Paying for parking by phone was meant to end the hunt for loose change, but it has been replaced by the frustrating search for a reliable mobile signal. According to new research commissioned by VodafoneThree, seven in 10 motorists say they have struggled to pay for parking via apps due to poor signal on their phones.
Survey Reveals Widespread Issues
The poll of 2,000 British drivers, conducted by CensusWide, found that 70 per cent had encountered difficulties paying for parking in remote 'notspots' across the country, such as national parks. Nearly half (48 per cent) admitted they either abandoned parking altogether or were significantly delayed because they could not download or access a parking app on site. A third of those surveyed said they had received a fine from a car park operator, despite being physically unable to make a payment on the day.
VodafoneThree's Response
VodafoneThree published the research as it pledged to tackle signal black holes. The company claims its latest signal improvements, following the merger of the two networks almost 12 months ago, have eliminated 6,370 square miles of 'notspots' in car parks. This covers approximately 1,400 facilities in popular beauty spots such as the Cotswolds, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Exmoor National Park, and the Yorkshire Dales. The network has also introduced a new network improvement checker to show where upgrades have been made.
Andrea Dona, Chief Network Officer at VodafoneThree, said: 'Reliable connectivity has never been more important. By eliminating not spots across the country, we're removing some of the everyday frustrations that millions of customers face when simple things like paying for parking or downloading an app don't work. These issues don't just affect drivers, they have a knock-on effect on local businesses and tourism.'
Calls for Alternative Payment Methods
Last year, the RAC called for motorists to be able to pay for parking via traditional means after its own survey revealed three-quarters of drivers had struggled to pay via apps and websites. RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis told the BBC that poor signal was the most common issue for drivers. 'Parking should, in theory at least, be one of the simplest tasks any driver completes but having to navigate a variety of differently designed apps – and register an account, vehicle details and bank cards with each one – can be a pain,' he said. 'No-one should be forced to use a mobile app when parking if they don't want to, especially those who struggle with technology or just don't have a smartphone.'
