Would you ‘smash and dash’ or fess up?
It's an all-too-common scenario these days: you return to your car in a car park, only to discover someone has put a big dent in the side while you've been gone.
However, new research has revealed the extent to which this is happening in the UK – and just how many motorists are willing to pretend it never happened, fail to leave their details at the scene and drive off.
According to a poll of more than 2,000 drivers by Euro Car Parts, 32 per cent would carry out a so-called 'smash and dash' rather than admitting they had caused damage to another vehicle.
Women were more likely to come clean than men, with 28 per cent of female respondents saying they would drive off compared to 36 per cent of their male counterparts.
And when it came to 'smash and dash' hotspots, London performed worst, followed by Oxford, Liverpool, Glasgow and Norwich.
This is despite both front and reverse bay parking having been included in the practical driving test since 2017 – so perhaps the newest motorists aren't to blame.
Chris Barella of Euro Car Parts admitted getting cars into spaces in cramped city car parks can be a challenge, so suggested anyone who finds it difficult (and might have accidentally clipped another vehicle in the past) could help themselves with some automotive add-ons.
"By fitting cars with parking aids like sensors and reversing cameras, drivers can ensure that they're fully prepared for the stresses of urban parking," he said.
The RAC states the recommended size of a UK parking bay is 2.4 metres wide and 4.8 metres long, but these are not legal minimums.
It also points out that our cars are getting bigger, with even the Nissan Micra having grown to 1.98 metres wide from its original 1.61 metres over the past 20 years. If that's the case, then it's perhaps no wonder we're struggling in some of the bigger SUVs.