Robots towing away vehicles parked badly in North West under new trial

Motorists in the North West have been warned to not park illegally or they could have their vehicle towed by robots.

Drivers risk having their motors seized by robots if they do not comply with the law.

Experts at LeaseCar.uk have warned drivers that special robots have been deployed to remove cars that have been parked illegally or have failed to pay for a ticket.

Recent videos online show cars being towed away by remote-controlled robots in Liverpool. A robot named Eastract has been spotted in the city removing illegally parked cars.

Towing company Recovery North West (RNW), which specialises in towing heavy equipment, is managing the new innovation using the robots originally built by French company Multitract.

The robots are able to carry a weight of 5,500 pounds, which is the weight of almost two Ford Fiestas.

They are powered by a 35-horsepower Briggs and Stratton engine and have been placed in multi-storey car parks because they can pick up and remove problem cars in tight and hard to manoeuvre spaces.

Common reasons motorists can be fined include parking illegally in disabled bays, on double yellow lines, in a permit space without a valid permit or over the valid parking time. 

Millions of tickets are issued to drivers every year for failing to comply with basic parking rules, and it seems the hefty fine is not enough of a deterrent.

Last year, almost 20,000 parking fines were issued every day by UK councils, and 30,000 were issued by private companies for breaking parking rules.

Tim Alcock from LeaseCar.uk said: “Millions of motorists receive tickets and fines for illegal and bad parking every day in the UK.

“Rolling out robots nationwide to deal with the parking problem should make dodgy drivers think twice before parking in disabled spaces illegally or dumping their cars and overstaying their welcome.

“The robots can carry huge weights and are able to manoeuvre in tightly restricted spaces, so are perfect to deal with nuisance drivers.

“Drones are currently being used to deal with dangerous driving by Devon and Cornwall police forces, so with the robotic industry growing, we can expect more innovations like Eastract to be introduced across the UK.

“Drivers should be extra cautious when parking, especially in multi storey car parks and when in the northwest travelling around Liverpool, where the scheme is currently being trialled.

“To avoid being put in a situation where your car is being towed away by a robot you must make sure to follow the parking rules that have been displayed and pay for the correct ticket.”