Sales of large SUVs and full-size pickups are booming in Australia and a new proposal could see parking spots lengthened in order to fit these vehicles.
Standards Australia, which is an independent, non-government, not-for-profit standards organisation, is currently seeking public comment on a draft proposal that would see the length of a standard off-street parking spaces be increased by 200mm to 5.6 metres.
An example of an off-street parking space includes one in a public or private car park.
For context, Standards Australia currently lists the national dimension requirements for on- and off-street parking spaces as 2.4-metres wide and 5.4-metres long.
While the length of off-street parking spaces may be increased to 5.6 metres long, this still won’t house the likes of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ford F-150, and RAM 1500 that measure around 6.0 metres long.
Standards Australia uses generic design vehicles to determine the sizing and manoeuvrability requirements of a carpark.
The so-called B85 and B99 vehicles are defined as a vehicle that’s larger than or equal to either 85 per cent or 99.8 per cent of passenger and light commercial vehicles on Australian roads.
The B85 vehicle currently measures 4910mm long and 1870mm wide, whereas the B99 vehicle measures 5200mm long and 1940mm wide. The former was indicative of a Ford Falcon in 2000, while the latter was indicative of a Ford Transit medium-wheelbase van in the same year.
It’s unclear what the B85 and B99 vehicle dimensions would be if they were calculated at the present.
Standards Australia is accepting public comment on this draft proposal until November 9.
It’s unclear when or if this draft proposal for lengthening off-street parking spots will actually come into force.
What do you think about the potential of car park spaces being lengthened to accommodate larger vehicles? Let us know in the comments below.
