According to Sharjah Police, nearly 4,000 cars are involved in parking lot accidents every year in the emirate. There has been an annual increase of 20 per cent in these accidents. Police records show that 10,133 cars were hit in parking lots since 2001.
The areas where such accidents are common are Abu Shagarah, Al Majaz, Al Qassimiya and Bu Tina.
Major Fraj Ismael Fraj, Director of Accidents Investigation at the Police Department, said: "The accidents are due to lack of experience. We have noticed these accidents are caused by people who do not hold a driving licence or are under age."
He said there is a need for a common policy for car hire agencies to protect customers and the industry.
"Customers need to thoroughly read the rent contract before they drive off," he said.
He also accused smaller firms of using such cases to make easy money. Customers have brought several cases to the notice of the authorities in which they were forced to pay huge amounts for relatively small damages to the vehicles.
Gulf News
