You are here: Homepage : Press : Press Release

The UK is a nation of parking offenders

October 2006

The findings of a survey for Budget Van Insurance published today show that despite the majority of us complaining endlessly about traffic wardens and parking tickets, a massive 43% of us admit to knowingly parking illegally; with a further 14% who would consider doing so.  The worst offenders are men, with 51% admitting to parking illegally compared with 36% of women. 

Van drivers (70%) are considerably more likely to have knowingly parked illegally compared to a national average of 43%.  However, this may reflect their occupations and the need to stop for deliveries.

And of those who have admitted to parking misdemeanours, the most popular offences are parking on double yellow lines, committed by 50% of respondents, followed by parking in mother and baby spaces (29%) and disabled bays (18%). 

No swearing at traffic wardens

Although we rack up the parking fines, nearly all of the UK’s drivers – a staggering 97 per cent - claim never to have sworn at a traffic warden, despite a recent survey showing that they ranked as the 5th worst national irritant and the constant reports of them receiving endless grief on the job.

Only 4% of motorists admitted to blowing their tops and swearing with the highest level of abusers living in London (7%).  Surprisingly, school run drivers and motorcyclists are twice as likely as the national average (4%) to lose their cool and swear at traffic wardens – 8% and 9% respectively.

Flirting to avoid a fine

Nearly 30% of female respondents in the survey for Budget Van Insurance admit that they would consider using their sexual charms on police officers and traffic wardens to avoid paying fines, despite traffic wardens featuring way down the rankings for sex appeal. Women aged 30-50 are most likely to try this approach along with women from the capital.

Emma Maziak, Budget Van Insurance says:
“It appears that we are a nation of illegal parkers - though not prepared to pay the consequences, despite being fully aware of our actions. 

“It’s interesting to see that some drivers are worse than others for taking risks – namely van drivers.  However I’d urge caution before we start giving them a hard time – particularly those who are forced to take parking risks because of their jobs.”

Key findings   

Parking offences

  1. 43% of all respondents admitted to knowingly parking illegally and a further 14% would consider doing so.
  2. Men are more likely to park illegally than women - 51% compared to 36%.  Those aged 30-50 (50%) and Londoners (48%) are also the most likely offenders.
  3. Van drivers (70%) are considerably more likely to have knowingly parked illegally compared to a national average of 43%. 
  1. Of those who have admitted to parking misdemeanors, the most popular offences are parking on double yellow lines, committed by 50% of respondents, followed by parking in mother and baby spaces (29%) and disabled bays (18%).
  2. 4x4 drivers (72%) and van drivers (64%) are considerably more likely to park on a double yellow line compared to a national average of 50% - however this may reflect their occupations and the need to stop for passengers.

Abusive drivers

  1. The majority of drivers (81%) claim never to have sworn at a traffic warden.
  2. A national average of only 4% admitted to swearing at traffic wardens with the highest level of respondents in London (7%).
  3. School run drivers and motorcyclists are twice as likely as the national average to lose their cool and swear at traffic wardens – 8% and 9% respectively compared to 4%.

Flirting with traffic wardens

  1. 5% of women have flirted with a policeman or traffic warden to wriggle out of paying a fine while a further 29% would consider doing so.
  2. Women aged 30-50 are most likely to try this approach, along with women from London (both 8%).
  3. 67% have not, and would not consider flirting with a policeman or traffic warden to get out of paying a fine.

Additional data

  1. The woman least likely to feature in a man’s sexual fantasies is a traffic warden (6.5%)

For further information please contact:
Roland Cross/Nicola Pierce
Broadgate                                                                               020 7726 6111

Emma Maziak, Budget Van Insurance is available for interview

Notes to Editors
The driving habits survey was conducted by YouGov with a sample size of 2279, on behalf of Budget Van Insurance September 2006.  For more please contact YouGov Plc (+44)(0)20 7 618 3010 or email   enquiries@yougov.com.

To coincide with the research, Budget Van Insurance has launched ‘Revenge of the Van Man’ a viral game for all drivers who have ever had a run-in with a traffic warden.  ‘Revenge of the Van Man’ gives drivers the chance to dodge a ticket and throw a traffic warden into oblivion, with the added possibility of winning £1,000 cash.  There are also a few sexy models – and the further you throw the traffic warden the further they strip!   To play visit www.budgetinsurance.com

The BGL Group

The Budget Group of Companies was established in 1992 and has grown to be the UK’s third largest personal lines intermediary, through a combination of organic growth and a series of major strategic acquisitions.

It now has over 1,000,000 customers, contact centre operations in Peterborough, Coventry, Sunderland and Cape Town, South Africa and a number of websites, including – www.budgetinsurance.com.  It currently employs over 2000 people, and its head office is in Peterborough.

As an intermediary, Budget is able to access a wide range of underwriters, making it highly competitive in the marketplace.

Budget’s core products are motor, home, commercial vehicle and bike insurance. The Group also offers a wide range of supplementary products, which include breakdown cover, legal protection, travel insurance and mortgage payment protection insurance.

In 2003, Budget launched Junction, its affinity arm, which provides outsourcing services for major UK brands including Bradford & Bingley plc, Homebase, Marks & Spencer Money, National Australia Bank Group and the Post Office.

Budget’s motorcycle division, Bennetts, is a leading player in the motorcycle insurance market. 

Budget is the trading name of BISL Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Registered Address: Pegasus House, Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, PE2 6YS. Registered in England no 3231094.