Drivers admit parallel parking puts confidence in reverse
Kwik-Fit | Saturday 22nd April 2017 2:17pm
- 32% of motorists try to avoid completing driving manoeuvres
- 65% of drivers admit to having dreaded the prospect of demonstrating their car manoeuvring skills
- 75% of London-based motorists admitted fearing at least one manoeuvre ahead of their driving test
One in three (32%) motorists try to avoid completing driving manoeuvres for fear of getting them wrong, according to new research1 from Kwik-Fit. Parallel parking tops the list of most commonly avoided manoeuvres with 30% of drivers admitting to giving it a miss whenever possible.
The study, commissioned by the UK’s leading automotive servicing and repair company, found that motorists’ fear of putting their car through various manoeuvres peaks during their driving test but often never entirely leaves them even after many years of experience. Two-thirds (65%) of drivers admit to having dreaded the prospect of demonstrating their car manoeuvring skills during their test with parallel parking (28%) coming top, ahead of reverse parking (22%) and hill starts (15%).
Given the busy traffic conditions, not surprisingly London-based motorists were the most likely to lose sleep over driving test manoeuvres, with three quarters (75%) admitting to fearing at least one manoeuvre ahead of their driving test. Motorists in Yorkshire and Humberside and the East of England (62%) were the least affected by the prospect.
Roger Griggs, communications director at Kwik Fit, said: “Many motorists never lose their fear of having to drive alongside another car and parallel or reverse-park behind it and often try to avoid it outright. It’s particularly trialling during the driving test but even once a green licence has been swapped for the pink version, few drivers like the feeling of trying to squeeze into a gap between two cars with other drivers waiting impatiently behind you.
“Getting it wrong can lead to wheel rims and tyres getting badly damaged by the kerb so it’s well worth investing the time to perfect it. Drivers who are concerned about any damage they may have caused by a parking misdemeanour can visit their local Kwik Fit centre where the team would be happy to provide a free inspection.”
Percentage of motorists who dreaded manoeuvres during their driving test:
| Manoeuvre | Percentage dreading this |
|---|---|
| Parallel park | 28% |
| Reverse park | 22% |
| Hill start | 16% |
| Three-point turn | 11% |
| Emergency stop | 10% |
| All of them | 8% |
Percentage of motorists likely to avoid driving manoeuvres:
| Manoeuvre | Percentage dreading this |
|---|---|
| Parallel park | 30% |
| Reverse park | 15% |
| Emergency stop | 11% |
| Hill star | 8% |
| Three-point turn | 4% |
| All of them | 8% |
Drivers can find a wide range of advice and tips on car maintenance by visiting kwik-fit.com. For the latest news and updates from Kwik Fit, customers can also follow the company on Twitter at @kwik_fit.
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Notes to editors
Sources:
1 - Research carried out by ICM amongst a nationally representative sample of 2009 GB adults aged 18+
About Kwik Fit
Established in 1971, the Kwik Fit Group is one of the largest independent automotive parts, repair and replacement specialists in the world. Kwik Fit has over 600 service centres across the UK and more than 200 mobile tyre fitting vehicles, making it the UK’s leading tyre, exhaust, brake and MoT specialist. Details of its range of products and services can be found at kwik-fit.com
For further information please contact:
Samantha Stewart/Antonia Green/Emma Castle
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Tel: 020 7638 9571
For further information please contact:
Samantha Stewart/Antonia Green/Emma Castle
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Tel: 020 7638 9571
