Blue Badge abuse

[rodney59]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6365635

"....just under a half said the power was not being used at all."

Seems that this should be used everytime, everywhere.

[off_again]

Are people so shallow and cheap that they must resort to obtaining free parking by stealing blue disabled badges? What has this society come to? Jeez, there is obviously no dignity left....

[busa_rush]

Although it's despicable I suspect it's part of the backlash against the ever increasing attack on the motorist, parking charges, congestion charges, fuel duty, fines for this and that, it's a never ending attack that's driving motorists to do these things.

10 years ago the partner of an orange badge holder may have occasionally used their badge but I guess it's far more rampant now.

My father has a blue badge because he's been having chemotherapy for the last five years and genuinly can not walk very far now but he can hardly ever park in the disabled bays at the hospital for the number of other blue badge holders in there, many of the cars are often driven (to and from the hospital) by what look to be perfectly able bodied people.

[bga]

busa_rush said:

Although it's despicable I suspect it's part of the backlash against the ever increasing attack on the motorist, parking charges, congestion charges, fuel duty, fines for this and that, it's a never ending attack that's driving motorists to do these things.

I've known a few people who have done it for at least 20 years. It's not a recent thing, rather the attitude that they are ok so balls to everyone else

[becca_viola]

busa_rush said:

Although it's despicable I suspect it's part of the backlash against the ever increasing attack on the motorist, parking charges, congestion charges, fuel duty, fines for this and that, it's a never ending attack that's driving motorists to do these things.

I think (hope!) you might have just misworded that... cos it sounds a bit like you're saying that you sympathise with people who fraudulently use a blue badge and effectively prevent a disabled driver or passenger from accessing public places?

[Six Fiend]

busa_rush said:

My father has a blue badge because he's been having chemotherapy for the last five years and genuinly can not walk very far now but he can hardly ever park in the disabled bays at the hospital for the number of other blue badge holders in there, many of the cars are often driven (to and from the hospital) by what look to be perfectly able bodied people.

I look perfectly able bodied but am often glared at or given verbals for using my blue badge. It's a no-win situation. Have to agree that some people with badges do seem to be able to cover ground at an impressive pace!

[s500]

Some of you guys are missing a point, my mum is disabled and quite often I will take her to a hospital or shopping, being disabled I will drop her at the entrance and then go and park the car and yes I do get suspicious looks from other motorists.

[WildCat]

off_again said:

Are people so shallow and cheap that they must resort to obtaining free parking by stealing blue disabled badges? What has this society come to? Jeez, there is obviously no dignity left....

This ist not new. Has been going on for last three years to my knowledge. I seem to recall the last of the great J Y (proper lad .. anti- speed cam.. anti congestion charge ... Sir Jimmy ist razor sharp despite his now great age ) doing one of his famous "progs" on this.

Edited by WildCat on Sunday 18th February 18:29

[WildCat]

s500 said:

Some of you guys are missing a point, my mum is disabled and quite often I will take her to a hospital or shopping, being disabled I will drop her at the entrance and then go and park the car and yes I do get suspicious looks from other motorists.

I think you can get a Blue Badge if you are a REGISTERED carer looking after a disabled. You are only supposed to use it if disabled person ist your passenger .. but not otherwise.

But this ist also open to great abuse of course und can depend on the integrity of the carer to much extent. This ist not granted to all. The person has to satisfy many conditions as "carer" to get this badge which ist only supposed to be used when disabled person need to be driven somewhere.

[s500]

WildCat said:

s500 said:

Some of you guys are missing a point, my mum is disabled and quite often I will take her to a hospital or shopping, being disabled I will drop her at the entrance and then go and park the car and yes I do get suspicious looks from other motorists.

I think you can get a Blue Badge if you are a REGISTERED carer looking after a disabled. You are only supposed to use it if disabled person ist your passenger .. but not otherwise.

But this ist also open to great abuse of course und can depend on the integrity of the carer to much extent. This ist not granted to all. The person has to satisfy many conditions as "carer" to get this badge which ist only supposed to be used when disabled person need to be driven somewhere.

I fail to understand why a carer would be granted a blue badge, If a person is genuinely disabled, he or she will be eligible for a blue badge that can be used in any vehichle they either drive or are driven in.

On another note, it's amazing how many disabled people work in the service industry judging by the number of vans I see parked on disabled bays in London.

[WildCat]

s500 said:

WildCat said:

s500 said:

Some of you guys are missing a point, my mum is disabled and quite often I will take her to a hospital or shopping, being disabled I will drop her at the entrance and then go and park the car and yes I do get suspicious looks from other motorists.

I think you can get a Blue Badge if you are a REGISTERED carer looking after a disabled. You are only supposed to use it if disabled person ist your passenger .. but not otherwise.

But this ist also open to great abuse of course und can depend on the integrity of the carer to much extent. This ist not granted to all. The person has to satisfy many conditions as "carer" to get this badge which ist only supposed to be used when disabled person need to be driven somewhere.

I fail to understand why a carer would be granted a blue badge, If a person is genuinely disabled, he or she will be eligible for a blue badge that can be used in any vehichle they either drive or are driven in.

On another note, it's amazing how many disabled people work in the service industry judging by the number of vans I see parked on disabled bays in London.

Not all disabled are able to drive a car. If you are spouse und caring for a disabled loved one.. or disabled member of family... I think authorities grant a badge for use only when dealing with that person. They class the "spouse" or "parents" or "foster parents" as "carers" in such instances. We once had a blue badge when we fostered a child who had both legs amputated after meningitis as baby to give respite to parent. For the two weeks .. we had a "blue badge" which could only be used if this child in our cars. We used at the hospital und once in Keswick's car park when this child was with us on journey.

There are thus some tempo "Blues" knocking around as well..


as hospices.. care in community carers .. will all get these badges as genuine carers for these disabled who have fullest faculty bit who cannot drive and for whom public transport or taxi would be nightmare for them.

Ist then not as black/white as it seem.

But we talk here of those who display badge in car .. und find someone steal their badge to make money to fund drug habit in a pub in reality .

[s500]

This is the way I have always understood eligibility for a blue badge, taken from the Government website.

Do you qualify?
You may qualify if you:

are receiving the higher rate of the Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance
are receiving a War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement
use a motor vehicle supplied by a government health department
are a registered blind person
have severe disability in both upper limbs, drive a motor vehicle regularly but cannot turn the steering wheel by hand even if that wheel is fitted with a turning knob
have a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking

[JonRB]

See also this thread which is also called "Blue Badge Abuse".

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=347574

[bleesh]

My father is registered blind, and also has trouble walking any distance,
and I will use his badge if I need to take him somewhere, like a hospital
appointment or solicitors etc.
Even when he gets out of the car with his white stick, and I'm helping him
it is amazing how much abuse I can get.

I bet they wouldn't take any notice if I had a Mondeo, but driving an Evo
seems to cancel out the badge in most people's minds........

However, I just smile at them now

Steve

[becca_viola]

WildCat said:

s500 said:

Some of you guys are missing a point, my mum is disabled and quite often I will take her to a hospital or shopping, being disabled I will drop her at the entrance and then go and park the car and yes I do get suspicious looks from other motorists.

I think you can get a Blue Badge if you are a REGISTERED carer looking after a disabled. You are only supposed to use it if disabled person ist your passenger .. but not otherwise.

But this ist also open to great abuse of course und can depend on the integrity of the carer to much extent. This ist not granted to all. The person has to satisfy many conditions as "carer" to get this badge which ist only supposed to be used when disabled person need to be driven somewhere.

No, Wildy. Parents, assistants or support workers cannot claim a blue badge. The badge is given to the disabled person directly and is transferable between any vehicle they use - there is no registration number on the badge, just a photo, badge number and awarding borough if I recall correctly (it's too bloody cold out to go to the car and check mine). The only possible exception to that is that organisations of or for disabled people may sometimes be able to apply for a blue badge to use with a minibus or similar institutional vehicle.

[marcel.micallef]

correct, just remember everyone with one is not in a wheelchair and can appear to be not disabled when in fact they are.

basically there two types are one where you get one those who are getting DLA mobility get one without question. 9 out of ten old cogers that have one they dont need. They are discretionary ones.

The gov site dont tell you this but you can one if you keep pestering the council and doctor. they can issue a discretionary one. It usually the stropy old s that have these ones.

often Ill get shit using one when driving friends or my partner may have already dropped them off and parking the car or picking them up.

I have 3 friends that are in chairs and a blue badge for my partner who i care for.


but the shit you get off the public is nothing compared too the crap you get off parking attendants that blatantly give parking tickets too legaly parked cars displaying a badge.

Last one toped em all

went with two m8`s both in wheel chairs. came back to the car and some had drove into my wheel so hard it had bent the strut and I had both front wheels pointing in different directions.

on of me m8`s was a a audi mechanic before he had spinal cancer. ing parking s watched use around the car for a hour. Then waited too we went too call a tow truck then put a ticket on the er for being in a disabled bay.
.
I want in a good mood the only reason I did not punched the ers lights out when I came back and found it was I needed too get them home first. If it want for getting them home I would have bounced the er from one end of the carpark to the other.

Edited by marcel.micallef on Monday 19th February 06:49

[WildCat]

s500 said:

This is the way I have always understood eligibility for a blue badge, taken from the Government website.

Do you qualify?
You may qualify if you:

are a registered blind person
have severe disability in both upper limbs, drive a motor vehicle regularly but cannot turn the steering wheel by hand even if that wheel is fitted with a turning knob

How can anyone drive car if they cannot see

or turn wheel

They would have to have someone to drive the car for them. To drive themselves would be dangerous und they could not manoeuvre into any parking bay in safety either if they cannot see or turn wheel

[herewego]

s500 said:

Some of you guys are missing a point, my mum is disabled and quite often I will take her to a hospital or shopping, being disabled I will drop her at the entrance and then go and park the car and yes I do get suspicious looks from other motorists.

And do you drive back to the entrance to pick her up again? If so, why do you use a disabled space? Disabled spaces are to make it easier to get from the car to the amenity.

[oogieboogie]

The article could be misleading - I think you have to register your car and the blue badge to exempt yourself from congeston charge - simply displaying the badge does not exempt you.

[justinp1]

WildCat said:

s500 said:

This is the way I have always understood eligibility for a blue badge, taken from the Government website.

Do you qualify?
You may qualify if you:

are a registered blind person
have severe disability in both upper limbs, drive a motor vehicle regularly but cannot turn the steering wheel by hand even if that wheel is fitted with a turning knob

How can anyone drive car if they cannot see

or turn wheel

They would have to have someone to drive the car for them. To drive themselves would be dangerous und they could not manoeuvre into any parking bay in safety either if they cannot see or turn wheel

Agreed. I think there is also an issue in that if there is a lack of scruples in the use of the blue badge by some holders that it reduces other drivers view of the need and importance for the blue badge as a whole.

A case in point. In Warrington, the Kwik-Save carpark is a flat, open plan carpark which is free to use by patrons or 50p or £1 otherwise. It is about 300m from the town centre. Outside the entrance of the car park there are double yellow lines on a reasonably free flowing through road.

Every time I park at the car park and negotiating entering it I have to drive around 3 or 4 cars parked on the double yellow lines with a blue badge displayed. Now, the only shop or other destination in spitting distance is the Kwik Save or the B&M supermarket across the road both having pay and validation systems - so of course if the disabled driver who wanted to use either of these shops for free could do. So, the only destination for these disabled drivers is the town centre and their parking outside the carpark has reduced the walk from 300m to 280m - so surely that cannot be the motive - it must be the use of the badge to circumnavigate the double yellow line rules and get out of paying for parking like anyone else.

The most ironic fact is that by chosing not to park in the car park and parking on the double yellow lines the 'disabled' driver is choosing to have to open their door and exit the vehicle in the road of moving traffic!