Why do people question blue badge holders?

[TeenLifeMum]

I’ve seen comments over the years about people being challenged for not looking disabled. But they’re not easy to get - in fact they seem ridiculously challenging and dad might be dead by the time he bloody gets one. Medical records and consultant’s letter isn’t enough, he needs an interview… but they keep arranging the interview for when he’s having cancer treatment (every day so I appreciate it’s hard to schedule).

Just needed to vent.

Exactly this. And from all I’ve ever read, it happens quite a lot.

Blue badge fraud is endemic in London.

Would never question anyone on it, but I generally assume that a young lad in a modified Audi or BMW parking on double yellows directly outside a shop or cafe, who then leaps out of the low slung car and slams the door before walking swiftly away, quite possibly isn’t the named recipient on badge, and probably isn’t picking up the recipient from said off licence or cafe.

There’s zero enforcement of parking in our area.

It's good he doesn't let it bother him too much.

a lot of entitled twats with sports cars do use the spaces, to protect their paintwork, so often the people giving filthy looks, are just protecting/defending the spaces for genuine users.

mistakenly in your brothers case!!

I agree that they are difficult to get. I had one (had to go through full assessment and provide lots of information etc) but it was refused at renewal time and I've struggled on since even though my ability to walk has seriously deteriorated even further.
I don't query those who have got them because they just are so hard to get. I do get annoyed though when I hear about others using those of relatives though, and that does seem to be a common thing. They're not even discreet about it.

I don’t see the problem. I think it’s good that people might challenge any abuse of the system. I certainly know of people who’ve ‘borrowed’ a blue badge to get preferential parking at concerts etc. if I had a privilege like a blue badge I’d certainly be happy to be politely questioned on it. I wouldn’t see that as an affront.

What was her 'reason'??

beggars belief people can try to justify themselves.

They're ridiculously easy to get where I am, all you have to do is lie on an online questionnaire. I am only disabled some days and not others, I just filled it in for the days I can't walk or get out of the car without the door setting to is fullest open. Nobody checked with my doctor or even spoke to me.

There are probably plenty of people cheating.

The mental gymnastics people use to justify it as well.

but I’m picking up something for the disabled person.
the car belongs to the disabled person, it’s not mine.

but I have my elderly aunt with me and she needs to be closer
there weren’t any parent and child spaces
my leg hurts a bit and I don’t want to walk.

So should everyone old. It's very difficult for many old people to get out of cars when you can't get the doors fully open.

My DH isn't disabled in any way that would get him a badge, but he has terrible trouble getting into and out of the car because of his size and his creaky joints (he's big, not fat) . I feel no guilt at using my badge on my good days for him, but I only do it if there are multiple spaces free for others less mobile. And I would never use it on double yellows.

The truth is that car park spaces are too small for today's big cars.

So because some people cheat the system it is seen as justifiable to question someone who you think does not look "disabled enough".

The longer I am on MN the more I worry about my disabled daughter's future.

Same reason people question people with invisible illnesses using disabled toilets. You have to "look" disabled it would seem....

I apply for loads of Blue badges on behalf of clients and they are rarely refused. Not sure if it is because I am working for a charity. The key is uploading as much medical evidence as possible to show someone has reduced mobility/ breathlessness etc

of course you do.
people with BB are allowed to park there.

All the people saying "but so many people use them fraudulently" - this isn't a reason or excuse to challenge anyone who doesn't look disabled enough to you. If we all took that attitude, people with invisible disabilities would be questioned every time they parked.

Also, what proof is enough to you? Do they need to disclose sensitive medical information? Perform their disability for you?

No system is impenetrable to an element of misuse/ fraud. The lack of traffic wardens doing regular checks around BB sites, could be rectified quite easily, by hiring more people, or ensuring BB spaces in Town, for example, are frequently checked. No BB being displayed, in a BB space, results in a fine, etc.

Ah yes, those of us who are privileged to be disabled enough for a blue badge should be happy to have to share our private medical information with busybody strangers.

I have seen a lot of bullshit on MN but calling a blue badge a privilege is close to the top of the list 🤣

Given that you can park almost anywhere with a blue badge Family members use the blue badge when the disabled person isn’t in the car.

Our small high street is a no parking zone and yet there are cars lined up on both sides all with blue badges. As a small town we know a lot of those people have relatives who are disabled but they are not.
The system is being abused

Perhaps the badge should relate to not just the person but the car as well.

Because they are twats?

I do feel some judgement from other BB holders though. It may be my paranoia but I feel them saying 'why do they have a BB?' when they don't they just look. But that maybe because my disability isn't obvious until I actually get out of the car.

I have a blue badge, but I'm not allowed to drive. This means that while DH drives me most places in our Motability car, sometimes he's working (in his own car) and I need a lift from someone else. I still need the blue badge when I'm in that other car, so having them tied to a car wouldn't work.

Agree
but perhaps traffic wardens should have the authority to check the person in the car.
They could check to see if they are the disabled person or they are with the driver
Our traffic warden said there’s nothing they can do.
Hence the abuse of the system

My mum is no longer able to drive, but she has MS and another neurological disease, and unfortunately was confronted a few times about her blue badge because she didn't look obviously disabled. It really affected her confidence. I think a lot of people believe that only wheelchair users should have them!

The same still happens to her if she uses disabled toilet facilities (in fact she was confronted by someone recently when I went to the theater with her - strangely enough the lady accusing her of unfairly using the toilet also had an invisible condition!).

Some people must have a special power, to be able to tell who is disabled, from a distance, when they are pulling into a BB space.

I'd have no issue at all showing my badge to a traffic warden - they should absolutely be allowed to ask to see badges as part of their job and it's crazy that they aren't.

What concerns me on this thread is the number of people justifying random members of the public questioning people about their blue badges.

Good point.
Then perhaps as my pp traffic wardens should have the authority to check because people like yourself will find there are less places to park given others abuse the system.
As I said we are a small high street and the whole road is full of blue badges, despite a car park right in town. Anyone severely disabled would struggle to get up the ramps out of the car park ( on their own ) if they can’t find anywhere to park immediately outside the shops, which I’m guessing must happen occasionally.

So giving traffic wardens more authority would help everyone to stay safe.

You got there before me Iwent