Barrier Access Car Parks
An increasingly common problem facing disabled drivers is the failure of car parking technology to keep pace with the advances in driving controls. Whilst increasing numbers of severely disabled people are now able to drive their own vehicles, being able to get into a car park at their destination is another matter entirely.
The majority of barrier-access car parks require a ticket to be taken on entry, paid for at a pay-machine, and placed in a slot at a barrier to exit. Some drivers are unable to use this kind of system because they simply cannot reach, or do not have the necessary strength and/or dexterity in their hands (such as in the case of chronic severe arthritis). People with upper-body disabilities are unable to use these machines regardless of whether or not it is at the “recommended height” for wheelchair users. If a driver cannot physically take their ticket they are often stranded at the barrier, as a queue of builds up behind them. In unstaffed car parks this can be disastrous.
Disabled otoring Uk fears that although a greater number of disabled people will be able to drive in the future, as technology improves, they won’t actually be able to go anywhere alone because of problems with accessing car parking facilities.
In the short teDisabled Motoring Uk would like to see measures being taken so disabled people can easily obtain help to access the car park independently. In the long term we would like to see accessible parking areas without barrier control, or blue badges embodying a chip so the barriers automatically open.
Disabled Motoring UK is currently liaising with the British Parking Association in order to highlight this problem to parking companies.
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