We spend more than a day a year looking for parking spaces, a new study reveals.
The average driver uses up 26 hours and 21 minutes every 12 months trying to find the perfect spot to leave their car.
A third (37 per cent) of motorists say they end up circling endlessly around car parks and five per cent even admitted that they give up and go home if they can’t find the right space.
And one fifth have damaged their car whilst parking, with men more likely than women to ‘prang’ as they pull up.
The average driver uses up 26 hours and 21 minutes every 12 months trying to find the perfect spot to leave their car
Nearly half of us (45 per cent) have been left embarrassed in a tricky parking situation, according to the study by 1st Central Car Insurance.
Parking with an audience, on busy roads and in tight spaces make are named as the situations we most dislike.
Some of us have even asked strangers to park for them instead of braving multi-storey or supermarket car parks.
Parallel parking was said to be the British driver’s greatest nemesis, with over a quarter (26 per cent) picking it as the worst manouvre, above parking on a busy road (22 per cent) and reversing into a space (17 per cent).
Parking with an audience seemed a pet peeve of some, as 21 per cent said that they hated parking with a partner in the car with them.
Andy James, UK CEO at the car insurance company, offered advice to panicky parkers.
Parking with an audience seemed a pet peeve of some, as 21 per cent said that they hated parking with a partner in the car with them
He said: ‘Parking can cause drivers to become flustered behind the wheel, especially on busy roads or at peak times in car parks.
‘Nobody enjoys seeing a queue of people form behind them whilst trying to manoeuvre into a tight spot.
‘However, it is important to remember not to rush your reverse or panic during your parallel.
‘Take it slowly and don’t get distracted by those around you to avoid having an unnecessary accident.’