According to a recent analysis conducted by Which?, over 150 car models are now too large to fit in average car parking spaces. This phenomenon, known as “autobesity,” refers to the fact that cars have been increasing in size while the size of parking bays has remained the same for decades.
Natalie Hitchins, the home products and services editor at Which?, expressed concerns about this trend. While larger cars may provide a more comfortable driving experience, they pose challenges when it comes to fitting into parking spaces.
The issue of car size and road safety is also being debated, particularly in light of a tragic incident in southwest London where two eight-year-old girls lost their lives after a Land Rover crashed through a school fence. Which? discovered that 161 car models tested were longer than the standard car parking bay, with 12 exceeding the limit by more than 30cm. This represents an increase from 2019 when only 129 cars did not fit within the standard bay.
The BMW i7 is now the longest car, protruding over half a meter from a standard bay. This can create difficulties for other motorists as well as pedestrians navigating the car park. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class hybrid and Audi A8 also exceed the standard bay length by 44.6cm and 37.2cm, respectively.
Furthermore, the research revealed that 27 car models are too wide for drivers to comfortably open their doors when parked between two other cars. The Land Rover Discovery, for example, leaves only a narrow 16.35cm space between the doors and the bay’s borders, similar to the height of an iPhone 14 Plus.
The trend of “autobesity” is forcing car park providers to find innovative ways to accommodate larger cars, including wider parking bays. However, the British Parking Association (BPA) cautioned that adapting to bigger cars is not always easy, especially for multi-storey car parks, which are costly to rebuild.
While some car parks have introduced wider bays, this is not the case everywhere, and drivers may encounter difficulties in certain locations, particularly in multi-storey car parks, according to Hitchins.
Interestingly, all three of the widest cars identified are SUVs. These vehicles, often referred to as “Chelsea tractors,” have faced criticism for their use in city centers, with some road safety advocates calling for their ban in busy pedestrian areas.
A study published in the Journal of Safety Research found that SUVs pose a significantly higher risk to children compared to passenger cars. In fact, children struck by SUVs are eight times more likely to die than those struck by smaller cars. SUVs are typically much heavier than family hatchbacks, with the largest weighing in at 2,000kg compared to around 1,200kg for a typical hatchback.
While SUVs continue to face concerns about their size and safety, they remain popular among car consumers. In the UK, more than 40% of annual car sales consist of SUVs, compared to less than 20% a decade ago.
Despite the dangers associated with SUVs, the parking challenges they present, and the protests against them, their popularity continues to rise.
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