Drivers are not necessarily worse in December. Yet many with driving licenses cause far more damage to their cars in the run-up to Christmas, a new study shows.
In the run-up to Christmas, many drivers experience a significant number of dents in their cars. During busy periods like this, when parking lots are full, the risk of damage increases considerably.
The problem is particularly prevalent in parking lots at shopping centers and in larger cities, where space is limited and cars are parked closely together.
A survey by the insurance company Gjensidige shows that 50 percent of drivers believe it has become more difficult to find enough space to get in and out of the car. The reason is, among other things, that modern cars have become wider, while parking spaces have not kept up with the development.
In England, the insurance company Churchill Insurance has pointed out that the average family car is now approximately 180 centimeters wide.
In comparison, Denmark's best-selling car model, the Tesla Model Y, is a full 192 centimeters wide without side mirrors. Some of the widest models, such as the BMW iX, measure 197 centimeters, which creates challenges in parking spaces that are typically only 250 centimeters wide.
The lack of space means that many drivers risk damaging the car next to them when they open their doors. Seven out of ten car owners have experienced their car being hit, and it is rare for the person responsible for the damage to come forward.
According to the survey, 50 percent believe that it is not common for the person responsible to leave a note with contact information. Only 15 percent experience this happening.
In Denmark, the situation is more or less the same. With two newer cars parked next to each other in a standard space, there is often only a few centimeters left to open the doors. This has resulted in a fifth of the drivers in the survey stating that they have had to crawl in through the trunk.
Anyone who causes damage is obliged to make themselves known, for example by placing a note under the windshield wiper.
"It is important to take responsibility if you accidentally damage another car," says Markus Ljungblad from Gjensidige. He emphasizes that missing contact information can be illegal and is considered contagion.
The narrow parking conditions not only create practical problems, but also frustration among drivers.
Many are calling for larger parking spaces to accommodate the growing size of cars. In Sweden, the standard for parking spaces is slightly higher, with a width of 250 centimeters, but this is still not always sufficient for the largest cars.
To minimize the risk of dents, drivers are encouraged to choose parking spaces with extra space when possible, be careful when opening doors, and be aware of your surroundings before leaving your car.
Christmas is a time when many things need to be sorted out, and the pressure on parking spaces can create unnecessary problems. By being considerate and responsible, drivers can help reduce the number of dents and damage to their own and other people's cars.
