Labour has been urged to address the growing parking issues across the UK which sees drivers struggle to park in spaces due to their vehicle being too big.
The urgency comes after research revealed that parking bay sizes haven’t been updated since the 1970s despite more drivers buying SUVs and family vehicles, which are much larger than traditional cars.
The surge in SUV popularity, which dominated new car sales in 2024, means that more vehicles have been left struggling to fit into parking bays.
Due to the dimensions remaining unchanged since 1976, drivers of larger vehicles are finding it increasingly difficult to manoeuvre their cars and open doors in standard spaces.
Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailingmotoring@gbnews.uk
Parking rules for bays have remained the same since 1976
GETTY
According to industry guidelines, parking bays should measure 2.4 metres wide and 4.8 metres long, although these standardised measurements have become increasingly problematic for today's vehicles.
To address this challenge, some drivers are turning to alternative parking solutions, including rented driveways which offer more generous space.
Andy Syrett, UK managing director at YourParkingSpace, said: "While modern cars are fitted with an array of sensors to help drivers park their vehicle, this doesn't change the fact there are more larger cars on the UK's roads and that parking bays have not increased in size."
The Ford Puma, which was the UK's best-selling car last year, measures approximately 4.2 metres in length and 1.8 metres in width. The second most popular vehicle, the Kia Sportage, is slightly larger at 4.5 metres long and 1.8 metres wide.
These dimensions leave just 59.5cm of space to open doors for the Puma in a standard bay.The Sportage fares even worse with only 53.5cm of clearance.
The situation becomes particularly challenging when doors are opened simultaneously on both sides, leaving less than 30cm for the Puma and 27cm for the Sportage.
The parking squeeze isn't limited to SUVs, with traditionally compact cars also outgrowing standard bays. The Mini, once a symbol of compact city driving, has also expanded significantly over the years.
Modern Mini models are approximately 75cm longer and 32cm wider than their classic counterparts. The Ford Fiesta has undergone a similar transformation, growing roughly 52cm longer and 10cm wider than its original design.
Syrett said: "There is an easily accessible alternative as YourParkingSpace lists thousands of rentable driveways across the UK, that are bigger than bays, which car owners can pre-book to park their vehicles on."
Rentable spaces include partnerships with major retailers like Premier Inn, Tesco and Morrisons. Popular locations for rented driveways include areas near train stations, airports, and sports stadiums.
Music venues and town and city centres are also in high demand among motorists seeking alternative parking who can resort to renting spaces to avoid complications with parking.
"Bigger is better when it comes to parking spaces. Parking on a rented driveway removes the stress of manoeuvring in a small bay and squeezing out through car doors which can barely be opened," Syrett noted.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Parking bays should be 2.4 metres wide and 4.8 metres long according to industry standards
GETTY
According to a survey last year it found that eight out of 10 vans in the UK were deemed too long to squeeze into a parking space. The British Parking Association had previously revealed new guidance for the recommended parkin bay to increase from 4.8 metres to five metres and the width of a standard parking bay to increase from 2.4 metres to 2.6 metres.
