Skip to main content

Call for new standard for parking space sizes

YourParkingSpace.co.uk, the UK’s car parking marketplace, is calling for the introduction of SizeMark; a new parking industry standard designed to ensure that car parking spaces are large enough to accommodate modern motor vehicles. The move is needed, it claims, after research showed that while parking spaces have remained approximately the same size over the last 60 years, some vehicle models have grown by more than 20 per cent in width. Backed up by a recent survey by the AA, the result revealed that
February 6, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
YourParkingSpace.co.uk, the UK’s car parking marketplace, is calling for the introduction of SizeMark; a new parking industry standard designed to ensure that car parking spaces are large enough to accommodate modern motor vehicles.

The move is needed, it claims, after research showed that while parking spaces have remained approximately the same size over the last 60 years, some vehicle models have grown by more than 20 per cent in width. Backed up by a recent survey by the 1459 AA, the result revealed that more than half of motorists have suffered damage to their car when parked in a car park over the past 12 months, meaning that many drivers are now shunning traditional car parks in favour of more spacious private driveways.

Growing vehicle size is a significant issue for car park owners and drivers alike. Today’s Mini Cooper is 24 per cent wider than the 1959 original; the 1683 Honda Civic is 18 per cent wider than the first model launched back in 1973; the 994 Volkswagen Golf is nearly 12 per cent wider than its original 1974 version; while the current 278 Ford Fiesta is 10 per cent wider than the original 1976 version. According to the 6982 Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, in 2013 more than 400,000 new cars were registered in the UK from the luxury, MPV or dual purpose segments, which typically include much wider vehicles.

Harrison Woods, managing director of YourParkingSpace.co.uk, believes that the solution could be new guidelines regarding the minimum recommended size of a parking space, proposing a SizeMark standard as an ideal solution. “It’s time that the industry introduced a recommended minimum parking space size so that drivers know what to expect. Our proposal is to introduce the SizeMark standard, where all car parks that meet this minimum size are awarded an instantly recognisable SizeMark badge to help drivers minimise damage to their cars.”

Related Content

  • April 25, 2012
    US to test connected vehicle technologies in six cities
    The US Department of Transportation has announced the six cities where it will hold Driver Acceptance Clinics for the connected vehicle programme. The first clinic will be held in Brooklyn, MI, near Detroit, in August, while the remaining clinics will be held in Minneapolis, Orlando, FL, Blacksburg, VA, Dallas and San Francisco.
  • April 17, 2012
    Thailand trying to attract eco-friendly car manufacture
    Thailand's Board of Investment is trying to woo car manufacturers to the country. From its position as the world's No. 1 producer of one-ton pickup trucks, it claims Thailand is quickly emerging as a global hub for fuel efficient, eco-friendly car manufacturing, with Euro-4 emission standards and a fuel economy of nearly 50 miles per gallon. Six of the world's top auto producers have based their fuel efficient car production in Thailand in recent years.
  • January 31, 2012
    Expanded coverage for EZ-Sensor
    Schrader, a Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) specialist, has expanded coverage for the company's EZ-Sensor technology. Claimed to be the automotive industry's first patented OE-replacement TPMS sensor that can be programmed to function across diverse car makes and models, EZ-Sensor now covers over 62 per cent of TPMS-enabled vehicles in the US - over 30 million vehicles - including new support for vehicle platforms such as Dodge and Jeep and expanded coverage for existing platforms like Ford, Chrysle
  • November 7, 2017
    MoneySuperMarket: 49% of British public surveyed have never considered buying EV or Hybrid Car
    49% of the of the British public have stated that they have never considered buying an electric car (EC) or hybrid car, according to recent research by MoneySupermarket.com. These findings come from a survey carried out by the comparison site on 1,000 UK car owners to determine whether the British public is prepared for the electric switch following the government’s plans to prohibit petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040. It examined the cost, the number of charging points and public opinion.