Did You Know? Parking Space Sizes Vary Across Countries!

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Even in Thailand, parking space sizes aren't uniform, so it's no surprise that different countries have different parking standards as well.

In reality, there’s no universal rule for parking space dimensions. The size of a parking spot depends on various factors such as location, vehicle size, and building regulations. Let's take a look at how different countries define their parking space requirements.

North America

In North America, the average width of a parking spot ranges between 7 to 9 feet, whether it's perpendicular or angled parking. This width is necessary to ensure enough room for opening car doors. As for the length, it's more flexible, averaging between 10 to 18 feet. The reason behind this is that vehicles in North America are generally larger than those in other countries.

United Kingdom

The UK is stricter with its parking regulations. The minimum width for a parking space must be 7.9 feet, and the minimum length must be 16 feet — significantly different from North American standards!

Other Countries' Parking Standards

• France follows the Norme NF P 91-100 standard, requiring parking spaces to be at least 7.2 to 7.5 feet wide to ensure comfortable parking.
• Australia uses the AS2890 standard, which mandates parking spots to be at least 7.9 feet wide and 17.7 feet long, showing how seriously they take parking regulations.
• Switzerland takes things to another level. In 2016, they even established a Swiss Association specifically to inspect and regulate parking space sizes!

How About Thailand?

Thailand has its own parking standards too. According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Regulation (2001), Section 86, a single parking space must be rectangular and comply with the following:

• Perpendicular parking: Must be at least 2.4 meters wide and 5 meters long.
• Parallel parking or angled parking less than 30 degrees: Must be at least 2.4 meters wide and 6 meters long.
• Angled parking at 30 degrees or more: Must be at least 2.4 meters wide and 5.5 meters long.

The Key Takeaway

Each country and region has its own set of parking space size regulations based on various factors, including vehicle size, urban planning, and local needs. There’s no one-size-fits-all global standard.

Next time you park your car, take a moment to observe the differences in parking spot sizes in various locations. Some places make parking super easy, while others can be a real challenge! Keep this in mind to help plan your future trips better. 

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