Drivers back new parking proposals as millions of popular vehicles left struggling for spaces - 'Key issue'

Data found that wider parking bays were among the top improvements drivers highlighted to help make parking easier.

The need for more space follows research which found that SUVs now dominate the UK car market, with eight of the 10 best‑selling cars now larger vehicles.

The data also found that one in five drivers (21 per cent) have received damage to their car due to another car parking too close, heightening the need for wider bays.

In the UK, parking spaces are usually 2.4 metres wide by 4.8 metres long, which often falls too short for the larger SUVs, which are typically 4.79 metres long and two metres wide.

Beyond size, the report revealed that 46 per cent of drivers want lower parking costs, while 34 per cent value guaranteed spaces as their key issues.

Meanwhile, nine per cent said that having more electric vehicle charging points would improve their parking experience.

Larne O'Donoghue, spokesperson at YourParkingSpace, explained that research has shown that drivers are already adapting by planning ahead, choosing locations carefully, and "prioritising convenience when deciding where to park".

In the UK, parking spaces have remained unchanged for more than 50 years, with experts warning that they are no longer fit for purpose, given the fact that vehicles have grown in size.

Parking sizes vary by purpose in the UK, with long‑stay spaces slightly wider at 2.5 metres, while short‑stay bays are narrower at 2.3 metres to maximise capacity.

Disabled bays, however, are traditionally larger at 3.6 metres wide, while parent/child spaces measure at 3.2 metres, both designed for easier wheelchair and pushchair access. But while drivers have demanded larger spaces, several groups have been opposed to the measure

Startline Motor Finance revealed that 61 per cent of motorists want SUVs to face triple parking charges due to being bad for the environment.

The report noted that drivers would like to see the UK follow European leads and introduce new parking measures to tackle the growing phenomenon of SUVs.

Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said: "There is a pretty strong majority for people who want to discourage driving big SUVs in their cities because of their impact on the environment, traffic and pedestrian safety - and would like to see action taken that actively discourages their owners from bringing them into these areas."

He also warned that while SUVs have become more popular, they have been posing more safety risks to pedestrians due to their larger, heavier build.

Mr Burgess stated that 37 per cent of drivers said that there are too many SUVs on UK roads, which are more likely to cause pedestrian deaths.

Most recently, Cardiff became the first city in the UK to introduce higher parking charges for SUVs in a bid to reduce pedestrian dangers.

Oliver Lord, UK Head of Clean Cities, shared: "The evidence is clear - SUVs are more dangerous for people outside the car, take up more space, and pollute more.

"Councils like Cardiff have the power to act by introducing fairer parking charges that reflect the true cost of these vehicles."