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.

Right. But how would the op know I'd left and returned?

There are more important battles, I agree. I had a knee injury and operation a couple of years back, and of course no badge as temporary. Went to garden centre and had to park a long way away and hobbled to get trolley. A man came at speed and parked in the disabled bay next to trolleys, with badge, and run out to get trolley and run across to door. I saw him running around the place and we happened to get back to the trolley park area at the same time. I did ask why he was using a disabled space, and had a badge, since he clearly was not disabled. He said in a very angry voice 'well my wife is disabled' so I replied ' I am very sorry to hear, but she is not with you, is she'. He swore at me, jumped in his car and sped off.

Must say I was annoyed, but then I though about the fact he probably spends a lot of time caring for her, and parked there to get back home asap, and fair enough.

There is however a lot of abuse of those badges, which is a pity.

I have often returned to my car mid shopping trip whilst my husband completed the shop. Each and every time it’s because I’ve felt too unwell to continue.

It’s bad enough that I get judged for using a blue badge and the parking just because I look ‘too young’ (despite using visible mobility aids).

'Handicap' is a word that is often offensive to disabled people. It's an old-fashioned word and whilst acceptable in the 80s it is not now. Suggesting your language is out of date is not actually the same as suggesting you are old.

I have a blue badge! In the rule book, you can't stay in the car while your partner leaves. You can only use the bay if you are getting in/out of the car or being picked up/dropped off.

FYI, we don't use that word anymore.

Sorry, not meant for you, for the original poster

How do you know that both people in the car don't have a disability?

The supermarkets near me always have every disabled bay taken/almost full. People who don't have badges like to park in them even though they shouldn't

It actually is other peoples business because if the disabled person themselves is not leaving the car, they're selfishly prioritising themselves over another disabled person who may be leaving their car and therefore does need the additional space that these disabled spaces affords them. If an able bodied carer is the only person leaving the car then they're being utterly entitled and selfish.

This! The OP has no idea who the disabled person in this case was. Just the usual speculation, and froth baiting.

Very true.

There is one independent pharamacy in my town that can get hold of the essential thyroid medication that I need. It's surrounded by double yellow lines. There is one car's-length 'safe stretch' of double-yellows near it where DP can park using my Blue Badge to get my medication as quickly as possible.

So, no matter how unwell I feel, I need to go with him. As there are no longer chairs in the pharmacy since covid, and sometimes the pharmacy's crowded and I'm immune-suppressed, he leaves me on the bench at the bus-stop outside the pharmacy (with an umbrella if raining), so as not to fall foul of rules.

He's got rheumatoid arthritis himself but he doesn't qualify for a Blue Badge.

Such fun.

The rule still applies, they both have to leave the car.

Surely only the badge holder has to leave the car.

What difference would it make? The disabled driver who has a badge left the car. It makes no difference if anyone else remains in the car or not.

Unless you know the people and circumstances personally I would just stay out of it. You don't know whether they intended to leave the car and then didn't feel up to it or whether they might be getting out in a few minutes. Or depending on their disability it might be unsafe to leave them without means of exiting the vehicle in an emergency.

Even though I do understand the reason for this rule, I do think the authorities should consider amending it, to enable people who need to rest in their car to do so, as shopping can be very tiring with disabilities. Speaking from experience.

If the disabled person is in the car in the normal parking space and then there is an emergency, they may not be able to get out of the car.

There are always lots of empty accessibility parking spots in my area. Are they in such short supply elsewhere that this even needs to be a debate?

The official rules state that the blue badge holder must be getting out of the car. My son was a child when he had a blue badge so we wouldn't have left him in the car on his own anyway so I don't know if people get fines or lose their badge for doing it. I'd like to think the authorities would use some compassion and common sense, especially if the disabled person has gone back to the car for a rest, is waiting for someone to get a trolley or mobility scooter or changed their mind about getting out.

You had no right to question him though. I am a BB holder, and no matter what I see, or think, it is not my place to cast judgment, or question people.

You are being unreasonable. And ignorant. And stupid. And..

This is simply not true.
The person awarded the blue badge must leave the vehicle. No one else is required to. I can leave my entire family sat not harassing me while I get a blooming break from them, regardless of if they happen to also have a disability or not. The badge is mine, not theirs.

Morally at least, they probably shouldn't use the space. Many disabled people will be very aware of how difficult life is, so won't want to make it harder for people with the same problems.

That said, it's nobody's business and outsiders cannot judge.

The person might be unwell, might want the possibility to get out, might be waiting, there are dozens of very valid reasons why they NEED that space and their car are in it.

I would stay well away from it.

Anyone observing our car may see any of the following:

Driver sat in the car - possibly asleep - for ages!
Me sat in the passenger seat or in the back in my chair for ages.
Car parked sideways across several spaces.

Because sometimes he is waiting for me having dropped me off or come to collect me. I often set off to do something intending to come back under my own steam but change my mind halfway around the supermarket (cuz its raining or cold or I am more knackered than I thought).

I might come back to the car and wait for him to finish up, I don't drive so I can't move the car.

Some places are not safe to rear-unload, so we pull in sideways, unload, then he hops back in and parks correctly if that's possible/sensible (sometimes we leave it sideways across several normal spaces if it's likely we won't be able to park normally and repeat the sideways park for safe loading afterwards.)

Viewing any of these things but not seeing the FULL story, you might think we're using the badge inappropriately or parking like arseholes. We are not.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/help-for-disabled-travellers1/blue-badge-scheme/using-your-blue-badge/

CAB advice is that a person can get fined for using the badge incorrectly if the badge owner is not getting out of the vehicle.

You’re right, but how would you even know if the person sitting in the vehicle was the blue badge holder If my brother took his partner to, say, the supermarket and she was doing the shopping, unless you saw her actually leave the car and get her rolater out you’d have no idea if she was the blue badge holder or he was.
You’d have to get right next to the car and check!!