As part of Road Safety Week, airport parking specialist Purple Parking surveyed over 2,800 British drivers of whom 51% admitted to irresponsible actions when parking, including damaging vehicles (either their own or another person’s), damaging public or private property, getting involved in an argument or leaving the scene of a parking incident without leaving details.

The survey also showed that women consider men to be significantly better behind the wheel and men also agreed that they perceived women’s parking skills to be inferior. Yet admissions in the poll highlighted men as the most irresponsible parkers, accounting for two thirds (65%) of all anti-social parking. 

A fifth of drivers considered personal distractions, such as lack of concentration, tiredness or nerves, as having a negative impact on their parking abilities.

The research comes as road safety charity Brake campaigns during Road Safety Week for drivers to “tune in” and stay more aware on the roads.

Joe Burns, spokesman from Brake, said: ‘Distractions are a real danger whenever we’re out driving – driving is one of the most dangerous things we’re likely to do on a daily basis, and it requires our full attention. Most of us can’t multi-task as well as we think we can, and one study has estimated that one in five potentially devastating crashes are caused by driver distractions, such as phone use at the wheel.  That’s why we’re calling on everyone to “tune in” to road safety at all parts of the journey, from when we’re setting off, to when we’re parking up.’

To help drivers test their own parking skills and knowledge, Purple Parking has this week launched a Parking Pros quiz, including questions on some of the toughest manoeuvres, road signs and parking general knowledge: http://www.purpleparking.com/travel-advice/parking-pros-quiz