Parking for the disabled - Blue Badges. What’s your opinion?

I wholly agree that too many people who don't deserve it end up getting one and they should have a better screening process to ensure only the people who need it, get it and if it's found to be abused, they either get fined or have it withdrawn.

I will just mention one thing however. My mum has recently registered as disabled because she has heart problems and finds it hard to walk too far without needing a rest so I imagine she got one because these spaces are closer to the shops etc. Also I have a 5 year old son who is autistic. Now physically he has no disabilities but we are entitled to apply for a badge. Now the reason we haven't is due to the fact he is fairly good by the road now and tends not to wander too much as long as we keep an eye,  but we do know some people who also have an autistic boy who has no road sense and in the blink of an eye he can just go without considering what is around him, he gets tunnel vision when he sees something of interest and goes. His mum has a disabled badge for him because at least when they park she doesn't have to trek across a busy carpark with him with the worry he may get himself into trouble along the way.

It took her over 2 years to get her badge and basically wrote letter after letter. She eventually got one but some don't think she's entitled to one because her son can run.

I know first hand what autistic children are capable of and can be a handful at the best of times so I feel she is fully justified in getting one. We have considered several times but I feel a bit like a fraud because my son has no physical disability but there have been times when we've struggled with him and thought we could have made use of one.

Some cases are clear cut but some not so easy to judge. I just think closer monitoring would help the right people get the badge and the wrong people not!

Mike

Nigel wrote: My "beef" is the amount of spacious disabled spaces, not their existance

It can be frustrating when the carpark is regularly maxxed and there are a ruck of empty spots, I'm guessing that there is some % based rule for new developments that has to be followed.

Rhys wrote: I hate the amount of disabled spaces compared to parent/child spaces outside our local Mothercare. There are two other stores next to Mothercare and a full row of disabled spaces between the whole lot (which I'm not complaining about) but only 4 spaces for parents/children which is a bit stupid considering what the store is about.

Exactly, and the disabled will think nothing of using what mother and baby spaces there are, because they are disabled, and can therefore park anywhere (so they think), but watch them moan like hell if someone uses one of "their" spaces.

Blue badge users only come second to cyclists in my list of motoring hates

This is not an attack on you or your father (who sounds like he has lead a full and interesting life), but I have a couple of issues wrt your post.

muppet 2 wrote: My dad has a blue badge, he is 80 years old and can't do the things he used to do.

In and of itself, not a reason for getting a badge, blue or otherwise.

muppet 2 wrote: Things like leave school at 14 to work and pay taxes, national service , 30 years in the police, 39 commendations and medals for pulling people out of burning buildings and that sort of stuff.

Again, while worthy and admirable feats, most of which you won't see from the youth of today, none these are reasons for having a disabled sticker for your car.

muppet 2 wrote: He now deserves one to make his life a bit easier.

muppet 2 wrote:  Before that he had the use of one for my mother in her lasts days before she died of cancer.

muppet 2 wrote: People do deserve them

muppet 2 wrote: The way you lot are going one shows not only a complete lack of sympathy but a lack of experience in life's real hardships. When you or a member of your family get to the stage that the need a little help, blue badge. I hope remember your ridiculous rants here. My rant over

Maybe it's just the way I'm reading it, but it's more a case of people feeling put out by two facts.

1) That there are often 95% or more of disabled spaces free in otherwise full carparks. Is this as a result of some bullsh*t PC ruling by the government that x% of all new carpark spaces should be designated disabled without having studied the actual need?

2) More often than not, when you see someone exiting/entering a car in a disabled spot they don't look the slightest bit challenged. Now I understand that there are conditions that aren't clear cut and it's not easy to tell from a distance that a person has a problem, but I'd wager many don't. My wife qualifies for one but won't get it because half the time she feels ok and would feel bad using a disabled spot, the other half of the time she can't get out of bed so parking isn't really top of her agenda.

muppet 2 wrote: Yes that one irks with people leaping out of there cars and running off, I did once do the opposite. I parked in a disabled space,no blue badge, and I could see the looks of derision from those roundabout right up until I got my crutches and hobbled off. No I wasn't disabled I had broken my ankle.   Though now that I am disabled I neither wont or need a blue badge. In the future when, I have done my bit contributing to society and got a bit older this might just change.

I think in essence we agree for the most part, i.e. people who after detailed assessment by a qualified health professional are deemed to need a blue badge should get one and where appropriate � i.e. to enable them to get back into employment - gov't assistance to modify a vehicle to that end.

I don't think anyone 'deserves' one regardless of their contribution to society. It's bad enough now that you've got to check for whether the single free space you've found is a resident only, blue badge or a mother and child (where are the fathers?) or a family one (oh there they are) and not one for normal schmo's without adding one for soldiers, police, firemen, nurses, lapdancers etc.

I think the point that wasn't being eloquently put is that more often than not the blue badge spots are empty in an otherwise full carpark which makes one wonder if someone has applied some bullsh*t calculation on how many spaces should be set aside � be they for blue badger, mother n toddler or whatever - that is incorrect leaving a disproportionate number of unnecessarily empty spots. Couple that with all of the career claimants that seem be able to magic up not just the blue badge but a car to stick it on and I descend into a DailyMailesque apoplexy that I'm unable to park because of the workshy twunt that can park in the big space right next to the shops to go and gets his tabs and beer paid for by my taxes while I use what little is left of my precious lunchbreak walking across the carpark!

I think I�ll go and lie down for a little bit now.

muppet 2 wrote: Sorry to go on but sometimes a thread starts and people just jump on the bandwagon without engaging brains first. Next rant over

Peter Fenwick wrote: My issue is that I know people who use a blue badge and aren't entitled too and on days when you can't get a space there are always loads of disabled bays free. Now I know the idea is that a blue badge holder should always be able to find a space but it seams to be a bit overkill on the number of spaces.  I knew someone who was on disabillity benefits and a blue badge holder. He was absolutely fine and "only took a stick out with him just in case the council are watching". Those where his words.

And what do you say to these people? Knowing that they are screwing the system?

Nigel wrote: In my humble opinion your mom seems to deserve one, perhaps, but .... if she's that ill, should she be driving ? People with autistic children ? why ? How does it help ? We are entitled to one for my son, its absolute b******s. My "beef" is the amount of spacious disabled spaces, not their existance

My mum finds anything that involves lots of walking, carrying etc quite strenuous so walking across a carpark with shopping could take it's toll. I will add it's because of the NHS dragging their heels that she still has no proper diagnosis even though it's been 2 years since the initial problem arose. If she had some type of treatment, she'd probably be fine!

The reason some autistic children are entitled to disabled badges are because they often have no road sense i.e. sense of danger and walking in and around moving cars seems to them to be dangerous as walking through a forest, The spaces are closer to the shops/street etc it makes it safer rather than getting a space a long walk from safety.

I can see your 'beef' with loads of these spaces and there are usually double than what is needed. Then there are the people who lie to get a badge. It's these issues which seem to cause the problems.

Mike

Lots of interesting replies.  Thanks.  I think the main gist is around punishment for misuse; who should get the badge and what checks are undertaken to ascertain eligibility.

Guess what?

The Department for Transport wrote: Blue Badge Reform Programme: A Consultation Document   This consultation document outlines and seeks views on Government proposals for improving the Blue Badge (Disabled Parking) Scheme. In particular, the proposals are about improving the enforcement regime for the Blue Badge Scheme; extending the eligibility criteria; and funding to help local authorities to establish independent medical assessments.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/2010-20/

I would encourage anyone with an interest to contribute.