A recent study has identified the worst parkers across Europe, and the results may defy common assumptions. Despite popular belief that BMW, Audi, or Tesla drivers are the most careless, it is Mercedes owners who top the list.
Mercedes Takes the Top Spot
The research, conducted by DiscoverCars.com, analyzed the parking habits of 913 cars in popular car parks across five European cities, including Manchester in the UK. Nine travel bloggers contributed to the data collection.
Mercedes emerged as the worst offender, with nearly a quarter (25%) of its drivers parking incorrectly. This finding challenges the stereotype that luxury car brands are the primary culprits.
Other Brands in the List
Following Mercedes, Citroen came second with 24.4% of vehicles parked incorrectly. BMW took third place with 21.7%, while Tesla (20.5%) and Volkswagen (20.4%) rounded out the top five. Seat (18.3%), Ford (18.1%), and Audi (17.7%) were also among the worst parkers.
Aleksandrs Buraks, head of growth at DiscoverCars.com, commented: "It was interesting that Mercedes drivers were found to be the worst parkers, which doesn't help the bad rep luxury car drivers can sometimes get. While three out of five of the top five worst parkers were luxury car brands, Volkswagen and Citroen being in some of the top spots show that it's not just luxury brands that often make parking blunders."
Advice for Drivers
Buraks added: "When parking, it's important to consider other drivers—you don't want to take up two spots or make it more difficult for someone else to park properly! Before leaving your car, double check you're between the lines and that your badge is clearly visible when parked in a disabled space."
The study highlights that parking etiquette remains a challenge across various car brands, urging all drivers to be more considerate.
