Blue Badge bays: A parking crisis?

In August 2019, the Blue Badge scheme was extended to include hidden disabilities in England, making journeys easier for more people. But this could also mean there are now more people battling for Blue Badge parking spaces.

More than

35,000

Blue badges have been issues under the new 'hidden disability' criteria.

But only

1,825

Blue Badges parking spaces have been added in the past 12 months.

This is made worse by people without Blue Badges parking in these spaces

157,669

drivers were fined in 2019.

Here are the common reasons people misuse Blue Badge spaces

"I am a parent and was travelling with children and there weren't any parent-child parking spaces available."

"I was being lazy."

"I was only going to be quick."

"There were plenty of Blue Badge spaces available."

"I couldn't find another space."

"I wanted to use the ATM."

For more information on Blue Badge parking, including who's eligible, and how to apply, read our guide.

View guide

Methodology

Freedom of Information requests were sent to all UK local authorities, asking for the number of disabled parking spaces, the number of fines issued to drivers who wrongfully park in said spaces, and the number of Blue Badge holders registered in their local authority areas. We also asked if councils had any current plans to extend the number of parking provisions for Blue Badge holders in their local authority area. Of the 433 local authorities, 242 replied with information.

The figure 'Blue Badge holders per parking space' was calculated by dividing the number of Blue Badge holders in a region by the number of disabled parking spaces in the same region.

Note that the number of disabled parking spaces does not include privately-owned structures such as supermarkets and private car parks.

Reasons why people misuse disabled parking spaces based on research carried out by One Poll on behalf of Confused.com between the 6th and 9th August 2019.

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Blue Badge bays: A parking crisis?

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