Who would think something as simple as parking could cause so many problems? For some drivers, parking etiquette just seems to go out of the window. We know us British do have a tendency to moan, yet in the case of the parking quibbles below, we think it’s perfectly justified.
We take a look at some of the country’s top parking pet peeves – and simple ways to avoid committing these social crimes yourself. See if you agree.
Between the lines, please
If you look closely at the floor in a car park, you’ll see it is covered in parallel pairs of white lines. We’d like to say everyone knows how parking bays work. The number of times we’ve seen a car parked diagonally, or over the white lines, taking up two spaces, suggests otherwise.
Parking correctly in bays is just a matter of being considerate to other drivers. Always check that you’re in the bay before you leave your car, and straighten up if necessary. Take your time – parking isn’t a race.
Come on – you have a tiny car!
Tiny cars are easy to drive, eco-friendly, and cost effective. They can also be brilliant for annoying other drivers. There’s nothing more infuriating than trying to find somewhere in the street to park and seeing a bay big enough for two cars with a Smart car parked right in the middle. Why do so many of them seem to be parked as though the owner thought they were driving an articulated lorry?!
The same goes for those drivers trying to wedge a giant 4×4 into a space barely big enough for a wheelbarrow.
Know the size of your car, and it will make selecting the right parking spot so much easier.
We’re not watching; we’re waiting
We’ve all encountered the driver in the parking lot who seems to be oblivious to the fact that there are other cars on the road, haven’t we? There are some drivers who think it’s fine with everyone behind them if they just park up and wait for someone to pull out of a space in front.
Fair enough if the person’s reversing lights are already on – but if they’re still packing their shopping into the boot, everyone behind you is going to get rather annoyed.
It’s common courtesy to think about other drivers when you park, and that doesn’t just mean the ones who own the cars that you are parking near.
What are your pet parking peeves?
The three we’ve listed are just the start of a very long list of parking faux-pas that drivers all across the country encounter on a daily basis. Yet the moral of each story is a simple one: be aware of other drivers, and treat them with respect and courtesy.
We’re not asking for the world. But we are asking for your pet peeves, so let us know them by dropping a comment in the box below.