Some motorists may not be aware of the rules in place at supermarkets in the UK
Motorists have been urged to report fellow drivers who flout supermarket car park age limit rules in 2025. EMG Motor Group, the motoring experts, have advised drivers to “head into the store” and inform a manager if they spot road users misusing parent and child parking bays.
These larger parking spaces are a common sight in nearly all supermarket car parks, including those at Aldi, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons. However, these spacious spots are typically reserved for parents and guardians travelling with children aged 12 and under.
Despite this, a previous study by Confused.com revealed that one in three parent and child parking bays are being misused by motorists, often leading to road rage incidents.
EMG Motor Group said: “Frustrating as it is that someone who doesn’t need the extra room and safety that such close proximity to the store provides has used a parent and child parking space, it’s best not to directly confront the motorist in question.
“Instead, head into the store and report to a manager, who can then deal with the situation according to the car park rules.”
The RAC has also cautioned road users against directly confronting a driver who is wrongly using the bay, warning that it could escalate into a “hostile situation”, reports the Express.
It advised: “In the frustrating event that you spot someone misusing a parent and child bay, it’s best to talk to a store manager. Approaching somebody using a dedicated bay without young passengers could lead to a hostile situation, so try not to get carried away by the injustice of it all!”
A recent online poll conducted by Confused.com in June 2022, involving 2,000 UK adults, revealed that nearly 1 in 10 (9%) road users without children have confessed to using the parking spaces when they should not have done so.
A staggering 36% of those surveyed admitted they only used the bays because there were plenty of other parent and child spaces available.
On the other hand, 23% attempted to justify their actions by claiming they had only parked in them for a few minutes or couldn’t find another space. However, 17% confessed they had parked in the spaces simply because they wanted to park closer to the store entrance.