Women are prone to parking stress

We’ve all done it. Arrived at a restaurant and spotted the perfect parking, only to find that everyone is watching as you manoeuvre your car into a tiny space. Despite employing every single parallel parking trick in the book, it never seems to get easier.

Robyn Farrell, managing director of 1st for Women Insurance Brokers says that this immobilising feeling is called “parking stress”, and as a result, it makes women twice more likely as men to get someone else to park their car for them.

The results of the survey carried out by a UK insurer indicates that, when it comes to parking, women find themselves at a loss, with three quarters of them saying they are discouraged when having to back into a space even when there is more than enough room for manoeuvre. A further 22% of female respondents admitted to being so intimidated by the task that they gave up altogether without even attempting to park.

An alarming 81% of women became overwhelmed and intimidated when trying to park and another driver would stop and wait for them; this is largely due to the other car which is trying to accommodate them, also watching them struggle. The interesting part is that only 56% of the men surveyed saw it from this perspective.

Farrell says that it is important to take the stress out of parking. If crowds make you nervous, go to the shops during off-peak times and don't rush. Parking in the far corner of your local supermarket on a Sunday morning would also considerably reduce your tension and nerves.

“It’s a proven fact that women are better drivers than men so ladies - you can do it! Don’t let performance pressure get to you by following the advice below,” advises Farrell.

Practice: No-one can improve unless they have a strategy, or are willing to abandon the obviously ineffective one they've been using. So, you need to work out what it is you're doing wrong and practice doing it right. If reverse parking isn't your thing, then find a quiet lane, a couple of cones to stand in for other vehicles and practice, practice, practice!

Time: Even if you get much better at parking, you'll still feel some residue of those old feelings (for a while at least) so don't expect immediate perfection.

Visualisation: Before you try to park, pause. Take a moment to visualise each movement you, and by extension the car, are about to make. Breathe deeply. Be confident. And be ready to celebrate each successful manoeuvre!