Parking in disabled spaces when disabled person sitting in car

[Mokel]

If the blue badge holder isn’t going to leave the car, the car shouldn’t be parked in a disabled bay.

The purpose behind disabled bays is for disabled people don’t have to walk far to entrances to shops, doctors etc. If not leaving the car, there’s no need to park up there.

If a non disabled person is going to leave the car leaving the disabled person in the car, they should be parking in a normal parking space.

I agree, but you might need to don a hard-hat for this one.

Should imagine if they have a blue badge they can park there.

How do you know that the disabled person isn’t going to leave the car in a few minutes because their non-disabled driver isn’t fetching an adapted trolley or something ?

It's not a case of 'if' they can park there, more a case of 'should' they park there.

And no, if the disabled person isn't going to leave the car, they shouldn't. Leave it for someone with a blue badge who would benefit from the space.

If someone has a blue badge, they are entitled to park in a handicap space, end of, and it's nobody's business what they do from there. You have better things to concern yourself with surely.

Blue badge can park. How on earth are you going to know if, when the person is going to go anywhere. So the solution would be to harass and question them?

Nope.

I have one, no, you’re not supposed to use it if you’re not getting out of the car.

Someone can use it to drop you off and pick you up though, which might look like someone isn’t getting out if they’re waiting.

You are ill informed. Disabled bags are for cars that have a blue badge to make their life easier not so they don't have to walk as far.

It’s in the rules that the person holding the blue badge cannot sit in the car, parked in a disabled parking bay, while someone else does the shopping.
It’s a fineable offence.

Yep, same as a parent and child space - if a child is not exiting the car, the space shouldn’t be used.

I wouldn’t challenge someone on it though - there could be multiple reasons why what you think you witness is not necessarily the full story.

You’re contradicting yourself. It does makes their life easier not to have to walk so far. Otherwise what use are they?

Yes, that does seem a waste of a space on the face of it. These things are very difficult to get the full story as an observer though - what if the disabled person might need to get out and use the toilet while they wait? It's no good being on the other side of the car park What if someone's coming back for them for the second half of their shopping trip? I think you have to hope people use in good faith as its not possible to police in a way that accounts for this level of detail.

How would you police it... knock on their window and demand they walk 🙄

Maybe they are having a rest before meeting their partner in the store.

Maybe they didn't feel quite well enough once parked up.

You are entitled to use parent parking with a blue badge.

So yes, none of your business

Not quite true, there are pretty strict rules around the use of a blue badge. If the disabled person isn't getting out of the car then that's breaching the rules and can result in a fine and even loss of the badge.

Multitude of reasons why someone with a blue badge might be sitting in the car.

Not one of those reasons is anyone else's business.

There are two circumstances I've found myself in which I would look like I've been breaking the Blue Badge rules:

1. I've been waiting for DP to collect a trolley so that I can lean on it for balance while I negotiate the carpark and the supermarket.
2. I've had to return to the car early because I feel unwell / not able to stand up much longer, and DP has stayed inside the shop to pay for our shopping.

In neither of those circumstances would I be fined or lose my Blue Badge once I had explained to, if asked by, an appropriate person.

You are so very wrong and handicap? Urgh!

We read up on the rules recently as DM has just been given a badge, and yes, the disabled person is meant to be leaving the car, not just sitting there.

Handicap? Are you stuck in the 1980s?

You've no real way of knowing that the person may not need to leave the car though? Perhaps they are building up to going into the shop or realise they need their partner/companion for some reason and need to walk into the shop to get them. If they weren't parked in a blue badge space then they'd possibly be effectively trapped in the car which is unreasonable. So i think provided they have the necessity permit it's appropriate for them to park there.

I am presuming you don't have a blue badge. I think you should be reflecting on how fortunate you are that you don't need one.

Shame on anyone who would enforce this "rule" and harass a disabled person who is minding their own business. The disabled person may need extra time before they leave the vehicle. They may not be sure if they're up to getting out.

Exactly this, people are quick to judge.

Theoretically you’re right. However, I think it is impossible to enforce.

The disabled person could be sat in the car for a rest break prior to or in the middle of their errands.

The person sitting in the car and the person who got out the car could both be disabled and entitled to a blue badge. Not everyone who is entitled to a blue badge has visible mobility aids.