To park in parent and child spaces if there are no disabled ones free?

[immortalbeloved]

I know I know, I'm sorry for another P&C space thread

I'm really really not trying to start the whole debate up again, I know it's been done to death

Genuine question though, AIBU to park in one if there isn't a disabled space free? Normally I use a disbled space (I have a blue badge) or sometimes P&C space if I've got one or more of the children with me. But today I needed to go somewhere and didn't have any children with me, when I got there the only space free close enough for me was P&C so I used it.

But I was given several dirty looks by mums with toddlers and one was going to approach me to 'set me straight' but her friend stopped her

So was I really out of order? Or is it an ok thing to do?

It's a hard call on occasion though. If I'm struggling with a toddler who bolts (and in previous years with a toddler, baby and pram) and multiple bags of shopping, and I see someone with a blue badge pulling into a P&C space and then getting out of the car and walking to the shop in a very spritely manner then I can feel a bit miffed. Now, I know that disability comes in all shapes and sizes, and I'm not wishing to stir up a hornets nest, but I hold my hand up and admit to sometimes having a little look at the blue badge to make sure it matches the registration.

I couldn't give a toss where you park. I've yet to feel the fury many folk do at being forced to walk for an extra 100m or so to my car, being lucky enough to have everything working fairly reliably (touches wooden leg).

The blue badge does not have a car reg number on it! Not sure what you are looking at to match?

It is issued to the disabled person and they can use it in any car they happen to be in.

The car badge is designed for street parking. Supermarkets and retail parks etc may provide disabled parking but they aren't obliged to and they will have their own rules and regulations.

It is also a myth that with a blue badge you can park anywhere. You still have to obey the rules of the road that are laid out in the Highway Code.

What am I thinking of then? I'm sure I've seen reg numbers on the badge...do they have a different system here in Scotland I wonder?

I'm in Scotland and there's no registration number on the badge,certainly not on my grandmother's blue badge.

YANBU. If it's helpful to you, go ahead.

You get tutted at? That is awful, some people are sooooo rude! YANBU at all and I still can't believe people tut at you! Those people should be ashamed of themselves

Well goodness knows what I've looked at, as there was definitely a reg number on it

Does that mean that you can park in a disabled space if you have a badge that you use for driving someone with disabilities - even though they are not in the car?

no, they have to be in the car with you at the time you are driving and parking.

I have a 10 year old disabled ds, never ever had car reg on in England, can't comment on Scotland though.

I wonder if that's when the abuse of the permit happens?

Re the registration numbers - the police (well Thames Valley do anyway) now advise that you write your car reg number on your badge, so you may well have seen it on some.

Defnitely no car reg number. There is a serial number on and some council offices also put on a tracking number which can be used if the Parking depts ring up and have a query about a badge.

there isn't a reg number on the badge as the badge can be used by the person in any car they travel in.

yanbu

can't believe anyone would have a go at you for using the only decent space when all the disabled ones are full!

Pigeon - that probably explains it, thanks. I knew I'd seen a reg number, definitely not a serial number

Looktowindward, nobody said they 'needed; P&T spaces in the way BB holders need disabled spaces. However, surely you can see that the make life easier for women like I was 2yrs ago who are trying to safely get to the supermarket front door with a 3yr old, a 16mth old and a newborn?

Firstly, being able to have the trolley down the side to keep the kids safe who are waiting. Secondly, the newest second stage car seats (toddler size) are bloody enormous with their isofix points etc. Supermarket spaces often meant I could barely reach at the best of times and occasionally meant reversing very slowly out the space slightly, blocking other traffic then jumping out to strap them in.

No, there's no law. Of course the level of need is nothing compared to those who are disabled but surely it's just human decency to show consideration to others. I would never park in one on my own because I'd always be thinking that the next person coming along could be struggling with little ones. Sure, the law may be on my side, but that's not really the point, is it?

If you don't mind parents with kids parking in a disabled space then yanbu. However, if you do then you are. Sorry. But my carload of kids is just as important to keep safe as anyone with a disabled badge. They have the distinctions for a reason.

not sure about the UK but here in Aus whether the disabled park is on the road or in a parking area/garage etc - it is still enforceable by law so parking in one at the shops and thinking you cannot be fined or whatever if you do not have a badge - is incorrect.

saffy
The car badge is designed for street parking. Supermarkets and retail parks etc may provide disabled parking but they aren't obliged to and they will have their own rules and regulations.

think infact supermarkets have to provide by law acertain amount of disabled parking spaces

oh and Op when out with ds we sometimes use P&c spaces to though truth ds3 who is 5 looks so small we could get awya without any looks infact we have mor eproblem s when using the disabled spaces

Thruaglassdarkly having a carload of kids is not on par with a disability.

well said Riven

I think people getting upset about P&C spaces are a bit sad and need to get a life.

I do not see the problem with using one if the Disabled bays are all full (something I have yes to see in either of the big supermarkets of shopping centers I use.

We use both as mum is in a wheelchair and we just use what ever space suits our need best at the time