Government 'cracks down on Blue Badge abuse'

Date: 14/2/2011

Drivers who abuse the UK's disable parking system are to be the subject of a new government crackdown.

According to the Department for Transport, 2.5 million disabled individuals use a Blue Badge every year as a "lifeline" which allows them to park close to important public facilities.

However, increasing incidences of fraud has meant that these people may be unable to access the spaces allocated to them due to other drivers using a copy of the badge.

It has also been estimated that fraud of this kind costs the UK £46 million every year.

As a result, local authorities are to be given "on the spot" powers allowing them to recover badges that have been cancelled or misused, while shared administration - which will include an online application facility - will speed up renewals, improve operational efficiency and reduce abuse.

Transport Minister Norman Baker said: "The changes I am announcing today will crack down on Blue Badge misuse, modernise the system and extend eligibility to other groups such as more disabled children under three and severely disabled war veterans and service personnel."

According to the government, the reforms are the most comprehensive the Blue Badge scheme has undergone fore 40 years.

Posted by Mary Treen