New national parking standards means that traditional payment parking machines could become a thing of the past.
By introducing the new standards, the Government’s ambition is for all parking data released by local councils and companies across the country to use the same language, supporting the development of apps to make parking easier for drivers.
Created by the Alliance for Parking Data Standards (APDS) and funded by the Department for Transport (DfT), the standardised data, says the Government, could lead to smoother and easier payment methods, and could transform the way company drivers park as the Oyster card transformed the way people travel in London.
By helping to streamline the parking experience and making it easier for drivers to find a suitable parking place, the standards could ultimately free up crucial space, easing congested cities and boosting British high streets, it says.
Future of mobility minister, Michael Ellis, explained: “We are on the brink of a revolution for the future of transport, with ground-breaking technologies creating huge opportunities for cleaner, cheaper, safer and more reliable journeys.
“We now need to ensure the infrastructure surrounding these technologies is in place and can accommodate these innovations.
“The new parking data standards will bring Government, private organisations and technologies together to ensure a smoother parking experience for drivers.”
Chair of the British Parking Association and chair of the APDS, Nigel Williams, added: “The new standards will enable the next generation of apps and connected cars to find a parking space, park and pay - with little or no intervention from the driver.
“The involvement of the British Parking Association in APDS has ensured that the UK is at the forefront of innovation to improve the customer experience of parking.”
To support the introduction of the standards, four research and development projects organised by Manchester City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Cambridgeshire County Council and across a consortium of South Essex Councils, will receive a share of £1 million to start putting the APDS standards into practice. A further seven projects are being commissioned to identify ways to open up local authority data.
The development of the parking language will make it easier for local authorities and private companies to exchange data, ensuring cars of the future navigate both driver and passengers to an available space based on the price, quality of the space, safety of the space and availability of on-site services — including being near to electric chargepoints.
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Gareth has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist having started his career in local newspapers in the 1990s. Prior to joining Fleet News in 2008, he worked in the public sector as a media advisor and is currently news editor at Fleet News.
Bianca Castafiore - 31/05/2019 11:37
Ref: New data standards for parking I read the article on the above with interest. However, I was hoping that the 'new data standards' were to be with regard to the standard parking space size. I like my cars, so much so that I drive my wife mad trying to find somewhere that gives enough space such that my doors do not get hit by irresponsible people parking so close. As modern cars get wider, so should the parking spaces, but they don't! I would rather pay for two spaces at times rather than the one small space next to the 4WD cruiser (often with the baby seat in the back!).