Modern cars are too BIG to fit in garages… causing parking chaos as more motorists leave their vehicle on the street, new report shows
- Residential streets are becoming clogged with parked cars because larger modern vehicles no longer fit in garages, a report says
- Top five selling cars in the UK in the 1960s were 4ft 11in wide and 12ft 9in long
- But last year the five most popular cars were 5ft 11in wide and 14ft 1 in long
Residential streets are becoming clogged with parked cars because larger modern vehicles no longer fit in garages, a report says.
The top five selling cars in the UK in the 1960s – including models such as the slimline Ford Anglia – were 4ft 11in wide and 12ft 9in long on average, it found. But last year the five most popular cars were 5ft 11in wide and 14ft 1in long on average.
Meanwhile, private garages have largely remained the same width – 6ft 11in on average. This gives only 6in of clearance on each side when modern cars are driven in.
As a result, many more motorists are instead parking on the street, according to the RAC Foundation study.
The top five selling cars in the UK in the 1960s – including models such as the slimline Ford Anglia (pictured) – were 4ft 11in wide and 12ft 9in long on average, the report found
Around two-thirds of homeowners with a garage do not use it for the purpose it was intended.
It means the amount of space occupied by modern cars on residential roads is now a third more than in the 1960s, the report found.
This is leading to increasingly clogged roads as drivers have less space to pass each other alongside parked cars, while pedestrians such as mothers with pushchairs often find footpaths are blocked.
As a result, many more motorists are instead parking on the street, according to the RAC Foundation study
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said the problem is exacerbated by the fact that there are now around 31.7million cars on Britain’s streets, compared with 7.7million in 1965.
The foundation wants the planning system to catch up with the growth in car size by allowing bigger garages to be built, which would help cut on-street parking.
Mr Gooding said: ‘Not only are cars getting bigger – there are more of them. This is putting huge pressure on roadside space. Crucially, domestic garages are also often unfit for their intended purpose.’
The five best-selling cars in 1965 were the Austin Morris 1100/1300, Ford Cortina, Mini, Ford Anglia and Vauxhall Victor. Last year they were the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa, Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus and Mercedes A Class.