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Most Sydney drivers don’t own up to hitting parked cars

More than 91 per cent of Sydney motorists admit to driving away without leaving a note after nudging a parked car.


 

A survey of 450 New South Wales drivers conducted by Pure Profile Research for NRMA Insurance discovered the overwhelming majority of Sydney drivers do not own up to hitting parked cars.

More than two in three drivers said their car had been damaged while parked in Sydney suburbs. NRMA claims data reveals the worst area for parked-vehicle damage is the Inner City, followed by the Inner West and the Eastern Suburbs.

NRMA Insurance spokesman Andrew Taub said much of the damage was caused by “touch parking”, and he said with more residents and limited parking spaces, it was a phenomenon unlikely to stop any time soon.

“We think that at times maybe out of frustration, drivers may try to squeeze their car into a tight spot to rush to their destination,” Mr Taub said.

“Although a lot of drivers do not own up to hitting a parked car, there are a lot of witnesses to touch parking – two in three people have seen a car connect with another car while trying to park in a tight spot.”

According to Australian road rules, you must leave at least one metre between the vehicles parked directly in front and behind you when parallel parking where spaces are not marked.

The NRMA encourages drivers to consider the size of the parking space and your vehicle, and get a passenger to jump out and guide you into a spot if necessary. If you hit a parked car you should leave a note, and if you witness a touch you should pass on as much information as possible to the owner of the parked car.

“You never know when you might be on the receiving end and find your car damaged,” Mr Taub said.

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