Could app spell the end of the traffic warden?

Well, the good news for motorists – if not for traffic wardens – is that such experiences could very soon be a thing of the past. New technology means that motorists could never get a parking ticket again, and traffic wardens could be as redundant as lamp-lighters and the man with the red flag walking in front of the car.

New technology being developed by electronics expert Dan Hubert will mean that by the end of next year local councils will potentially have the ability to monitor when you park your car, what time you leave, and precisely how much you should be charged. The fee will then be debited directly from your bank, meaning that the days of fumbling for an old-style pound coin because the meter hasn't been updated will also be a thing of the past.

"Nobody need ever get a parking ticket again," says Mr Hubert. "You will get charged for the exact time you are there, so you won't end up paying for more time than you need. If there is a maximum stay, you will still be issued with a penalty if you overstay, but it will be possible to send you a warning to your mobile phone to remind you when your time is nearly up."

At the moment, Mr Hubert's company, Appy Parking, is taking part in a trial with Westminster City Council. Coventry City Council has also trialled an app by the company which supplies up-to-date information about the availability of parking spaces.

Mr Hubert says he expects his system to be ready to go nationwide by the end of next year, and then it will be up to councils to decide if they want to adopt it.

So how does the technology work? Well, to begin with it is likely to be on a subscription-only basis, where motorists register via their mobile phone, and plug a special electronic card into the car's diagnostic system. When the car is parked, it activates sensors and uses mobile-phone technology to contact a central control centre which will charge the customer's account. If a vehicle without such a device parks in the space, and the driver has not paid by alternative means, the council will automatically issue a penalty notice.

"To begin with it will be voluntary, something that will run alongside the existing parking arrangements," says Mr Hubert. He says the first customers will pay an initial fee to be connected, although Mr Hubert says this will be well below the amount of money it saves the customer in parking charges.

Research by travel data company Inrix this month estimates that the average British motorist pays £209 more than they need to for parking, such as buying a two-hour ticket when only one hour is needed. The figure rises to £380 in London. Mr Hubert says that by charging only for the amount of time actually used, his Appy Parking device could save motorists significant sums of money in the long-term.

However, it could eventually become the industry standard, with all cars automatically registered. As of March this year, every new car is connected to a mobile-phone style Sim card which could mean that in future all motorists will pay to park that way.

But while there may be financial benefits from consumers, it will be the cost to local authorities that will determine the success or otherwise of the scheme.

Telford & Wrekin Council is the only local authority in the West Midlands which is not responsible for parking enforcement. Earlier this month, the council met once more to discuss the possibility of taking over the powers from police, but again the decision was put back until more information was available. While some councillors have said the authority needs to take control of regulation to deal with illegal and "dangerous" parking, the sticking point has been the projected cost.

But Mr Hubert says the Appy Parking system could potentially save councils significant sums of money.

"The cost of enforcement in the UK is quite staggering, some councils in the UK will spend £25 million over five years, and we could reduce that by a third, " he says.

Certainly, such savings will doubtless look attractive to councils trying to save money, although they will, of course, lose out on the money generated from the fines and overpayments.

The system has been welcomed in principle by AA president Edmund King, who says: "Often when you're going to the shops you don't know how long the queues will be, so you spend half the time looking at your watch or rushing back to the car to make sure you don't get a ticket.

"Often you err on the side of caution and put far more money in the machine than you need. Any technology that can eliminate overpaying and make sure you don't get stung by fines has to be an excellent idea."

Mr Hubert points out that there is the potential to expand the technology in future, such as pay-as-you-go insurance – although to some extent, that is already with us in the form of telematics policies which are particularly popular with young drivers. Westminster Council has 150 commercial vehicles using its Appy Parking system, and is also operating a scheme similar to the one in Coventry that can direct drivers to the nearest vacant parking bay. Mr Hubert's company has also impressed Sir Richard Branson, winning the Virgin Business Pitch To Rich People’s Choice Award.

If the new technology can deliver the cost savings promised, it would seem to be only a matter of time before it becomes the norm – probably rebranded "smart parking", as seems to be the fashion these days.

However, while few will mourn the passing of the traffic warden, it does questions about civil liberties and privacy. Do we really want local government knowing where we park our cars and when? Will it spell the end of the sales rep or delivery driver sneaking off for a crafty fish and chips while supposedly stuck in traffic on the way back from an appointment? At least with the old parking meters or pay-and-display dispensers offered a degree of anonymity. These are all questions which will be debated, but it does seem likely that the technology is here to stay.

And while the days of the human traffic warden may well be numbered, don't be too surprised if their place is taken by an electronic replacement.