The B-plate

Pre-warning others about potential errors are not just courtesy but a safe way of signalling to others to give you time and space to make mistakes.

The standards of vehicle parking have long been the subject of media news stories, and with cars getting bigger and roads busier, the problem appears to have worsened.

One company has devised a plan to help warn other road users and help them understand particular driver’s limitations.

A ‘D’ grade

Scrap Car Comparison has launched a new ‘B Plate’ to help drivers identify themselves to others as being particularly poor at parking. 

With the red-on-white ‘B’ standing for ‘bad parking’, the launch comes off the back of new research.

This revealed that almost half (48%) of all drivers feel they could benefit from further training or assistance when it comes to their parking.

A further 1 in 6 (17%) say they have experienced stress or worry about parking their car.

Meanwhile, a third of drivers (30%) say they spend extra time searching for a parking bay that has free spaces on either side of it rather than trying to squeeze into one flanked by other cars. 

Needing help

This research helps to highlight that while it might be frustrating to come across a car that is parked poorly within a bay or at the side of the road, it can be even worse to suffer from ‘park-phobia’.

According to the research, this lack of confidence seems to come from learning to drive.

A significant 1 in 4 motorists (23%) say they weren’t taught well enough about parking manoeuvres, and 74% of new drivers aged between 17 and 24 say they could benefit from more guidance. 

Scrap Car Comparison hopes the new B Plate stickers will make a difference and encourage drivers to ‘own’ their parking pitfalls, as well asseek the additional guidance required to gain more confidence behind the wheel.

Asking for help

David Kottaun, Operations Manager at Scrap Car Comparison comments: “No matter where you are in the world, you’ll come across an example of bad parking, but it seems this isn’t something to simply shake your head at, as many drivers are experiencing stress and embarrassment when parking their cars”. 

“Just like a P plate enables new drivers to ask for patience from other road users, our B plates will give people the chance to hold their hands up, say sorry and ask for forgiveness, if they know their parking leaves a lot to be desired”. 

“We hope that the plates also serve as encouragement for drivers to seek additional parking guidance to build up their confidence, because while bad parking can often simply be frustrating, it can also be dangerous if a car is left too far out in a road, so will need addressing. Often, good parking comes down to staying calm, remembering what you were taught in your driving lessons and taking each turn of the wheel, step by step”.    

To garner interest in the new B plate, Scrap Car Comparison are offering a limited number of B plate stickers to interested drivers for free via a simple ‘register interest’ form on their website. 

Based on interest levels, the brand will then look to make them widely available in 2025. 

Brands and parking

Research also looked at the owner’s choice of car brand and which brands are most lacking in parking skills. 

Ranked by how many owners of each brand feel they need more parking training or assistance, the owners of German manufacturer BMWfeature as the most in need of a B plate, with 68% of BMW owners feeling their parking skills could be improved. 

The data reveals an unfortunate clean sweep for luxury German automotive brands, with Audi and Mercedes-Benz owners completing the podium of the nation’s worst parkers, above other brands such as Citroën, Ford and Fiat. 

For further insights from the study and to get a B plate, click here.