NEW PARKING TECH TO SAVE YOU MONEY

Motoring editor Ginny Buckley tries out some new technology that could put an end to parking prangs

According to the RAC, two thirds of British drivers have damaged a car while parking, and UK motorists pay out £700million a year on car park accidents. It’s such a problem that an update to the driving test in 2017 included a greater focus on parallel parking and parking in a bay.

Clever new in-car technology could put a stop to parking prangs and help to reduce your insurance premiums. The new Range Rover Evoque SUV (from £31,600), which has just gone on sale, comes with a system called Clearsight Ground View, which sends a live video feed from cameras at the front and side of the car to the central infotainment screen, showing the driver the view they’d get if the bonnet were transparent. The rear-view mirror also transforms into a video screen, showing you a live high-definition feed of what’s happening at the back of the car, no matter how much you have piled up in the boot. If you have family in the back that you need to keep an eye on, flick a switch and it acts as a normal mirror again. It’s a brilliant system that helps negotiate tight parking spaces and high kerbs without damaging your car – or one belonging to someone else! The Ford Fiesta – Britain’s bestselling car – takes it one step further and will park itself for you! At the touch of a button, its Active Park Assist system will steer you into a parking spot while the driver has to just accelerate, brake and reverse when the system tells them to. You don’t even have to buy a new car to benefit. A good-quality sensor kit, which uses ultrasonic technology to detect and warn you about obstacles behind you, costs as little as £40 and is easy to fit. Remember, always make sure you check any modifications you make to your car with your insurance company first.