Study Reveals This Car Brand’s Drivers Struggle Most with Parking

It’s a common misconception that drivers of certain sports cars or electric SUVs tend to ignore courtesy rules. Yet, a recent European study challenges these stereotypes. By observing the behaviors of nearly 1,000 motorists in major European cities, automotive experts identified the car brand whose owners are most prone to parking infractions or errors. So, who are the worst offenders when it comes to parking?

To compile this intriguing report, the UK-based platform DiscoverCars.com employed observers to scrutinize the parking behaviors of 913 vehicles in the lots of five major European cities: Manchester, Rome, Paris, Amsterdam, and Barcelona. The experts meticulously checked for adherence to parking lines, instances of cars straddling two spots, and illegal parking in spaces designated for disabled persons. The aim was clear: to see if the prestige of a brand’s logo affects the accuracy of its drivers’ parking.

Before pointing fingers at the least disciplined manufacturer, the study first unveils a closely contested ranking. On the edge of the top five, we find the American brand Tesla (20.5% of models poorly parked) and the German Volkswagen (20.4%). Just ahead, in third place, is BMW with 21.7% of its vehicles violating parking norms. This middle-of-the-pack performance suggests that sedans and large SUVs, despite their advanced driving aids and backup cameras, do not necessarily ensure flawless parking.

Ultimately, it is Mercedes-Benz that clinches the top spot in this ranking, officially making it the brand with the poorest parkers in Europe. According to data shared by the British media outlet Daily Express, a quarter of Mercedes drivers (25%) were caught committing parking errors. This decisive score underscores a lack of discipline in parking spaces but shouldn’t overshadow the performance of another manufacturer, this time a mainstream one. The German brand is closely followed by the French manufacturer Citroën, which surprisingly takes second place with a 24.4% error rate. The study also notes that some Citroën drivers were seen in Barcelona and Rome parked in reserved spots without a valid permit.

Speaking to the British Express, Aleksandrs Buraks, head of growth at DiscoverCars.com, offered some perspective on these findings: “It’s interesting to note that Mercedes drivers were found to be the worst at parking, which doesn’t help the negative stereotypes often associated with luxury car drivers. However, with three of the five worst-ranked brands being premium manufacturers, and Volkswagen and Citroën also ranking high, it’s clear that parking mistakes are not exclusive to luxury brands.” This conclusion serves as a reminder that regardless of a car’s value, courtesy and precision in parking are ultimately matters of personal responsibility.