Drivers warned to watch how they park or they could be towed by robots

Robots could tow away problem parked cars (Image: Getty ) Drivers have been warned their cars could be towed by a robot if they don’t follow the law. Motorists in the North West of England are being cautioned about the possibility of having their vehicles snatched by robots if they fail to comply with parking regulations. Motoring experts at LeaseCar.uk have issued a warning, revealing robots are now being deployed to remove cars that have been parked illegally or have not paid for parking tickets. Videos circulating online depict remote-controlled robots towing away cars in Liverpool. One such robot, named Eastract, was originally developed by French company Multitract and has been spotted in action in Merseyside.  Illegally parked cars could be towed by robots (Image: Getty) North West (RNW), a towing company specialising in heavy equipment, is responsible for managing this innovative solution. Eastract is capable of carrying a weight of up to 5,500 pounds, slightly less than the weight of two Ford Fiestas. Powered by a 35-horsepower Briggs and Stratton engine, this robot has been specifically deployed in multi-storey car parks due to its ability to efficiently pick up and remove problematic vehicles from tight spaces. As the robotics market is projected to generate £1 billion in revenue this year, it seems that the UK should prepare for increased integration of similar innovations like Eastract. 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 robotic parking officers could be on UK streets (Image: Getty ) ‘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.’ Common reasons for parking fines include illegal parking in disabled bays, double yellow lines, permit spaces without a valid permit, or exceeding the designated parking time. Last year alone, UK councils issued nearly 20,000 parking fines per day, while private companies issued 30,000 fines for parking rule violations. UK councils issued 20,000 parking fines per day last year (Image: Getty ) Common reasons for parking fines include illegal parking in disabled bays, double yellow lines, permit spaces without a valid permit, or exceeding the designated parking time. Last year alone, UK councils issued nearly 20,000 parking fines per day, while private companies issued 30,000 fines for parking rule violations. This article was crafted with the help of AI tools, which speed up http://Express.co.uk ‘s editorial research.  A news editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to readercomplaints@reachplc.com.