Most UK disabled drivers say parking is major independence barrier

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 11:55 · Archive

A survey found 87.4% of Blue Badge holders say parking is a major barrier to their independence.

A survey by MoneySuperMarket found that 87.4% of Blue Badge holders say parking is a major barrier to their independence. More than two-thirds of those surveyed have avoided visiting certain places because of concerns about finding a disabled parking space. The research, part of the company's Misused Parking Campaign, surveyed 2,000 UK motorists, including 1,000 Blue Badge holders.

MoneySuperMarket compiled a Priority Parking Index using Freedom of Information requests to councils, ranking local authority areas by the number of Blue Badge holders, disabled parking bays and penalty charge notices issued for misuse of disabled bays. Durham County topped the ranking as the most challenging area, with a final score of 6.75. The authority had 35,697 registered Blue Badge holders and 320 disabled bays, equivalent to 112 badge holders per bay, and recorded 3,445 penalty charge notices for disabled-bay misuse.

Blackpool and Redbridge were next in the ranking, both scoring 8.10. Blackpool had 11,438 Blue Badge holders and 91 disabled bays, while Redbridge had 18,129 holders and 183 bays. Other areas appearing near the top of the list included York, Doncaster, Sheffield, Leicester and Salford. The index gives lower scores to areas ranked as more challenging, while higher scores indicate better conditions for Blue Badge holders.

Most UK disabled drivers say parking is major independence barrier — Image: Oxford Mail

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How it is being reported

Blue Badge parking crisis - UK areas where disabled drivers face the biggest struggleA new study has ranked UK council areas for Blue Badge parking challenges, after 87.4% of disabled badge holders said parking was a barrier.Oxford Mail · 9 Oct, 10:07
Blue Badge parking crisis - UK areas where disabled drivers face the biggest struggleA new study has ranked UK council areas for Blue Badge parking challenges, after 87.4% of disabled badge holders said parking was a barrier.Oxfordshire Guardian · 9 Oct, 10:07

In this story: MoneySuperMarket · Durham County · Blackpool · Redbridge · York · Doncaster · Sheffield · Leicester

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