Call for drivers who abuse disabled parking bays to be prosecuted

Published 11 November 2022

Misuse of disabled parking bays is still widespread, according to the latest survey by charity DMUK
Nine in ten (93.2 per cent) think that abusers of the Blue Badge scheme should be prosecuted
DfT statistics show a 49 per cent decrease in prosecutions last year

Not enough is being done to tackle disabled parking bay abuse, findings from the latest annual survey by charity Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK) show.

About eight in ten (81.9 per cent) of the 1,028 motorists who responded to the Baywatch survey said they ‘very often’ or ‘often’ see disabled parking bays at supermarkets being abused.

What’s more, around two-thirds (68.7 per cent) said that when they reported abuse to supermarket staff they didn’t take action.

Similarly, 78.1 per cent of drivers think local authorities are not doing enough to tackle disabled parking abuse, although this figure is lower than last year’s 95.9 per cent.

Traffic Warden

More than nine in ten (93.2 per cent) think that abusers of the Blue Badge scheme should be prosecuted.

It is a crime under Section 117 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to misuse a Blue Badge and if you are prosecuted you could be fined up to £1,000.

However, the latest Department for Transport (DfT) statistics show a 49 per cent decrease in prosecutions in the year ending March 2021 compared to the previous year.

The DfT said this could be due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, local authority enforcement practices and availability of resources.

Disabled Parking Bay

A freedom of information request by DMUK earlier this year found that two-fiths of councils fail to record misuse of disabled parking bays.

Even where local authorities have a policy in place, prosecutions are not taking place. DfT figures show more than half (56 per cent) had no prosecutions despite having a policy.

Motorists told DMUK they would like to see more inspections, higher fines and pictures on the front of Blue Badges (rather than the back) to help better enforce the scheme.

Use of technology, such as cameras and scanners, could also aid enforcement, respondents said.

Offenders could take 'Blue Badge awareness' course

Some would like to see more councils giving offenders the option to take a 'Blue Badge awareness' course, like the one run by East Sussex County Council. The course features a video which highlights how important Blue Badge parking is to disabled people with real life case studies showing the impact on their lives when the scheme is abused. This is followed by a discussion with the offenders led by the East Sussex’s Blue Badge investigations officer.

The Council says that it rarely sees re-offending once a person has gone through this process.

Comments

hissingsid on 14 November 2022

I suspect that supermarkets are more concerned about losing customers than inconveniencing the disabled, hence their reluctance to enforce the rules. Local Authorities have no such excuse.
Rather than engage in expensive and time consuming prosecutions, perhaps they should consider clamping the offenders vehicles and charging a hefty fee for their release.
I was surprised by the request for pictures on the front of Blue Badges. These always used to have a photo of the holder and I was not aware that anything had changed.

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Engineer Andy on 15 November 2022

Indeed, and I'd bet that many supermarket staff would prefer not to have to personally confront likely beligerant customers who could easily start a phyical altercation.

Besides people parking in disabled (or parent and child) bays who obviously shouldn't and for the former do not have a badge, it is also where people borrow blue badges off of genuinely disabled relatives - even when they are doing their shopping for them, that I object to.

Similarly where people obviously don't need a blue badge and still, somehow, manage to finagle their way into getting one - I saw an older bloke once who was driving a very low slung, gull-winged BMW i8 - a car that I (probably 30 years younger then in my early 40s) would have difficulty getting in/out of - who had a blue badge.

Anyone who can get in/out of a low slung sports car either does not need a blue badge or if they do, has made a serious error in judgement buying such a car. Most elderly, infirm people have enough difficulty getting in / out of ordinary cars.

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Paul Jenkinz on 28 November 2022

Indeed, and I'd bet that many supermarket staff would prefer not to have to personally confront likely beligerant customers who could easily start a phyical altercation.

Besides people parking in disabled (or parent and child) bays who obviously shouldn't and for the former do not have a badge, it is also where people borrow blue badges off of genuinely disabled relatives - even when they are doing their shopping for them, that I object to.

Similarly where people obviously don't need a blue badge and still, somehow, manage to finagle their way into getting one - I saw an older bloke once who was driving a very low slung, gull-winged BMW i8 - a car that I (probably 30 years younger then in my early 40s) would have difficulty getting in/out of - who had a blue badge.

Anyone who can get in/out of a low slung sports car either does not need a blue badge or if they do, has made a serious error in judgement buying such a car. Most elderly, infirm people have enough difficulty getting in / out of ordinary cars.

cobblers its very difficult to get a blue badge despite what you may think or believe you need certifacates from doctors etc and remember not all disabilities are visible so please dont type garbage .....

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vintage76 on 3 December 2022

Indeed, and I'd bet that many supermarket staff would prefer not to have to personally confront likely beligerant customers who could easily start a phyical altercation.

Besides people parking in disabled (or parent and child) bays who obviously shouldn't and for the former do not have a badge, it is also where people borrow blue badges off of genuinely disabled relatives - even when they are doing their shopping for them, that I object to.

Similarly where people obviously don't need a blue badge and still, somehow, manage to finagle their way into getting one - I saw an older bloke once who was driving a very low slung, gull-winged BMW i8 - a car that I (probably 30 years younger then in my early 40s) would have difficulty getting in/out of - who had a blue badge.

Anyone who can get in/out of a low slung sports car either does not need a blue badge or if they do, has made a serious error in judgement buying such a car. Most elderly, infirm people have enough difficulty getting in / out of ordinary cars.

Not all blue badge holders have physical disabilities. This gentleman could have had for instance a severe heart condition or other similar problems which qualified him for a blue badge. My sister-in-law had such a condition allied with cancer and was more than once challenged by joe public. Youre not disanbled they said. Her responsse, perfectly fairly was, have you got my recordds then?

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retiredspeedmerchant on 13 December 2022

Indeed, and I'd bet that many supermarket staff would prefer not to have to personally confront likely beligerant customers who could easily start a phyical altercation.

Besides people parking in disabled (or parent and child) bays who obviously shouldn't and for the former do not have a badge, it is also where people borrow blue badges off of genuinely disabled relatives - even when they are doing their shopping for them, that I object to.

Similarly where people obviously don't need a blue badge and still, somehow, manage to finagle their way into getting one - I saw an older bloke once who was driving a very low slung, gull-winged BMW i8 - a car that I (probably 30 years younger then in my early 40s) would have difficulty getting in/out of - who had a blue badge.

Anyone who can get in/out of a low slung sports car either does not need a blue badge or if they do, has made a serious error in judgement buying such a car. Most elderly, infirm people have enough difficulty getting in / out of ordinary cars.

Not all blue badge holders have physical disabilities. This gentleman could have had for instance a severe heart condition or other similar problems which qualified him for a blue badge. My sister-in-law had such a condition allied with cancer and was more than once challenged by joe public. Youre not disanbled they said. Her responsse, perfectly fairly was, have you got my recordds then?

I have a friend who has a life shortening heart condition. They look normal, and drive a sports car. They can’t walk more than a few metres without becoming breathless and need to stop. They cannot walk and carry bags, or walk and talk. They need to sit and rest as often as possible. As others have said, not every disability is visible. I went with them to a branch of a large garden centre last Sunday. There were 10 disabled bays. Only 2 vehicles had blue badges.
Yes, badges do get abused and holders should also be fined. Blue badges are for the use of the holder only. If they are not exiting the vehicle but sat waiting for an able bodied person, they are breaking the rules same as those who use the badge when shopping on behalf of the holder. Council wardens have the powers to inspect blue badges and check the holder is present. Private car parks enforcement is down to the land owner or their representatives. I.e. clampers.

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Soddem on 21 November 2022

In France Disabled parking spaces are widely respected. It is common in supermarkets to have MANY cars parked up, but the disabled bays are free (ie not abused).
Also, many supermarkets have a prominent sign saying (in french):
'Take my parking place, take my disability' - which obviously make people think twice.

I have only once been challenged - by a Liverpool City official who was questioning users of blue-badges when parking in the street, and examining the badge.
I don't think any genuine blue badge owner would object to being challenged.

All power to any council which diligently clamps down on abusers !

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Theophilus on 22 November 2022

I was surprised by the request for pictures on the front of Blue Badges. These always used to have a photo of the holder and I was not aware that anything had changed.

Blue Badges DO have a photo of the entitled holder of the badge, but it is on the reverse, not on visible display. An authorised parking attendant / police officer can request to view the badge if it is suspected that it is being improperly used.

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Centaur on 26 November 2022

Disabled badges do have a picture of the holder but it is not normally visible when parking. Police and traffic warders etc can request they be shown the photo of the holder to confirm legitimate usage.

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Bearman on 28 November 2022

I get fed up of people using there grandparents of member of family badge there excuse is they are shopping for them as we all know the person who badge it is should be in the car I think anyone that allows there badge to be used should be fined as well I know this is not nice to say but the system is being shafted by these people

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Alan F on 28 November 2022

I get fed up of people using there grandparents of member of family badge there excuse is they are shopping for them as we all know the person who badge it is should be in the car I think anyone that allows there badge to be used should be fined as well I know this is not nice to say but the system is being shafted by these people

Therein lies the problem, how does one prove it, they could have taken the badge without their knowledge, they could be being abused by the family member to give it over or else (it happens more than it should), or they could just play these cards and not care, thinking pity of being disabled will get them a free ride, I'm not saying do nothing, just pointing out the instant problems faced in that.

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davet8890 on 28 November 2022

This abuse has been going on too long now. I have held a blue badge for 13 years now and it has always been a problem. It needs strong action now.

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Alan F on 28 November 2022

My biggest concern is the thread about DMUK on the MSE forums, and the links to connected ticket issuers out there, and telling disabled drivers hit with penalty notices to pay up, on MSE they have been torn to shreds by users who have a very good grip on this area, the site has tried to defend it's actions more than once.

And each time someone pulls them up for chatting crud (as they would put it), totally misquoting law and guides, and financially connected to the fine operators, with my health I can't follow it all, but given this sites rep for being trusted, I'm surprised to see this company mentioned as a source (given the numerous situations laid out in the MSE's thread(s)) which shows them as quite different.

Biggest joke is my local supermarket has pitched a canvas tent up covering over half the disabled bays, and made temporary railings in normal bays to move us over too instead, no thinking about the width drivers need to get in and out of the cars, I thought they were doing work for the first week or so, then I was told by staff it was being used as a temp cold room by the store. ??

Edited by Alan F on 28/11/2022 at 23:11

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IR0NM4NUK on 29 November 2022

Sounds like a Sainsburys store!

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Richard Matta on 29 November 2022

Same applies to drivers parking opposite dropped kerbs.

Dickie

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Oldboy on 3 December 2022

I have a septuagenarian acquaintance who had a Blue badge on his Porsche Boxter ( though since bought a family car ). He had no movement inhibiting disability, but had a heart condition which rendered him unable to walk far. A sufficient disability to legitimately qualify for a blue badge.

The authorities and his insurers had no problems with his being allowed to drive.

As they say, not all disabilities are visible

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Oldboy on 3 December 2022

I do not believe that it would be prudent to have a photo of the holder on the front of the pass.

A photo on the reverse should be fine, to be shown to anyone with a legitimate reason to ask to see it, just being nosy or miffed would not IMHO be a “legitimate” reason

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Jay P2 on 3 December 2022

I have never parked in a disabled bay and I am fully aware of the importance that these facilities have to those unfortunate people who need them. However, having spent 10 years after retirement as a part-time delivery driver in the Salisbury area, it never failed to amaze me how inconsiderate some (not many) blue badge holders are. On a virtual daily basis in the city centre it was usual to find a disabled car parked free in a meter controlled space when there was a disabled bay no mor than 10 yards away, thus denying a paying motorist the opportunity to park. Similarly, often blue-badged cars would be parked on yellow lines, sometimes very badly, at angles to the kerb etc. causing extra congestion in an already badly congested city. I stress that this was a regular occurrence, particularly on market days. Interestingly I never once saw a Salisbury parking "Ambassador" take any notice. I therefore came to the conclusion that the few that abuse the privilege in this way do so because they can, and they know they will get away with it. What a shame for the vast majority who respect the rules and may be judged similarly.

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