces in London, Manchester and Bournemouth to make them more suitable for larger vehicles, but admitted that it is difficult to strike a balance between having wider bays and maximising the number of available spaces to cope with demand.
Parking spaces in the UK tend to be 15.7ft (4.8m) in length, by 7.8ft (2.4m) in width on average, but many larger cars, such as SUVs now exceed these measurements which make them very difficult to park and an inconvenience to other cars that are parked next to such large vehicles.
Unfortunately, smaller spaces and larger cars can result in more accidents occurring in car parks, but there are ways that you can minimise this risk.
• Try parking so that you have a car on one side and a wall or barrier on the other, and then park closest to that wall or barrier and you know that will not cause your car damage, whereas being knocked by a car door will.
• Don’t attempt to park in a space that is too small for your car; you only risk one of the cars on either side of you dinging yours if they are not careful when accessing their vehicle on their return.
• Try to find spaces further away from the entrance of the supermarket, shopping mall, or wherever it is that you are visiting, as people are more likely to park closer for the convenience so you may find that it is quieter further away.
• Don’t park next to a large vehicle because they may have difficulty trying to get out of their space due to their size. If you are a driver of a larger vehicle, consider carefully where you park and try to be considerate about the spacing where possible.
It seems there are no clear answers to the issue; increasing parking space sizes will only mean fewer spaces available. Perhaps the Government needs to consider and investigate ways in which this could be resolved by regulating car parking spaces further while seeking ways to clamp down on parking rage incidents.
Do you drive a larger car and find it a struggle to park? Have you ever been left a note about your parking, or left one for someone else? Let us know in the comments below.
Motorists are finding it increasingly hard to give other cars enough room when they park due to modern cars getting wider by a foot on average despite car park spaces remaining the same size as the 1980’s. This leads to frustration among drivers and can result in angry notes being left on windscreens, as well as many bumps and scrapes in tight car park spaces.
However, if parking spaces were made bigger there would be less available car park spaces for drivers to use, which would also cause an inconvenience as there are more cars on the road than ever before, all battling for somewhere to park.
The size of parking spaces has been brought into the spotlight recently as an angry motorist took to Facebook to complain about the fact that a note had been left on their car, which described their parking as being “disrespectful”.
The owner of the offending car wrote a response back on Facebook to defend their parking. They went on to say that the reason they had parked off centre was to compensate for the parking of the cars either side of them and suggested that the spaces were too narrow for their Volkswagen Tiguan SUV.
The individual who left the note stated that they had ended up having to access their Volkswagen Golf via the passenger door with great difficulty, as they were unable to get into the vehicle through the driver’s door due to how close the Tiguan was parked to them (see image below). This is one example of parking rage, but it is on the rise. In a recent survey by Yourparkingspace.co.uk, 1 in 10 people admit they have had the threat of physical violence because of their parking.
The RAC Foundation has said that it is unsurprising that motorists are finding it increasingly common that people are parking too close as spaces are getting smaller while cars are getting bigger.
For example, in 1988 a Ford Escort was 5-foot-wide, and the latest model is 6-foot-wide, so drivers of this vehicle will be taking up an extra foot which will make the parking space seem very narrow compared to those driving the slimmer model.
This issue is generating high emotions among drivers which is why notes such as the one left in Hertfordshire are being found by drivers more often than they were before. However, wider car parking spaces would mean there would be less available, which would also cause frustration.
In 2016, car park firm National Car Parks (NCP) widened some parking spaces in London, Manchester and Bournemouth to make them more suitable for larger vehicles, but admitted that it is difficult to strike a balance between having wider bays and maximising the number of available spaces to cope with demand.
Parking spaces in the UK tend to be 15.7ft (4.8m) in length, by 7.8ft (2.4m) in width on average, but many larger cars, such as SUVs now exceed these measurements which make them very difficult to park and an inconvenience to other cars that are parked next to such large vehicles.
Unfortunately, smaller spaces and larger cars can result in more accidents occurring in car parks, but there are ways that you can minimise this risk.
• Try parking so that you have a car on one side and a wall or barrier on the other, and then park closest to that wall or barrier and you know that will not cause your car damage, whereas being knocked by a car door will.
• Don’t attempt to park in a space that is too small for your car; you only risk one of the cars on either side of you dinging yours if they are not careful when accessing their vehicle on their return.
• Try to find spaces further away from the entrance of the supermarket, shopping mall, or wherever it is that you are visiting, as people are more likely to park closer for the convenience so you may find that it is quieter further away.
• Don’t park next to a large vehicle because they may have difficulty trying to get out of their space due to their size. If you are a driver of a larger vehicle, consider carefully where you park and try to be considerate about the spacing where possible.
It seems there are no clear answers to the issue; increasing parking space sizes will only mean fewer spaces available. Perhaps the Government needs to consider and investigate ways in which this could be resolved by regulating car parking spaces further while seeking ways to clamp down on parking rage incidents.
Do you drive a larger car and find it a struggle to park? Have you ever been left a note about your parking, or left one for someone else? Let us know in the comments below.
The Government has announced new funds to help deal with the enormous pothole problem around the UK that is widely accepted and welcomed by all. However, the £100 million set aside for the repairs is ‘a drop in the ocean’ compared to the estimated £9 billion needed to fix the UK’s roads urgently, say the RAC.
The UK road system is effectively wearing out. Ten years of austerity cuts to normal investment levels (pre-2008) means upgrading road repairs has fallen to such a degree that the tarmac is losing its strength and falling apart. The cold snap of weather in early 2018 has simply accelerated and exposed the fragility of a road system that needs massive investment to repair or replace.
The new funding was announced this week by Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling, following a period of severe weather that has caused more damage to the UK’s roads and footpaths. Mr Grayling said the £100 million cash injection would pay for around two million potholes to be filled.
In the announcement, he confirmed that the unusually severe spell of freezing weather has caused much damage to roads and that local councils need more funding to help deal with the problem. The aim is to help motorists and cyclists make their journeys without continually dodging potholes or serious road accidents.
While the Local Government Association (LGA) were pleased with the move, there was guarded optimism in the movement to deal with what is a much bigger problem. According to the LGA, the cost of fixing all the potholes in England and Wales alone would cost more than £9 billion.
Martin Tett, the LGA transport spokesman, said that it is a positive move that the Government has listened to local councils and made more funding available to repair the roads affected by the recent harsh weather. However, the funding is only 1% of what is needed to deal with the overall road condition problems.
The response from the RAC was along the same lines. Head of roads policy, Nicholas Lyes, said: “The announcement was welcome, and that the money would boost local council’s ability to deal with crumbling roads”. However, their data shows that patrols were attending over 200 breakdowns a day relating to potholes in the week after the cold snap.
The RAC also has estimated that £9 billion is needed to deal with the issues in road conditions and view this new money as ‘a drop in the ocean’ compared to what is needed. They also highlight the dangers of poor quality road surfaces including expensive damage to cars and even the potential to be fatal to cyclists.
This case was continued by the Cycling UK charity who said they were disappointed that the fund was only designed to do ‘patchwork jobs’ and is already too little, too late. They likened the situation to a doctor putting a broken leg in plaster before setting the fracture – the bone is still weak, poorly healed and as likely to break again.
In fact, the number of cyclists killed or seriously injured due to the poor condition of roads has tripled in the last decade. 71 people were killed or seriously injured in 2016, an increase from 22 in 2006. This rise is well above the general increase in cyclists’ numbers for that period which has increased by around 50%.
Experts point out that potholes are just part of the problem – the ageing road network is a ticking time bomb that needs to be dealt with. One report from the Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) showed that there is a £556 million funding gap in what local authorities in England and Wales alone have and what they need.
The report went on to say there are 24,400 miles of road that need essential maintenance in the next year. It is the same distance as driving from Birmingham to Beijing three and a half times. Moreover, more worryingly, they estimate that 20% of the highways across the country have less than five year’s life left in them, an increase from just 12% two years ago.
While the latest Government funding is a positive step forward, there is little doubt that much more is needed to avoid drivers having to spend their time worrying about potholes on top of everything else on the road.
One hopes we see the Chancellor take action in the Autumn budget and find the money required to repair the UK road infrastructure. It is after all the backbone of the economy and is one of the single most significant contributors to productivity, something which the Government recognises we need to invest in as a country.
Do you agree that the country’s roads are falling into a distressed state? Do you think the £100m pothole fund is enough or an insult to what is needed? Let us know in the comments below.