Supermarkets and shopping centres urged to widen parking spaces to stop fat drivers scratching other cars

SUPERMARKETS and shopping centres must widen parking spaces to stop fat drivers scratching other cars, experts warn.

They say growing numbers of people are struggling to squeeze out of their vehicles because the gaps are too small.

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It increases the risk of them bashing their door into other motors, causing costly dents and scratches.

Chubby passengers and wider vehicles have also been blamed for the problem.

There is no legal minimum size for a parking space in the UK but the standard is 15.7ft long by 7.8ft.

This was set in the 1970s and has not expanded in line with bulging waistlines and larger cars.

Obesity has increased by 92 per cent since the 1990s, with 67 per cent of men and 61 per cent of women now overweight or obese.

Supermarkets, retail parks and shopping centres should widen their parking spaces to cater for larger customers.

National Obesity Forum

Side airbags and other safety measures have also increased the size of vehicles, with even the Mini growing 53 per cent since 1959.

Tam Fry, from the National Obesity Forum, said: “Overweight is the new normal in the UK.

“Drivers, passengers and their vehicles have got much bigger but parking spaces remain the same.

“Of course, obese people will try not to smash their door into a vehicle next to them but the tiny gaps make it difficult to avoid.

“Supermarkets, retail parks and shopping centres should widen their parking spaces to cater for larger customers.”

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The AA says one in five insurance claims comes from car park accidents and four in ten drivers have had a vehicle dented or scratched while parked.

Government guidelines suggest six per cent of a car park’s spaces should be for disabled people and be 11.8ft wide.

John Lay, of Zero Deposit Car Leasing, said: “If standard spaces were extended to meet the increasing obese population, insurance claims could reduce significantly.”

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