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Fear of physical and verbal abuse and their own safety were among the top reasons for not approaching somebody parked illegally in accessible parking bays.

The DDAI are calling on a Text Alert Scheme to be introduced nationwide to help combat abuse of accessible parking bays.

The funds raised will be used to compile a comprehensive list of County Councillors nationwide and to contact them, encouraging them to propose a motion for introducing a Text Alert Scheme in their respective areas.  We will also be calling for greater accessible parking provision and more enforcement of the current laws.

All funds raised will be ring fenced for this campaign.

More detailed information about the Text Alert Scheme can be found below. Please DONATE here - DONATE NOW

Fear of physical and verbal abuse and their own safety were among the top reasons for not approaching somebody parked illegally in accessible parking bays,  according to a survey carried out by the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland (DDAI) in April 2024.

Over 2,600 people from across the country responded to the survey, which was carried out to highlight the DDAI’s campaign to call on city and county councils nationwide to introduce a Text Alert Scheme to combat the misuse of accessible parking bays in public places. 94% of respondents said they would welcome a mobile phone Text Alert Scheme to notify the local warden when someone was parked illegally.

It is an offence to park a vehicle in an accessible parking bay in a public place without a valid parking permit. Offenders receive a parking fine of €150 which increases to €225 if not paid within 28 days.  Despite this, parking bay abuse is still going on, according to Richard Ryder of the Disabled Drivers Association.

Richard Ryder, marketing manager with the Disabled Drivers Association said, “Our survey wasn’t confined to our members, we received a huge response from across the community, with many people without disabilities commenting they are annoyed and frustrated with the misuse of accessible parking bays.

It’s very clear that people want an opportunity to be able to do something about parking bay abuse but in a safe way. It’s why we are calling on city and county councils to begin using a Text Alert Scheme in their areas. It’s safe, it’s easy and it’s a significant deterrent,” Ryder continued.

The survey results were highlighted at the DDAI’s AGM and Strategy Launch in the Connacht Hotel, Galway on Sat 20th April 2024, at which the charity announced the details of its three-year strategic plan.   The plan was launched by Sean Canney TD, a member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters.  The event was also attended by Mairead Farrell, TD and Noel Grealish TD with special guest Nikki Bradley, an adaptive adventurer and one of Ireland’s leading female motivational speakers.

Chairman Seamus Reidy said, “Our mission is to present physical disability in the best possible light and strives to show that most physical disabilities can be overcome, and individuals can go on to achieve their full potential, with the benefit of support and training”.

The Text Alert scheme is  already in use in Lucan and Rathfarnham Villages in Dublin and Gorey in Wexford. Every publicly accessible parking bay has a sign displaying the bay number and a mobile phone number. If someone is parked in one of those bays without a permit or is misusing the permit, people can text the bay number to alert the traffic warden. 

Councillor Vicki Casserly of South Dublin County Council was involved in the piloting of the Text Alert Scheme in Lucan Village and due to its success, it is now extended across South Dublin County Council.  She is also a campaigner for inclusion and disability rights with her partner Paul and her son James. 

Cllr Casserly said, “I first brought it to South Dublin County Council because I was very keen to tackle the misuse of accessible parking bays in our area and well as supporting An Garda Siochana’s Operation Enable. It’s been very successful and that’s why I believe that the Text Alert scheme should be rolled out nationwide because it does enable proper use of the parking bays and acts as a strong deterrent against misuse. The scheme supports persons with disabilities to be able to navigate their communities for their day-to-day life.  It’s so important and I’d love to see this happening across Ireland to support and acknowledge the rights of a person with a disability.”

Disability advocate Nikki Bradley is campaigning to have the Text Alert Scheme introduced into her native Donegal.  Nikki said, "As someone living with a physical disability, I have experienced first-hand the negative knock- on effect that occurs when someone unlawfully parks in a disabled bay. I have often found myself left with no option but to park in a "normal" parking space which makes it extremely difficult to get out of my car. 

The Text Alert Scheme is an excellent solution to this ongoing issue, and I welcome it wholeheartedly. It will give those living with reduced mobility that feeling of power and control that they have not had prior to now. Parking in an accessible parking bay is not a luxury. It is a necessity. “

The Disabled Drivers Association (DDAI) is Ireland’s leading charity for disabled drivers and passengers on a national level. It promotes independence and equal opportunity through mobility, education and training.  www.ddai.ie

SURVEY FINDINGS

2,662 people responded

68% of the respondents were female and 32% male

94% of respondents said would welcome a mobile phone Text Alert Scheme to notify the local warden when someone was parked illegally.

When the respondents were asked why they wouldn’t approach anyone parked illegally,  88% came back with the responses along the following lines

• Fear of confrontation
• Fear of being physically or verbally abused
• Didn’t want to cause a scene
• Too shy to do so
• Not worth the abuse
• Too dangerous/fear for own safety
• No point/Waste of time
• Don't have the power to tell them to move or issue a fine

Sample of Verbatim Reponses to this question

• “The type of people who do this are not only entitled and inconsiderate but also rude and sometimes aggressive”
• “Some people just don't care and can be aggressive if challenged
• “Sometimes there is a few in the car and I could be attacked
• “Because they know they are doing something wrong and will be on the defensive before you even speak to them.”
• “Because it is a waste of time, nothing will be done about it.”
• “Most just ignore you”
• “You cannot get through to stupid”
• “I'm afraid.... and living in a sheltered accommodation so it's not a public car park etc.... but sometimes I need that space and she is so aggressive that it feels pointless.”
• “It takes a lot of (limited) emotional energy and there’s a perceived risk of escalation to emotional or physical violence. One man that I’d confronted later spotted me sitting and waiting for food in a nearby takeaway. He came in and angrily ask me why I was parked in an accessible spot (my disability is dynamic and not visually obvious when I’m sitting down.) I felt very unsafe and was glad that I wasn’t alone. It has put me off approaching others in future.”
• “Aggression , they won’t move anyway. We shouldn’t have to ask people to free up a space they’re not entitled to park in. They know the chances of them being caught/fined are low. We shouldn’t have to police these parking spaces.”
• “I felt intimidated when I was on my own as they hurled abuse at me and said I would have to sit in my car until they returned to move their car from the parking bay. The person was able bodied and was well known by me.”

58% of respondents said they had confronted someone parking illegally in an accessible parking bay at one point and the main reactions and responses they received with were:

• I’ll only be a minute
• None of your business
• f…. off (and mind your own business)
• Will move if someone needs it
• No other spaces available
• Didn’t realise it was a disabled spot
• Have kids with me so must park here
• Delivering a pizza
• Said they paid road tax and could park where they liked
• Left permit at home
• Permit’s in the glove compartment
• Thought disabled people didn’t go out at night

Sample of verbatim responses to this question

• “They were only going to be there for a minute, or they were dashing into a shop. I could go on and on.”
• “They did not reply to my pointing out that they were parking in a disabled bay. They just shrugged and walked away”
• “Said they were driving their granny. ….who wasn't there”
• “The lady parked her car in a walkway beside the disabled parking space and it prevented me gaining access to load my wheelchair into my car. She told me she was suffering from morning sickness.”
• “Just told to mind my own business even though I have a permit and clearly struggling on crutches”
• “Wanted the wider spot as they didn’t want their paintwork damaged.”
• “They didn’t bother to even have an excuse”
• “No excuse given. Was told to f### off”
• “They didn't care. They had a couple of kids and a lot of shopping to do”
• “Anxious mum pulled across 3 bays so she could get her kids names down for summer camps”
• “l’ll only be a minute. It's raining. You don't REALLY need it.”
• “Questioned what disability I had because I didn't look disabled!!”
• “Someone using a Blue Card belonging to a relative says: But I have the person's permission to use it!!!!”

When asked the reasons why they would welcome such a scheme,   89% of respondents said

• It’s anonymous and safe, eliminates the fear of verbal abuse and harassment by the offenders
• It would make people think twice about parking there and risking a fine
• Makes it easier and quicker to report illegal parking
• A good deterrent that would free up the disabled parking spaces for people who really need them
• Helpful to the traffic wardens and a better chance of catching and fining those parking illegally

Sample of Verbatim Responses

• “Because I could report it without confrontation”
• “Because I could report them without being afraid”
• “Stops people getting verbally abused”
• “To free up the space and to let people know they won't get away with it”
• “If warden was giving out tickets people would stop parking.”
• “Because of the frequency of my being denied a space by people who are not disabled”.
• “I would hope that the wardens might respond often promptly and impose a charge. That would be far more effective than a disabled person challenging on the spot. I would also hope that other citizens would report illegal parking”
• There are so few spaces we need them. They're very important to us.
• “Because they deserve to be fined”
• “They keep getting away with their "one minute". Most people without a card wouldn't dream of doing it.”
• It would be safer and more convenient
• It would facilitate accurate data collection on abuse of accessible parking bays, and also eliminate risk of verbal/physical assault
• “People who park in disability parking places are usually habitual abusers and have no qualms about doing so regularly so if they are reported to a proper authority, they might actually get some kind of penalty or fine.”