Expert warns drivers of little known parking rule from 1970s that could land them with a fine
AN expert has revealed a little known about parking rule from the 1970s that could see drivers slapped with a hefty fine.
Editor of Autocar Business, Mark Tisshaw, said the rule could even mean motors like Tesla and Mercedes could be "unparkable" in some areas.
British parking spaces are always 240cm wide, a standard set half a century ago in the 1970s.
This rule means there is 30cm to each side of a modern car and councils won't be changing this anytime soon.
Just 8.2 per cent of UK councils plan to make parking spaces bigger even though seven of the 10 most popular brands now sell cars that are too wide to fit.
Tisshaw said: "We know that cars are getting longer and wider, typically due to ever-stricter crash and safety legislation they must meet, and these figures show too few councils are adapting to this new reality.
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"Fewer than one in 10 of them plan to increase the size of their parking bays and, in some regions, you run the risk of receiving a fine for parking a car the size of a BMW 7 Series."
He added: "Space sizes should reflect the UK vehicle parc, so motorists can park without fear of damaging other vehicles or being fined for overstepping a bay.
"The fact it’s almost impossible to find the parking restrictions online – with drivers often forced to read the small print on physical signage at the location to understand the precise rules – only adds to the difficulties faced by motorists."
Vehicles with the biggest length increase between 2018 and 2024 show the Peugeot 208 in first spot with 58cm ahead of the Toyota Yaris in second with a length of 44.5,
The Mazda 3 is third with a length of 40cm while a BMW 7 Series is measured at 29.3cm.
The Mercedes A-Class is measured at 12cm, the BMW 2 Series is measured at 10.5cm, and the rest of the top ten is rounded off by Peugeot 3008 - 9.5cm, Mercedes C-Class - 6.5cm, Toyota Prius - 5.9cm and in joint tenth, Range Rover - 5.3cm and Volkswagen Tiguan - 5.3cm.
It comes as a fuming woman was hit with an eye-watering £170 parking fine despite PAYING - all because the wind had blown her ticket over.
Emma Downey, from Preston, Lancashire, was gobsmacked when she was slapped with the penalty after dutifully buying her time in the space.
But, she was met with a stone-cold response and sent back a picture the warden had taken of the overturned ticket.
Emma told the : “This just feels so unfair.
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“I purchased a ticket and displayed it but I’ve been fined.
"I understand the ticket should have been the other way up but on displaying the proof that I did follow the rules you would think that would be the end of the matter."
When can I appeal a parking ticket?
A fine may be deemed unfair by the council or an independent adjudicator if:
- Signs were wrong - If the signs weren’t visible or gave the wrong information
- The traffic warden got it wrong - for example if a parking attendant thinks you stayed too long when you were in fact within the time limit
- An error on the letter or ticket- if they’ve left out any information on the ‘Notice to Owner’ letter, then you could get it waived
- You didn’t own the vehicle at the time - you’ll have to prove this, such as information you provided to the DVLA
- Your car was stolen - if a thief parked the car illegally then you can get it waived
- There was no way to pay - if a parking meter or machine was broken and there was no other way to pay
- Your car broke down - if you were given a ticket while waiting for your car to be fixed or towed away
- You couldn't get back to your car - you should appeal your ticket if you couldn’t get back to your car because it’s difficult for you to walk because you’re disabled, you’re pregnant or you have a very young baby
