A seemingly innocent supermarket habit is causing outrage and a surge in accidents across British car parks, with drivers branding it 'the ultimate act of laziness'.
New research has revealed that hundreds of minor collisions and near-misses are being triggered by shoppers abandoning their trolleys in the middle of parking bays instead of returning them to the designated bays.
The Cost of Convenience
This careless act is more than just a nuisance; it's becoming a serious safety and financial hazard. Drivers are finding their cars blocked by stray trolleys, leading to frustrating delays and costly scratches and dents on their vehicles.
"It’s my biggest pet hate when I’m doing the food shop," one frustrated motorist told researchers. "People just can’t be bothered to walk 30 seconds to put the trolley back. They’d rather leave it in an empty space for it to roll into someone’s car."
A Nationwide Problem
The issue isn't confined to one retailer. Car parks at major chains like Asda, Tesco, and Sainsbury's are all experiencing the same problem. The research suggests this lazy practice is a significant contributor to the low-speed collisions that plague busy supermarket car parks every week.
Beyond the damage to vehicles, these rogue trolleys pose a risk to pedestrians and can create chaos, obstructing traffic flow and taking up valuable parking spaces that paying customers need.
A Plea for Change
Safety experts and fellow shoppers are now issuing a plea for more considerate behaviour. The message is simple: taking that extra moment to return your trolley properly can prevent accidents, save people money on car repairs, and make the shopping experience safer and less stressful for everyone.
Next time you're tempted to leave a trolley adrift, remember the potential consequences—that moment of convenience for you could result in a huge inconvenience and expense for someone else.
