News location:

Canberra Today 12°/16° | Saturday, March 30, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Paul / Parking a problem when honesty fails

The Range Rover damaged while parking at the Dickson shops.
The Range Rover damaged on the bonnet while parking at the Dickson shops.
MANY of us have been there… rushing to the shops before the kids get home, long day at work, meeting running late, delayed by traffic snarls and in a hurry to just nip into Woolies.

Then, bang!

You open your car door on to the vehicle next to yours.

Marcus Paul.
Marcus Paul.
After a few choice words, you inspect the damage, hoping it’s nothing much at all. Grrrr, a dent and it’s noticeable!

And this is where the dilemma begins: what to do? Leave a note or slide back into your own car and slip away pretending it never happened?

“Well, what did they expect, they parked too damn close, some people just can’t drive!” That’s one excuse or: “It’s happened to me before and no-one left me a note or took responsibility, and I still have that dent in my car!”

Or: “Surely car parks are getting too small – how am I meant to fit in that space?” Actually, there is truth to this. People are buying more SUVs than any other vehicles on the market – our cars are getting bigger and car parking spaces seem smaller! Still, it’s not a defence that’ll stand up.

We all know what’s the right thing to do – that is, fess up, leave your details and take responsibility.

And there is always someone watching. Either in person or via CCTV. What you consider just a little bump, could well end you up in court.

So, I’m coming out of the shopping centre in Dickson when two young blokes in a NSW-registered ute pull into a carpark and accidentally reverse into a Range Rover. The bang is so loud people standing at the bakery 30 metres away can hear it. There are witnesses.

The blokes inspect the damage – which I’d estimate as around two grand (at least, it’s a Range Rover).

Surely, they’ll leave a note? No. They mosey over to the bakery, grab a pie for smoko, hop back into their ute without the slightest concern and drive away. No note, no responsibility, nothing!

So, people mill around the damaged car – and we get to talking. “I’ll report it to the police” says one. “I’ve got pictures and the rego numbers” pipes in another.

We have the photographic evidence, including the NSW registration plate. What do you think should be done?

Marcus Paul is the drive announcer on 2CC.

 

Who can be trusted?

In a world of spin and confusion, there’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in Canberra.

If you trust our work online and want to enforce the power of independent voices, I invite you to make a small contribution.

Every dollar of support is invested back into our journalism to help keep citynews.com.au strong and free.

Become a supporter

Thank you,

Ian Meikle, editor

Share this

Leave a Reply

Follow us on Instagram @canberracitynews