Parallel parking 'a no-go for Irish motorists'

Research by Easytrip on drivers' parking behaviour and preferences has found that 74 percent of Irish drivers prefer reversing or driving forward into a perpendicular parking space over parallel parking, writes Trish Whelan. The survey of 500 motorists also found that 45 percent of those surveyed admit to driving past a free parking space to avoid parallel parking.

The research showed that half those who prefer parallel parking drive a large hatchback or saloon sized vehicle. However, in general, Irish drivers are quietly confident in their driving abilities with 86 percent stating to be 'very good' or 'good' at parking.

Almost half of those surveyed said they would prefer to take an on-street parking space with multi-storey car parks following closely behind at 41 percent, with 90 percent stating convenience and fear of running out of change for meters as the reasons for their preference. A low 15 percent preferred on-street ground level car parks while only 4 percent choose underground car parks.

Annoying parking habits revealed were taking up two parking spaces, parking too close to your car, taking forever to park the car, parking in a disabled parking space when not entitled to do so, and parking in a designated mother and baby space, without children present.

Unlike in the UK, there is currently no testing element for parallel parking in the National Driving Test in Ireland.