Motorists find fine dodging fine
New research reveals that one in ten sneaky Brits (10 per cent) have been caught parking illegally in the past year hoping to dodge a fine or parking warden.
The study by Sheilas' Wheels car insurance found that one in twelve Brits (eight per cent) have successfully appealed a fine in which they knew they were in the wrong, while over a fifth (22 per cent) do not believe that flouting parking regulations counts as breaking the law.
Men were the most dishonest when dodging regulations with more than one in ten (11 per cent) admitting they regularly park illegally. Shockingly, a further 11 per cent of men have even left their parking fine glued to their windscreen so that they can park illegally again without being stung with a second fine, compared to just three per cent of women who had used the same trick.
39 per cent of Brits said they were regularly confused by parking regulations, with a quarter (25 per cent) choosing to completely ignore regulations during weekends or Bank Holidays. 15 per cent of motorists said they regularly parked illegally as it was easier to risk the fine than buy a ticket or find parking elsewhere. Despite this, 14 per cent of Brits surveyed have spent up to £100 on paying parking fines in the past year.
Seven per cent of Brits regularly park in ‘customer only' parking spaces when they are not a customer and five per cent revealed they often park on single yellow lines. 13 per cent of Brits have even conspired with their children by using them as ‘look-outs' for the parking warden while they were away from the car.
In the study, Brits also revealed the excuses they have used in the past to avoid paying a parking ticket with nine per cent claiming the regulations were not clear.
Top five excuses given for avoiding a parking fine:
1. The regulations were not clear (nine per cent)
2. I was only gone briefly (six per cent)
3. I was looking for a place to buy a ticket (five per cent)
4. I had a personal emergency (four per cent)
5. My ticket went missing (three per cent)
Jacky Brown, at Sheilas' Wheels car insurance, said: "Flouting parking regulations has become a game of cat and mouse between many motorists and parking wardens and often involves people who would never consider themselves as law-breakers.
"Parking regulations exist for a reason and it's shocking to see the lengths motorists go to in order to avoid being caught out. All motorists should familiarise themselves with parking rules and regulations and keep loose change in the car - so it's at hand should you need to pay to park when you least expect it."
The research also revealed that not everyone who tries to beat the ‘fine' system had selfish intentions as almost two thirds of Brits (62 per cent) surveyed said they have given away a parking ticket with spare time on it to a complete stranger.
Regional Breakdown:
Almost a third of Brits from the North East do not believe that flouting parking regulating counts as breaking the law - the highest result of any of the regions polled. Londoners seem to be the most dishonest when it comes to dodging regulations with 17 per cent contesting a parking ticket even when they knew they were in the wrong.