A new survey has revealed that parking signs confuse motorists, to the point that it can lead to drivers being penalised for their unintended transgressions.

The poll, carried out by car insurance company Churchill, found that of those drivers fined, clamped or who had their vehicle towed away in the last two years, 22% said they that were unable to understand the parking restrictions in that area.

Also, 41% of the 2,001 people polled said parking signs in their area were confusing, while 33% avoided parking in their local town or city centre for this very reason.

And puzzling signs led to 9% avoiding parking around their own residential area.

Avoiding town centres due to sign confusion was most rife in London where 48% of motorists admitted not trying to park in the heart of the capital.

The north-west of England (35% avoiding town centres) was the next most-shunned area, followed by the east of England (34%) and south-east (32%).

Motorists were most happy to try to park in town centres in Wales (26%) and north-east England (28%).

Churchill Car Insurance head Steve Barrett said: 'It's the driver's responsibility to check which parking restrictions are in operation in a particular area.

'However, when there are multiple restrictions in operation on a single street, it can result in motorists being confused and unintentionally parking illegally, incurring fines that could have been avoided.'