‘Give gardaí powers to protect disabled’
Parking rules are not enforced, say campaigners
MORE powers need to be given to gardaí in order to protect the rights of disabled drivers and to clamp down on disability space thieves, according to a leading disability group.
According to a recent survey by the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland, motorists illegally occupying disabled spaces remains the top complaint of disabled drivers on our roads.
Currently gardaí do not have the authority to enforce regulations about disabled access in commercial properties such as schools or shopping centres and can only do so in public areas.
This has resulted in disabled drivers being unable to access facilities commonly used by non-disabled citizens as private owners do not always enforce rules around parking.
Richard Ryder of the DDAI called for the extension of Garda powers to these areas to ensure disabled drivers can enjoy full access.
‘We would welcome the extension of enforcement policies to disabled spaces in publicly available private car parks,’ he said.
Mr Ryder also called on author ities to consider ‘possible penalty points imposed for illegal parking like this in all publicly available car parks’.
In response to concerns from the group over motorists not respecting public disabled sparking spots, the fine for such offences was increased from €80 to €150 earlier this year.
At the time, Transport Minister Shane Ross said: ‘In response to the selfish and thoughtless behaviour of certain motorists who think it is alright to park in a disabled bay without a permit, thereby depriving disabled drivers of safe, convenient access to parking spaces reserved for them, I have decided that the fixed charge should be increased from €80 to €150.
‘I hope that this increased charge will encourage able-bodied motorists to refrain from taking parking spaces reserved for those who need them.’ The DIA yesterday also revealed that the other top issues affecting its members included drivers parking in spaces with no permit, spaces not being wheelchair-accessible, and misuse of permit cards.
The group said that issues remained with some motorists using relatives’ passes to use disabled parking – and in some cases the family members are actually dead.
In 2016, respondents to a similar survey by the group found that members had been confronted with a number of excuses by non-disabled people caught in disabled spots.
Excuses by such drivers ranged from wearing inappropriate clothing during wet weather to suffering from a hangover, with some simply stating that they would park wherever they wanted.
The DDIA is hosting its motor show on September 29-29 in the RDS to educate the public on driving with limited mobility.
Excuses included a hangover