Drivers of seven popular car models from top brands like BMW, Kia, and Mercedes have been hit with the shocking news that they are now banned from parking in public car parks due to a little-known rule about parking space lengths.
Autocar has confirmed with five local councils that cars too long for standard bays are now prohibited from council-run car parks. Vehicles over five metres in length are out of luck, as parking bays usually measure up to 4.8 metres.
As cars have grown in size over the years, this poses a problem, with councils ready to fine drivers whose cars exceed parking bay limits.
New Forest Council highlighted the issue stating: “The standard parking space has remained at a consistent size for several decades. However, national research has shown that on average, cars have got larger over time, both in width and in length.”
The council added: “In 1965 the top five models sold in the UK had an average width of 1.5 m and average length of 3.9 m, compared to an average width of 1.8 m and length of 4.3 m for the top five sellers of 2020.”
Luxury vehicles at risk of breaching the ban include the lavish Mercedes S-Class, the Tesla Model S, and the BMW 7 Series. Swanky SUVs such as Range Rovers, Audi A8s, Kia EV9s, and the Rolls Royce Cullinan might soon be barred from parking in certain spots due to the outdated sizes of parking bays.
Autocar has submitted an FOI request to every UK council enquiring whether they have any intentions to increase parking space dimensions to accommodate the now frequently seen longer vehicles. So far, councils including Wokingham, South Hampshire, Broadland, South Suffolk and West Devon have indicated to Autocar that they effectively prohibit any vehicle that doesn’t fit within their parking bays, reports the Express.
Wokingham Council has made the FOI details available on their website. The council was asked, “Are cars exceeding a certain length banned from any of your car parks?” They replied: “We have a limit on size of vehicle and weight of vehicle allowed to use the car parks these were introduced at different dates as shown below. Since June 2023 All motor vehicles whose maximum length does not exceed 5,00 metres and overall height exceeds 2.10 metres and whose gross weight does not exceed 3050 kilogrammes, except for access.”
Motorists should stay alert for updates from their local councils regarding parking regulations.
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