Forum Topic

blue badge parking

Can someone please enlighten me as to why it is safe for disabled badge owners to park on double yellows nr a dangerous corner/junction.I think they should be able to park anywhere (literally) but surely not somewhere that's dangerous.

Simon Wycombe ● 4408d16 Comments

The council should care, they can enforce this if they have a mind to, but issuing parking tickets is seemingly easier.Another thing at they have 'let slip'.

Nigel Brooks ● 4404d

I see a lot of abuse and what I believe to be fraudulent use of blue badges in Ealing. But not many seem to care.

Gerry Tan ● 4404d

Dad certainly needs his badge, mostly for parking at the hospital. People abusing these badges need to be slapped down hard, with big fines and even community service. It's the only way they will learn.

Susan Kelly ● 4405d

Yes, sorry Susan both DLA and PIP are working age benefits.Councils need to make the process for those beyond working age easy to understand it varies wildly depending where you live. They could pay for any process improvements by clamping down and fining to the maximum (it's £1000) those who use Blue Badges fraudulently.London Council estimate that each fraudulent Blue Badge costs upward of £3,000 per year in 'lost' parking charges so it is in their interest to enforce.

Nigel Brooks ● 4406d

He definitely deserves one.

Simon Wycombe ● 4406d

Maybe it depends on the Council. My 80-year-old father can't walk more than a few paces and that only with a stick. He doesn't seem to be eligible for any benefits (the ones Nigel names seem to be for working age only) but he certainly needs his Blue Badge, which he gets by a sort of self certification whereby they ask him how far he can walk and he answers them.

Susan Kelly ● 4406d

Simply a benefit, like Disabled Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment that is paid to medically assessed individuals who have severely impaired mobility.

Nigel Brooks ● 4407d

Thanks Nigel - what's a 'mobility-based' benefit please?

Gerry Tan ● 4407d

It's issued to an individual.The rules are that anyone can drive the car as long as the person to whom the badge is issued accompanies them.BTW Gerry it is not just for "walking difficulties", my friend has a badge for her severely mentally impaired son, to get his to medical appointments. It used to be based on a simple doctor's letter or medical assessment, the process now, quite rightly, calls for evidence from 'healthcare professionals' or demands that the recipient is in receipt of 'mobility-based' benefits.

Nigel Brooks ● 4407d

Is a blue badge issued to a car or a person please?Can anyone drive a car with a blue badge and is the driver of a blue badge car allowed to be the only one driving the car? Or must the driver be accompanied by the person with walking difficulties?Is a blue badge issued after approval by a medical doctor?

Gerry Tan ● 4407d

Guess it's like most things, it's the "1%" that ruin it.I stay positive and one day I'll not need it!!

Nigel Brooks ● 4407d

Am sure 99% of holders are the fine but it's the 1% that are very annoying.Sorry you have to have one too.

Simon Wycombe ● 4407d

It's not even OK for two minutes IMHO.Having a Blue Badge is a privilege, one that I wish I didn't need, but a privilege all the same.I don't abuse it and I wish that others would not either.

Nigel Brooks ● 4407d

I have no objection to then being used genuinely.Do not understand though how they can park in a dangerous way. Ok if it's for 2 minutes whilst getting dry cleaning for eg but not all day like some I witness.

Simon Wycombe ● 4407d

I witnessed a row between a parked flashy SUV driver, who had a blue badge and another blue badge car driver at Tescos last week. The SUV driver had just parked in a marked for disabled space beating the other blue badge car driver for that one available space. A shouting match occurred when the car driver accused the SUV man of using his blue badge illegally. It was a very heated row wich lasted quite some time. I was too busy to see the outcome.

Gerry Tan ● 4407d

It isn't and is just as illegal as it is for someone without a Blue Badge.From the guide that came with my badge."you must not park in front of dropped kerbs, blocking entrances, on crossings or within 10 metres of a junction. If there are double kerb marks you must not park on the double yellow lines ".So, the parker you saw is breaking the law by parking there.

Nigel Brooks ● 4407d