Despite the rise of new technology car park accidents are on the increase according to a survey by UK insurer the Accident Exchange.

The company estimates that in the UK there is an average of 1,373car parks accidents every day, which cost insurers over £700 million annually. This represents the second most common type of accident after rear end collisions.

Accident Exchange says that car park collisions have risen by almost 4% since 2010, with the big problem being that spaces have simply not kept pace with the size of cars. A modern VW Golf, for instance is 203 cm wide while its 1974 counterpart was only 171 cm wide. Meanwhile the rules governing space size have become outdated specifying a minimum of only 180 cm.  Most car park designers have a tendency to keep space small so they can squeeze more in.

A further problem is that visibility in modern cars is compromised often because of enhanced structural safety features. Older cars tended to have more glass, with lower sills and narrower pillars. This means that despite the advent of safety devices such as reverse warning systems, car park accidents are still on the rise.

According to the Accident Exchange report, medical experts also say that a further problem caused by small spaces is that squeezing in and out of cars is causing strains and back injuries to drivers and passengers.