Drivers Feeling The Parking Squeeze

News Archive

Drivers Feeling The Parking Squeeze

September 6, 2012

A new study suggests that a fifth of local councils have reduced free street parking in the last year or so.

The research carried out by a large UK insurer shows that the number of parking attendents or "civil enforcement officers" (traffic wardens) have increased by 6% since 2008.

As a result local councils have made a whopping £340 million in the last 12 months alone. Almost 10 million fixed penalty notices are handed out on a yearly basis to drivers around the UK.

Cities such as London, Norwich, Derby and Hull are all having either yellow lines and paid street parking put in place to penalise motorists further.

Commenting on behalf of the RAC Foundation, Professor Stephen Glaister said:

“With more councils implementing more restrictions we should not be surprised there are also more attendants. The question is; are our towns and residents best served by this rise in controlled parking?"

He added that the underlying problem was the lack of parking spaces for the growing number of cars.

Both the AA and the Police force have criticised local councils for hiring traffic wardens to generate additional income, however, the number of police officers are dwindling in comparison. John Tully, the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation said:

“It is regrettable, clearly the focus is wrong, I can see why councils are doing it because clearly these people do engender an income. But the priority should be a police force which is fit for purpose.”

The general cost of motoring is on the increase. Find out how a telematics car insurance policy could help to reduce the burden.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/9508793/Motorists-face-tougher-battle-to-park-their-cars.html