The start point for the best source of fleet information |
New data standards tipped to revolutionise parking
Date: 31 May 2019 | Author: Sean Keywood
Parking payment machines could soon be a thing of the past, with the introduction of new national parking data standards in the UK, the government has said.
By introducing the new standards, the government says its ambition is for all parking data released by local councils and companies across the country to use the same language, supporting the development of parking apps.
It is claimed the standardised data, created by the Alliance for Parking Data Standards (APDS) and funded by the Department for Transport, could lead to smoother and easier payment methods for drivers across the country, similar to the Oyster card public transport scheme in London.
The government claims that by making it easier for drivers to find parking spaces, the standards could help cut congestion and boost high street trade.
To support their introduction, council research and development projects in Manchester, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire and south Essex will each receive a share of £1 million to start putting the standards into practice. A further seven projects have also been commissioned to find ways to open up local authority data.
APDS and British Parking Association chair Nigel Williams said: "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."
Local government minister Rishi Sunak said: "Hunting for a parking space and then checking if you have the right change to pay for it isn't the best start to any shopping experience, but it can be the reality more often than not.
"An intelligent parking system will not only make life easier for commuters, but could also improve footfall to our town centres - meaning both people and local businesses benefit."
