The research, conducted by global research agency YouGov, surveyed 9,177 drivers across the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain to identify the causes and effects of parking prangs, found that more than three out of ten drivers (33%) reported damaging their car in the last five years with 16% of those suffering car damage while in the act of parking.

Italy's drivers were the most accident-prone with one in two admitting to damaging their cars over the same period – 26% of them doing so while attempting a parking manoeuvre – closely followed by Spain with 25%. Conversely, British drivers were the most cautious, with just 10% reporting a parking-related incident. Germany and France also proved more proficient parkers with parking bumps accounting for 11% and 10% of accidents respectively.

In four out of five of the nations surveyed, reversing proved the most challenging manoeuvre, with the tricky task accounting for 45% of all parking bumps; in Italy a staggering 51% of bumps were caused while in reverse.

The research also found that parking incidents were highest for estates (27%).

The research was released by Nissan as it transformed a car park in Rome to demonstrate the benefits of its Around View Monitor (AVM) and Moving Object Detection technology from its Pulsar compact hatchback.

Designed to assist with parking, the intelligent Nissan Around View Monitor system gives the driver a virtual bird's-eye view of their vehicle as they manoeuvre into a space.

To see how the motorists got on with the technology and some of their reactions, watch: http://youtu.be/o6trVdriZcM