A third of driving spent looking for parking

Almost a third of the time drivers spend in European city centres is used looking for parking spaces, according to a transport expert.

Speaking in Cork yesterday, Antonio Monteiro of the Portuguese mobility think-tank INTELI said traffic congestion needs to be tackled urgently as it is responsible for a 2% loss in GDP across the continent.

“The damage is not just economic — 20% of all greenhouse gas emissions are from transport. These are the key challenges facing all cities in the EU,” said Mr Monteiro.