Latest news with #DisabledMotoringUK
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Charity highlights abuse of disabled parking bays
A disabled motoring charity is hoping to highlight "persistent" abuse disabled drivers can face and the misuse of accessible parking spaces. Disabled Motoring UK, based near Carleton Rode in Norfolk, is asking people to give feedback about accessible parking spaces in supermarket car parks, including if vehicles are displaying a blue badge. The group's chief executive, Graham Footer, claimed one in 10 people admitted to parking in a disabled bay without a permit. He said: "Accessible bays are not a 'nice to have' - they are absolutely essential for disabled motorist blue badge holders." The campaign, named Baywatch, is urging people to feedback on the use of accessible parking spaces six major retailers including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons. It hopes to keep supermarkets accountable while highlighting some of the challenges faced by disabled people. He said: "The pressure is already there to find accessible parking without the added pressure of abuse of accessible bays on top of that. "It's such a shame when the scheme and bays are abused." However, the charity asks that people just observe and do not take matters into their own hands by confronting motorists. "You really don't know who you are challenging," Mr Footer added. The information will be published for people to see how each supermarket compares. He said: "It's only when we highlight the issue that anything is done but Baywatch keeps this matter on the agenda... it focuses attention for a short period of time which makes the supermarkets get up and listen." Natalie Portman, a blue badge holder who also works at Equal Lives, a disability rights organisation in Norfolk and Suffolk, described how she felt there was "scrutiny" and judgement when disabled people parked. She said smaller shops and parking areas with less spaces could increase tensions. "I think the assumption to have a blue badge, you have to have some mobility appliance, actually that's not a thing for so many blue badge users. "That sense of suspicion you get when you use a parking bay until someone decides you're entitled to be there. "From a disability perspective, and as an individual, that sense of judgement and scrutiny is quite overwhelming when you have that all the time." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on this story 'I feel judged when I use my Blue Badge' Related internet links Disabled Motoring UK Equal Lives
BBC News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Norfolk charity hopes 'Baywatch' campaign will show blue badge misuse
A disabled motoring charity is hoping to highlight "persistent" abuse disabled drivers can face and the misuse of accessible parking spaces. Disabled Motoring UK, based near Carleton Rode in Norfolk, is asking people to give feedback about accessible parking spaces in supermarket car parks, including if vehicles are displaying a blue badge. The group's chief executive, Graham Footer, claimed one in 10 people admitted to parking in a disabled bay without a permit. He said: "Accessible bays are not a 'nice to have' - they are absolutely essential for disabled motorist blue badge holders." The campaign, named Baywatch, is urging people to feedback on the use of accessible parking spaces six major retailers including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons. It hopes to keep supermarkets accountable while highlighting some of the challenges faced by disabled people. He said: "The pressure is already there to find accessible parking without the added pressure of abuse of accessible bays on top of that. "It's such a shame when the scheme and bays are abused." However, the charity asks that people just observe and do not take matters into their own hands by confronting motorists. "You really don't know who you are challenging," Mr Footer added. The information will be published for people to see how each supermarket said: "It's only when we highlight the issue that anything is done but Baywatch keeps this matter on the agenda... it focuses attention for a short period of time which makes the supermarkets get up and listen." Natalie Portman, a blue badge holder who also works at Equal Lives, a disability rights organisation in Norfolk and Suffolk, described how she felt there was "scrutiny" and judgement when disabled people parked. She said smaller shops and parking areas with less spaces could increase tensions. "I think the assumption to have a blue badge, you have to have some mobility appliance, actually that's not a thing for so many blue badge users."That sense of suspicion you get when you use a parking bay until someone decides you're entitled to be there. "From a disability perspective, and as an individual, that sense of judgement and scrutiny is quite overwhelming when you have that all the time." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Record
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Record
New warning to people using Blue Badge parking bays at 'big six' supermarkets
Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK) is running a 'Baywatch' campaign from July 21 until August 15, 2025. How to apply for a Blue Badge A national charity warns that many disabled people often face additional daily challenges - even more so now with the promise of Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reforms being introduced during the current parliamentary term. Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK) says that while the UK Government has the means to remove many accessibility barriers for Blue Badge holders, private car parks often lack commitment to prioritising these improvements. To help resolve this, the charity is relaunching its 'Baywatch' campaign next week and urging disabled people travelling as a driver or passenger to get involved. The campaign highlights the ongoing abuse of disabled parking bays and Blue Badge misuse in supermarket car parks, calling for greater operator accountability. Baywatch is urging disabled motorists, and those who travel with them, to complete a short survey each time they visit the supermarket between July 21 - August 15, 2025 - providing data on issues they encounter. The Baywatch Campaign focuses on six major retailers: Tesco Sainsbury's Asda Morrisons Aldi Lidl The last time the campaign ran in 2022, DMUK received over 1,000 survey responses, but with more than 3.2 million Blue Badge holders across the nation - including over 235,000 in Scotland - the number of participants could increase ten-fold. For many disabled motorists, finding an available, properly enforced parking bay remains a persistent challenge and disabled people feel at risk of being judged or harassed, particularly those with hidden conditions. With little evidence of enforcement, disabled motorists sometimes feel pressured to put their personal safety at risk by challenging disabled bay abuse. Disabled Motoring UK wants all disabled motorists to feel safe, confident, independent, and respected, saying that it is time for 'greater accountability in both public and private parking'. Demand for accessible parking is rising with 52 Blue Badge holders competing per dedicated parking bay, something the charity says reflects a wider accessibility gap across public spaces and car parks. The charity found: 40% of customers have been forced to leave car parks because there were no available suitable spaces. This is very disappointing considering 36% reported non-badge holders occupying accessible bays, according to a recent report (June 2025). This is an increase from DMUK's 2019 Baywatch campaign which reported 20% of bays were being abused. 4 in 10 disabled people said they can't visit local shops because they are inaccessible. (Purple Pound) Nearly 1 in 10 people admit to parking in disabled bays without a permit, often due to- lack of spaces, being in a rush or 'will only be a few minutes' ( June 2025) Over two thirds (67%) of Blue Badge holders have never had their Blue Badge officially inspected (Baywatch 2022) The charity said that one in four people across the UK have a disability, so it should be in all supermarkets' best interests to ensure they don't lose custom and loyalty from their disabled customers. Research from the Purple Pound suggests supermarkets lose £501 million a month through lack of accessibility. By gathering real-world data, DMUK says it can present this data to the parking operators and supermarkets showing the need for prosecution and encouraging them to change their attitudes towards abuse and misuse. Dr Shani Dhanda, Award Winning Disability Inclusion and Accessibility Specialist, said: ''Accessible parking bays aren't just a nice-to-have - they're a lifeline. Without them, so many disabled people are shut out of everyday life, whether that's getting to work, buying food, going to appointments, or just being part of their community. 'When bays are misused or not properly enforced, it sends a really clear message that our access and independence aren't a priority. Baywatch matters because it's not just raising awareness - it's holding people to account and pushing for real change.' A DMUK member added: 'I went to a supermarket, which had 25 Blue Badge bays, all were full, only 10 cars had badges the rest had no badges on display, the supermarket said the car park was policed by a private company. I had to try parking elsewhere, it caused problems when my wheelchair lift blocked the car park access road.' Baywatch survey People who complete the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win one of two £50 Marks and Spencers gift cards. There's no limit on the number of surveys one person can complete, and people are being encouraged to do so every time they visit a supermarket between the campaign dates of July 21 and August 21, 2025. You can complete the survey online here. This year's baywatch campaign is strengthened by the support of a wide range of supporting organisations. These include: Disability Rights UK RAC Transport for All Independent Living Phab Allied Mobility Motaclarity Surewise The Outdoor Guide Euan's Guide AVC Hidden Disabilities Sunflower You can find out more about Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK) on the charity's website here.
Auto Express
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
UK EV charger boom is leaving disabled drivers behind
The number of on-street chargers has leapt up by 27 per cent in the last year, however, only a third of councils have installed ones that conform to important accessibility guidelines, once again leaving disabled drivers out of the loop. A Freedom of Information request submitted by Vauxhall as part of its Electric Streets campaign found that as many as 38 per cent of local councils across the UK do not offer on-street EV chargepoints that conform with the PAS 1899:2022 accessibility standards. Advertisement - Article continues below It's also worth pointing out that, while the above may sound sensationalist – after all, 62 per cent of councils do technically offer accessible charging – only 2.2 per cent of all the UK's public chargers adhere to PAS guidelines, meaning there'll be very few accessible ones in each area PAS 1899:2022, while not enshrined in law, essentially asks chargepoint operators (CPOs) to ensure their devices are placed at a height appropriate for wheelchair users, are not too heavy to manipulate and are in an accessible area with plenty of space to manoeuvre, say, a mobility scooter. Graham Footer, chief executive of Disabled Motoring UK, said that the findings are 'unsurprising', and that the campaign group is "deeply concerned by the almost complete lack of PAS-compliant public charging infrastructure'. Footer explained that 40 per cent of disabled drivers the charity surveyed did not live in accommodation suited to home EV charger installation, meaning they would have to rely on public infrastructure – something that would not be compatible with many of their physical needs. 'The government's promise was that no one would be left behind in the transition to green energy, but it is completely obvious that disabled motorists are indeed being left behind in the transition to EVs,' Footer said, urging No 10 to 'act now and address this failure before it's too late'. Auto Express has approached the government's Disability Unit for comment, but is yet to receive a response. In the meantime, this data comes only months after the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) published its report into the UK's EV charger rollout, which concluded that the current situation is in danger of creating 'inequalities in the cost of driving'. The government is also yet to publish the results of its review into PAS 1899:2022, despite it now being around two-and-a-half years after its initial introduction. Did you know you can sell your car through Auto Express ? We'll help you get a great price and find a great deal on a new car, too .
