MoneySuperMarket has launched its Misused Parking Report, helping motorists identify the areas where priority parking is best supported and where misuse is more common.
In a new survey of 1,000 Blue Badge holders by MoneySuperMarket, more than eight in 10 (85%) said that accessible parking in the UK is failing to meet their needs in some way..
Alongside the survey, MoneySuperMarket submitted Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to local authorities on the number of Blue Badge holders per priority space and the number of penalty charge notices (PCNs), to reveal the least and most challenging locations for Blue Badge holder drivers.
More than two-thirds of Blue Badge holders avoid travelling to certain destinations due to priority parking challenges
The study reveals the anxiety that parking shortages can create for disabled motorists. Nearly three-quarters of Blue Badge holders (74%) worry about finding a suitable space before they even begin their journey, while more than two-thirds (68%) have avoided certain destinations altogether due to concerns about parking availability.
The issue is having a growing impact on those who rely on priority parking spaces. Three-quarters (75%) of Blue Badge drivers have noticed an increase in misuse of these bays in recent years, while 62% say they struggle to find a designated space because of misuse. This ongoing challenge is taking an emotional toll, with more than three in four (78%) saying priority parking misuse causes them stress or frustration.
Durham County ranks as the UKโs most challenging area for accessible parking, followed by Redbridge, Blackpool and York.
The council has 35,697 registered Blue Badge holders competing for 320 disabled bays, leaving an average of 112 badge holders per space. With 3,445 penalty charge notices (PCNs) issued for disabled-bay misuse in the past 12 months, equivalent to 10.8 PCNs per bay, the figures highlight the significant pressure placed on the accessible parking infrastructure.
Redbridge ranks second, recording the highest misuse rate in the ranking, with 3,705 PCNs issued, equivalent to 20.2 per bay. Blackpool ranks joint second, with 91 disabled bays for 11,438 badge holders, leaving 126 drivers competing for each space, the second-highest ratio in the ranking after Doncaster (242). It issued 892 PCNs for misuse, equal to 9.8 per bay.
York rounds off the bottom three with 8,422 badge holders relying on 133 disabled bays, resulting in 63 holders per space. The council issued 1,788 PCNs, or 13.4 per disabled bay, showing the strain on accessible parking availability.
Portsmouth is the best place for Blue Badge parking. Portsmouth has 2,290 disabled bays serving 8,397 registered Blue Badge holders, meaning just four badge holders compete for each space. It also recorded 2,004 PCNs for disabled bay misuse in the past 12 months, equivalent to 0.9 PCNs per bay.
Fife ranks second, with 4,197 disabled bays for 27,428 Blue Badge holders, resulting in seven badge holders per bay. It also recorded the lowest misuse rate in the ranking, with just 0.4 PCNs per disabled bay.
Richmond upon Thames ranks third with just 402 PCNs issued, suggesting misuse remains relatively low at 0.8 PCNs per bay. Haringey also ranks third, with 2,085 disabled bays supporting 11,744 Blue Badge holders, giving a ratio of six badge holders per space. While this points to strong supply, the borough recorded 4,094 PCNs for disabled-bay misuse, equivalent to two PCNs per bay.
Rising misuse and static space sizes fuel driver frustration. Beyond deliberate abuse, a physical mismatch is compounding the issue. While popular passenger cars and SUVs have grown significantly wider over the last few decades, partly to accommodate advanced safety features, standard UK parking bays have remained largely static. Car insurance claims data from Ageas reveals that 22% of all motor insurance claims relate to a โvehicle hit whilst parkedโ*, with tight parking environments regularly leading to scraped bumpers, clipped wing mirrors, and door dents.
James Taylor, Executive Director Impact and Social Change at Scope: โThis research highlights the common barriers still put in the way of disabled people being able to live independently. Many disabled people rely heavily on their blue badges and accessible parking bays to get around. We need to crack down on misuse of the system wherever possible.โ
ENDS
Original PR produced by Sharron Cummings on behalf of Money Supermarket whose survey of disabled parking spaces produced the survey and PR.
For all media enquiries, contact Paul Naylor on 07914 304 504 or email paul@mediaandyou.co.uk
Notes: Founded in 1992, the Alliance of British Drivers (ABD) is the leading organisation promoting the interests and concerns of drivers in the United Kingdom.
The UK has over 37 million drivers โ that is a majority; we should stop tolerating the way we are treated by the government and local councils.
Cars, vans and taxis account for 80% of the mileage of all trips in the UK, and over 65% of goods being carried by road. The road network, and the people who use it, are of vital importance to the nationโs economy. Drivers should expect the road network to be improved and maintained to a standard that is fit for purpose. They should be able to use the roads in a safe and responsible manner without being subject to unreasonable charges, restrictions or penalties.
