A small study conducted by Auto Trader UK reveals that parallel parking induces a significant increase in heart rate among drivers. The study involved 20 participants who wore heart rate monitors while attempting parallel parking, and on average, their heart rates increased by 57%. Some individuals experienced even higher increases, with the most nervous participants seeing an 84% rise. The stress of backing into a parking spot also raised heart rates by an average of 46%. A survey of 1,200 respondents found that roughly 26% of people find parallel parking nerve-wracking, with apprehension decreasing with age. Some drivers admitted to parking illegally rather than attempting challenging parking spots. The study suggests that while parallel parking may seem daunting, it can be mastered with techniques like the Simon Blackburn method or by using vehicles equipped with self-parking or park assist features.
Source: Mental Floss
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