September 23, 2008

A new survey out today highlights how the combination of new car parking technologies, diverse parking signs and new parking policies are leaving the British public confused over where they are able to park, how to park and how much to pay. 

The confusion is underlined by the fact that a quarter of all motorists say that they have been issued a penalty parking fine in the last year, with a staggering 69 per cent of these claiming that they felt they were unfairly penalised.  One could almost feel that the confusion and lack of clarity are used to make it more likely that motorists fall foul of the rules.

Research by esure car insurance suggests that over 20 million motorists (a whopping 74 per cent of all drivers questioned) fail to recognise all The Highway Code rules for parking, with 93 per cent of drivers admitting that they feel confused about the constantly shifting parking regulations.

The Decriminalisation of Parking Enforcement (DPE), which gives local authorities responsibility for enforcing many parking regulations rather than the police, seems to be adding to the bewilderment of drivers. Almost a third (29 per cent), of those asked said that parking policies in their local area change frequently, and 58 per cent say that when policies change in their local area it leaves them feeling confused.

Over half (53 per cent) of those polled claimed that they had encountered parking signs which contradicted each other in the same area, making it impossible for them to understand the intentions of local enforcement officers.  In addition, nearly three quarters (73 per cent), complained that the lack of signs in some locations forced them to search for some time before establishing whether they can park in an authorised spot with impunity.

A shocking 60 per cent of motorists polled said they think that some parking signs are deliberately misleading so that drivers can be caught and fined, showing quite how damaging parking regulations are for the perceptions of the authorities.

Given the relatively small proportion of people who attend hospitals as patients or visitors, it is astonishing that one in ten of those questioned (10 per cent) claim to have been issued with a parking penalty while their car was in a hospital car park: 78 per cent hope that England will follow Scotland and Wales by banning these highly unpopular fines.

However, despite the high level of motorists receiving parking ‘tickets’, less than half (48 per cent) have contested a fine when they believe it was unfairly issued. A third of motorists (33 per cent) asked said they felt they had no chance of winning even if they thought they were right. A further 18 per cent said it was more convenient to just pay the parking fine rather than contest it. Only 21 per cent have ever received a refund for a fine they believe was incorrectly issued.

When asked to identify a selection of parking signs, the motorists questioned could only correctly recognise a third of the signs, on average. A staggering 95 per cent of motorists asked were unable to identify the correct meaning of a ‘brown badge holder’ sign, while 82 per cent were unsure what double white lines mean with regards to parking.

Mike Pickard, Head of Risk and Underwriting at esure car insurance, said: “As more and more local councils take on Decriminalised Parking Enforcement, it is important to check with your local authority for any signs specific to your area that you don’t understand.

 “Although parking violations won’t affect your insurance premium, they can significantly affect the overall cost of running a car, so do your best to avoid them. And of course, if you don’t think a parking penalty was fair then take the time to contest it. Refer to the terms of the Road Traffic Act but above all, keep a copy of the Highway Code in your glove box as a reference – to avoid parking in the wrong place all together.”

It is no great surprise that Londoners are subject to the worst parking penalties, incurring an average cost of £78 per motorist per year. Londoners have also received the most fines in the past year, with 58 per cent admitting they have received a parking ticket this year.

A staggering 85 per cent of drivers in the North East confess to feeling confused about parking rules and regulations.

When it comes to parking, men are the most risky – 22 per cent admit that if they were unsure about a parking sign meant they would park there anyway and risk the ticket, whereas only 14 per cent of female motorists would do so.

Almost three quarters (73 per cent) of male motorists say that they have felt unfairly penalised when given a parking ticket compared to 63 per cent of female drivers, yet they pay up without contest.

The current, decriminalised parking system has proven to be as huge money earner for councils.  There is little incentive for them to make any changes to the way they operate while it proves to be so profitable.  If you have been fined in an area that is ambiguous and feel that you have been seen as an easy target it's your duty to contest the ticket.

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