My problem with the shopping center parking spaces in the UK is that they are too narrow. People are too sloppy when parking to top it off.
Like today for an example. I’ve parked my car and I always go back and forth to center it in the space to make sure the others also have ample space. But there was this jerk and parked the car askew. the back far to the left, the front far to the right. So the result was, as I was getting out of my car, and moved back to close my door, his mirror snapped off.
Bummer. I am sure whoever is the owner will be bitching for the rest of the day. A guy I’ve met, regularly key the side of the cars if they park right on his.
If the look and operation of your car is important to you, all I can say is spend that extra 5 seconds when parking, to make sure you allow the others to park in the space next to you.
People will park there no matter what. Those who afraid their car will be scratched won’t, but people who don’t care about their car will.
All it takes about 5 seconds to protect the finish or the mirror on your car. Park in and than check your car is roughly centered in the space. How? Open the door and look down. If the white line is to close to your car or if it’s to far, you know you need to correct it.
But only if you think your car’s paint is worth protecting from key scratches or if you want to use your mirror.
The board of regulation in the UK quite obnoxious as to what people and certain situations need. They go ahead and approve something that either don’t make sense or difficult to use without thinking of the consequence. Like approving too narrow parking spaces in order to squeeze as many cars as possible in.
(Like they’ve built some really ugly new apartment buildings in the city I live in, with windows that only open 6 (six) inches. Imagine!! Who was the idiot who approved those? Can’t even air the apartment properly. I am not even talking about the summer heat. In the UK Air conditioning is a luxury and not too many homes have one. I am sure they would argue safety precaution and a major dose of paranoia).
Anyway, these parking spaces are fine for something like a mini morris or a small Honda or peugeot, but when you have a slightly wider car, you surely will bang your car’s door into the side of the other cars.
Car insurance don’t cover these damages because they usually fall into the deductible part of your car insurance.
So, next time you park your car, be attentive and save your mirror or painting from unnecessary damages.