Christmas shoppers find bingles all the way Author: Paul Bibby Date: 18/12/2008 Publication: Sydney Morning Herald
THE classic trial of Christmas in Sydney - negotiating the shopping centre car park - has become a costly hazard for many, as thousands of prangs occur during the final shopping frenzy.
Figures from NRMA Insurance reveal December is by far the worst month for parking bingles. About 80 accidents a day occur during the festive season as car parks become choked with frazzled shoppers.
The insurer recorded 2500 parking prangs last December - 14 per cent more than the monthly average for the rest of the year - and expects the numbers to be similar this year.
"People tend to be less patient - they've just spent hours walking through crowded shops and then struggled back to the car carrying dozens of shopping bags," an NRMA Insurance spokesman, John Hallal, said.
"By the time they get to their car they just want to get out of there. So they're more likely to reverse out without looking or pull out too quickly."
Such attempts at a quick getaway can be expensive, even if the outcome is just a few dents or scratches. The average repair bill for a parking accident is $1600, according to the NRMA's claims data - enough to send already overworked credit cards well and truly into the red.
Typical parking collisions include hitting other cars, trolleys, railings and walls, and many occur when reversing, the insurer said.
The poor driving behaviour of other shoppers - often driven by desperation to find a park - was also a factor.
"Disobeying traffic signals and signs, driving the wrong way up one-way streets and parking in non-allocated parking spaces are two common ways of creating unnecessary driving hazards," Mr Hallal said.
He recommended that Christmas shoppers follow a few simple rules of car park etiquette, such as not relying on mirrors when reversing, returning shopping trolleys to the bay after use, and not pulling out around cars that are waiting for a parking space.