As the darker evenings set in, a new survey has revealed that more than one in three drivers have felt unsafe while in a car park.
The survey, carried out by YourParkingSpace.co.uk, found that 38% of respondents claimed they had felt unsafe in a car park, with the figure increasing to 51% of female drivers. Of those polled, 23% said safety and security was the most important factor when choosing a place to park. According to figures from the AA, around 20% of vehicle crime occurs in car parks, and YourParkingSpace.co.uk has published a series of tips to help you stay safe.
Park somewhere that is well lit. Increased lighting levels in dark areas can reduce the fear of crime and opportunities to commit offences. If you’re in a car park, try to park under lights. If you’re parking on a private driveway, try to find one that is overlooked and on a well-lit street.
Opt for a space with traffic and surveillance. When parking in a car park, make sure it’s monitored by CCTV or security personnel. For peace of mind, look for a car park displaying the Safer Parking Scheme’s ‘Park Mark’ sign, which shows that the operator has been assessed to ensure that they’re properly managed and maintained. You can find a list of accredited car parks at www.parkmark.co.uk
Find a space in advance. Aim to park somewhere you’re familiar with. If you have to park in an area you don’t know, check out the options beforehand to save driving around in the dark.
Don’t leave anything on display. Lock all items out of sight, even an old coat may be enough to tempt an opportunist thief. Take all valuables with you, as well as any personal correspondence
Familiarise yourself. When parking in a car park, familiarise yourself with the layout and exits, pedestrian and vehicle routes and closing times.
Stay alert. Be aware of what is going on around you, and don’t get caught up with listening to music, checking emails or texting when walking to and from your vehicle.
Keep your keys to hand. Have your keys to hand so that you’re not stood searching for them by your vehicle when you return.
Never leave your keys in the ignition. You may be tempted do this to warm your vehicle up or de-ice it, but never leave your keys in the ignition – not even for a second.
Report concerns. If you have any safety concerns, or return to find that your vehicle has been broken into, go immediately to security for help and inform the car park management.
“Not all car parks are dark and sinister places, in fact far from it, but a few precautionary steps can significantly reduce the risk of parking-related crime and reduce the worry of being a victim in the first place,” said the company’s MD, Harrison Woods.
Another amazing review for our Blackburn Service Team who continue to deliver outstanding customer service and creating a welcoming experience for every customer who visits us.
From expert support in the workshop to the all-important coffee ☕ — it’s great to see the team’s hard work recognised!
Making new best friends at the APSE event in Aviemore. Fleet, Waste and Grounds Seminar. Proud to have partnered with @fzuk.fleetservices for this event. #municipal #council #wastemanagement #truck #mercedesbenz
We’re excited to be attending the APSE Scotland Fleet, Waste & Grounds Seminar 2026 this week, at the Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort!
You’ll find us on Stand 32, where our team will be on hand to chat all things fleet, commercial vehicles and support solutions. We can`t wait to meet everyone.
Proud to see the first Mercedes-Benz Actros 2453 LS ProCabin Stream tractor unit delivered to R J Rich & Son Ltd by Richard Wilson, Truck Sales Executive at Ciceley Commercials 🚛👏
Designed for the highly specialised bulk powder sector, this impressive new vehicle will be transporting materials including sand, cement, sawdust and crushed glass — supporting the demands of local industry with a specification tailored perfectly to the job.
Featuring the 13-litre engine and a twin PTO setup to power both blower equipment and hydraulic pumps, this Actros is built to handle demanding operations efficiently and reliably.
The ProCabin StreamSpace configuration is still a relatively new addition to the Mercedes-Benz Trucks range, making this a standout addition to the R J Rich & Son Ltd fleet and a fantastic example of modern truck technology adapted for specialist regional applications.
Congratulations to the team at R J Rich & Son Ltd — we wish you many safe and productive miles ahead! ⭐
We are incredibly proud to announce that we have been awarded both Daimler Truck Dealer of the Year and Customer Service Team of the Year at the Daimler Truck Dealer of the Year Awards held at the Voco Hotel in Leicester.
These awards are a fantastic achievement for our business and recognise the commitment, professionalism and teamwork demonstrated across every part of the organisation.
Head of Network Development at Daimler Truck UK, Leonhard Niemann, commented: “I’m really proud of Ciceley Commercials – they truly deserve this. They’ve worked incredibly hard, consistently delivered strong customer satisfaction scores, and are investing significantly in the future.”
Ciceley Dealer Principal, Andy Heys, added: “I am incredibly proud of the Ciceley team and everything they continue to achieve in such a challenging and demanding industry. Their passion, commitment and drive to continually improve and do more for our customers is what makes this business so special.”
These awards not only recognise what has already been achieved, but also reflect the exciting future ahead for the business. Development of our brand-new Eurocentral site is progressing exceptionally well and remains firmly on track to open in October — another major step forward in our continued growth and investment in the future.
Thank you once again to every member of the Ciceley team for your continued hard work, and thank you to our customers for your trust, support and for continually inspiring us to raise the standard in everything we do.
We’re thrilled to share that the team at our site has received another incredible customer review!
Positive feedback like this is a fantastic reflection of the hard work, dedication, and excellent customer service the team provides day in and day out.
If you need to book your van, truck, car or bus in for a service or repair, or if you require parts support, please get in touch with the team today — they’ll be more than happy to help.
Following an impressive debut weekend at Donington Park, where the team secured a historic Qualifying Race victory and multiple top ten finishes we wish the best of luck for Round two of the 2026 BTCC season for Plato Racing.
Take a look back at the action from the opening race weekend below 👇
