The Disabled Motorists Federation

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 European Disability Parking Card Directory

 Parking Concessions for the less abled

Claiming your parking rights in the UK and throughout Europe via the Blue Badge and Disability Parking Card programs.  Having had a look at this site I think that it is well worth having a look at & possibly taking their advice about naming and shaming.

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The DMF Policy on Blue Badge Abuse and Disabled Parking Regulations.

Compiled by Hon. Sec. J. E. Killick and in consultation with Chairman Jim Wheelton

DMF policy has been drawn up after the Hon. Sec. represented us at a conference run by the Scottish Executive in Edinburgh about a year ago, after their survey on the subject, and, after Cleveland Police and, we believe, one of the Lancashire forces both held a short blitz on this type of abuse. In all the above cases it was proved that while abuse of parking spaces by persons not displaying a ‘Blue Badge’ occurs, by far the biggest abuse was being carried out by people using other peoples ‘Blue Badges’. We do appreciate that in some parts of the country such as the Southeast and London in particular, there is an additional problem caused by stolen ‘Blue Badges’. However, to the best of our knowledge there has never been a survey done to establish just how widespread or how significant this is.

In addition to the above it has been proven that where a zero tolerance approach is carried out on people parking without badges, this abuse of disabled parking is virtually wiped out. The Blue Car Park at the Metro Centre in Gateshead being a good example. The Scottish Executive, in addition, in one major hospital, where parking charges for disabled people have been instigated, it is now normal for people to be able to find disabled parking bays without trouble. This would indicate, at least in Scotland, that abuse is seriously reduced by removing free parking privileges.

We, in the DMF would like to see the following instigated:-

1)                  A truly national policy, i.e. the government laying down the rules for disabled parking. This would stop the present appalling situation where disabled people have to know the ‘Bye Laws’ of every authority in the country before parking. Examples:- Skegness only offers free parking in marked bays (result parking on double yellows is rampant), Sunderland does not charge for disabled parking but Chester-le-Street, just next door, does. A true National Policy would mean that if you pay in Cornwall, then you pay in Sutherland and all authorities in between. If you only get free parking in marked disabled bays, then all authorities should give free parking in marked bays. If we are going to pay for on street parking at the meter in Manchester then we should also do so in London. If we are refused access to resident only bays in South Tyneside then so should we in Sunderland etc. We believe that without a system that is the same throughout the country the scheme can never work properly. We do believe that each authority can, and should decide what to charge, but not whether to charge, and when to prosecute, but nothing else.  

2)                  All Blue Badges should be marked with both gender (M or F) and passenger or driver, (P or D), as on the old Orange Badges. We believe that this would make it easier for parking officials to pick out abusers. We also like the idea of bar-coding badges, at present being suggested by the government, although we do worry about the cost. 

3)                  There is absolutely no excuse other than laziness for non-badge holders parking in disabled only bays. Fines should be automatic, as in many parts of the States. Abuse by carers of disabled people is below contempt, for repeat offenders jail would not be too excessive. We would definitely back a bill making it possible for any car-parking official, whether police, traffic warden or private contractor, to confiscate abused badges, returning them when time allows to the owner. If this became policy we would also like to see the badge endorsed and confiscated for good if caught a second time. The Scots have made this kind of abuse a criminal offence under the laws of fraud, this makes sense to us.

4)                  We have long carried out a policy of education; the problem is that we can only get that education to those who read what we write. The secretary has long made it plain that those caught abusing their badges need not approach this charity for help. The governments thoughts of an advertising campaign can only do good, this might, for instance, mean handing out a large print guide, or picture guide on the correct use of the badge with every ‘Blue Badge’. It would seem from my observations that very few people look at the conditions of issue and thus simply don’t understand the restrictions of use. Parking on dropped kerbs, in loading bays etc.

5)                  Above all, zero tolerance policing works. One would not abuse ones cared for’s badge if there was little chance of getting away with it, and the market for stolen badges would immediately dry up. This problem is almost unheard of in most other countries; could it be because people have little or no chance of getting away with it?    

Here are some quick rules for people that use a Blue Badge:

The government has recently announced some changes to the ‘Blue Badge’ scheme. These really should not affect those who are using their badges correctly, as they are designed to enforce the correct use only. There are two main changes that members should be aware of:-

            Whilst there are Disabled Bays in towns and in front of some shops, they are much fewer than here in England.

•           While searching for a spot one day to no avail, I was about to park on double yellow lines without blocking anything, and without being liable to cause an obstruction (as we can do in England). Fortunately a disabled motorist approached quickly and told me not to do so as I would be fined and my car towed away.

No public car park that we used made it clear re-free parking for disabled, there were no signs anywhere, but on enquiry we were told we could park free.

Barbara and Michael Haighton

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These guides are smart maps tailored to the needs of different groups of Londoners and visitors to London. 
They are up-to-date, easy to use and contain the additional information you may need to make navigating London simple.

First UK Parking & Motoring Atlas for Blue Badge Holders.
By Liam Fair (Affilliate Manger)

For any Blue Badge motorist, it is vital to have access to information to make their journey easier, such as which petrol stations are accessible, where you can park free, where the bays are when you reach your destination. Essential issues taken for granted but now 'All the Blue Badge parking information is now in one place'.
The 190 page atlas comprises of quality Collins mapping split effectively into three mapping types: a national road atlas; urban area mapping; and detailed street mapping of 65 city centres featuring all the parking options and facilities for Blue Badge holders. There is also information on tourism, accommodation and a useful directory of services. 

Readers of The Way Ahead can obtain a discount on the brand new UK Road Atlas customised for Blue Badge holders.
For the Gowrings Mobility UK Road Atlas, send a cheque for £14.50 (inc. p&p) (usual price £16.54) payable to PIE Enterprises Ltd together with your contact details and quote the reference DMFED.

Post to:
PIE Enterprises Ltd,
The Bridge,
12-16 Clerkenwell Road,
London EC1M 5PQ
or order by phone on 0870 444 5435.
You can also buy online at www.parkingforbluebadges.com. 

There is also a customised map for London available at £4.50 (same ref DMFED)

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This mapping facility is the first of its kind and will enable people to search by postcode or town/area name for designated Blue Badge parking bays, parking bays that fall on red routes in London and accessible petrol stations. The service will also outline any time restrictions or special notices that apply to individual allocated Blue Badge parking bays.

Anne McGuire, Minister for Disabled People, speaking about the launch of the service, said:
“"Disabled people need to be supported to live life independently in the community, at work and at leisure. That is why I am delighted that this interactive tool should really make a difference. For many disabled people who do drive or are a passenger, knowing where they will be able to park will enable them to take part in day to day activities that non-disabled people take for granted. This service will help many people a great deal.”
 

Transport Minister Gillian Merron added:

"We want everyone who is entitled to use a Blue Badge to benefit from a user-friendly and properly enforced system. Together with our recent steps to stamp out fraud, this innovative service will help badge holders, whether drivers or passengers, get more out of the scheme."

The Blue Badge scheme provides a range of parking benefits for disabled people with severe walking difficulties who travel either as drivers or as passengers. The concessions apply to on-street parking and include free use of parking meters and pay-and-display bays and are administered through local authorities.

Directgov, which brings together the widest range of public service information and services online, hosts the Blue Badge map facility in its section for disabled people. 
This is located at www.direct.gov.uk/disability

The Blue Badge map can be viewed at www.direct.gov.uk/bluebadgemap

A Shropshire MP campaigning to make sure disabled parking bays are not misused is calling for private wheel-clampers to be better regulated.

Telford MP David Wright is highlighting the issue in the House of Commons.

He claims bays on private land, such as on supermarket car parks, are too open to misuse.

The release fee must, according to current legislation, be "reasonable" which he believes is "clearly open to abuse" by clampers.

The MP said that the biggest problem is that the type of signage required on car parks does not seem to be standardised.

Mr Wright said: "My bill proposes that clamping companies must reach agreement with the local authority about signage and gives local councils the power to set penalty fee rates."

A survey in 2005 found more than 20% of parking bays, like those for disabled drivers, were being misused on supermarket sites.

The MP said: "Car parks and parking bays like these are likely to be privately owned and managed by the individual business.

"If you are a disabled motorist or passenger, and you complain to, for example, a supermarket that a non-disabled motorist has parked in a disabled bay, an employee of the store could ask the driver to move their car from the disabled bay.

"But they will not be in a position to legally insist on it."

Mr Wright claimed that in some cases the owners of the private car parks are reluctant to take action against people abusing the bays because they see it as being bad for business.

He said: "In my view not enforcing the provision of bays is bad for business."

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