Drivers warned of £300 fine and car insurance chaos for common parking mistake
Almost a quarter of drivers admitted that someone had parked their car for them
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Motorists are at risk of being hit with a hefty fine and points on their licence for letting someone drive their car to park in a tricky space.
The majority of drivers would rank parking as one of the most frustrating parts of motoring, with tensions spiking with difficult manoeuvres.
From finding an open space in a busy car park to squeezing between two vehicles in a street, drivers can quickly lose their temper.
Despite this, experts always urge motorists to keep a cool head and take their time when parking, even if drivers have other ideas.
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Almost a quarter of drivers admitted that a friend or family member had to park their car for them in a difficult space.
However, the majority of drivers will be unaware that this cannot be done and could lead to serious consequences.
Road users could be hit with a £300 fine and six penalty points on their driving licence if they let an uninsured driver operate their vehicle.
In addition to this, they could see their car insurance premiums rise in the future for receiving penalty points.
Annex 3 of the Highway Code states: “You MUST NOT drive a motor vehicle without insurance.
“Also, be aware that even if a road traffic incident is not your fault, you may still be held liable by insurance companies.
“Uninsured drivers can now be automatically detected by roadside cameras.
“Further to the penalties for uninsured driving, an offender’s vehicle can now be seized by the Police, taken away and crushed.”
To avoid parking in difficult parking spaces, a staggering 11 per cent of drivers admitted to resorting to illegal parking techniques to avoid difficult situations.
Data from Auto Trader found that heart rates spike by 57 per cent when performing a parallel parking manoeuvre.
A further spike of 46 per cent is seen when drivers need to perform a reverse bay park.
Many drivers said they would rather do other “scary” things than perform a parallel park, including catching a spider, watching a horror movie or going for a blood test or vaccination.
Erin Baker, editorial director at Auto Trader, said drivers should always check their mirrors, back-up cameras and over their shoulder.
She added: “This is essential for ensuring your safety and the safety of others. If you are struggling to fully assess your surrounding areas, you can always ask a passenger to get out and guide you into the spot.
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“Obviously, this is only possible if you have others in the car, but it is a great way of being sure of your surroundings and how much room there is between you and the cars in front or behind you.”