It’s more serious than you think.

An Garda Siochana is appealing to the public to park legally in designated car parks and spaces when visiting Cork’s beaches this weekend.

The good weather has seen an increase in dangerous illegal parking at locations across the country in recent weeks and while leaving the car on a verge or a busy roadside might seem like a good idea for you at the time, it could prove fatal for someone else in the event of an accident.

Last Sunday motorists were turned away from several beaches in the Kinsale area after traffic began to back up and roads became congested.

“Parking illegally can lead to unnecessary risk and dangers such as pedestrians being forced to walk along dangerous roads.” said a Garda spokesperson.

“It can also prevent emergency services from gaining access to these amenities at seaside locations, which could lead to the loss of life.”

Gardai are going to be “controlling capacity again” but I didn’t see any Garda there while we walked up and down the beach. pic.twitter.com/aMTZKUewPm

— Donncha Ó Caoimh (@donncha) June 15, 2021

The Gardaí are asking the public to plan their journeys and “think safety first” when parking.

“The outcome of parking illegally could be far more serious than a FCPN or vehicle towing and puts others and your own life at risk. An Garda Siochana reminds and encourages the public to social distance and follow public health guidelines when attending these locations this summer.”