WASHINGTON – Parking can be a challenge for both men and women, but a new study of thousands of drivers finds that women tend to be better at parking than men.
Women were also found to be better at finding parking spaces, according to the study.
Parking lots across Britain were placed under surveillance, and each person who parked was graded in several categories. Researchers found that men tended to be less patient than women, causing them to miss open spaces. While women had a slower approach, they were better able to find spaces and see when another driver was about to leave.
As for parking itself, the study by the car park firm NCP found that 39 percent of women were able to cleanly reverse into a space, compared to just 28 percent of men.
While men were quicker at parking, the extra time that women took helped them park better. Fifty-two percent of women parked in the middle of the spot, while 25 percent of men did.
Ironically, only 18 percent of the women questioned in the study felt they were better parkers than men.
No matter how people park, it takes up a lot of time. The study estimated that women spend 12 days of their lives parking, compared to nine days for men.
Researchers observed more 2,500 drivers in 700 parking lots — or car parks as the British refer to them — over a period of one month.
When it comes to parking who is the best, men or women? What is the most extreme parking situation you experienced or witnessed? Post a comment in this story, comment on WTOP’s Facebook Page or use #WTOPTalkback on Twitter.
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