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- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Blue badge shame
Monday 5th May 2008, 10:28AM BST.
Has anyone else noticed how many car parking spaces in shopping areas, entertainment venues, recreational areas and other public places are reserved for disabled drivers? It seems to be increasing by the week!
What is even more amazing is that all of these places are filled to capacity most days. Where have all these disabled people and cars come from? Why do you often see these “disabled”people get out of these cars (the disabled sticker on show) and walk away just like an able-bodied person?
I cannot believe we have so many people classed as disabled living in this country, most of whom seem to be able to drive normal cars.
My father was born badly crippled in both legs and worked as a metal polisher (standing for up to 60 working hours each week) all of his life until he retired from work due to cancer (and sadly dying within three months of retiring).
He never asked for or relied on any benefits or help throughout his life but still provided me and my sisters with a good upbringing, clothes to wear, food on the table and a good home.
There were many disabled people around in the 1950s and 1960s but as far as I am aware the most they could expect was provision of a modified invalid car for the most seriously disabled.
The latest meaningful estimated figure for people out of work is somewhere between five and eight million (the government’s figure of about one million is absolute rubbish) and it appears a great proportion of these people are registered unable to work through sickness and/or invalidity, many it appears entitled to free cars and any of the benefits that go with it.
Is the nation really as sick as it appears – I don’t think so!
Without being disrespectful to the genuinely disabled people in our society I have always believed that any Labour government is on the side of the scrounger and the current one has lived up to my expectations – with the help of lazy and incompetent doctors who seem to diagnose every ache or pain as a work-preventing illness. Yet, at the same time, the genuinely disabled and sick who need all the help they can get, are refused through meaningless red tape or jobsworth’s decision.
It makes me mad (and sad!) to see our once proud country has become the sickbed of the world.
During the last ten years this useless and incompetent government has created the situation we now see and allowed the workshy to leech from the rest of us resulting in the genuine sick being deprived of the funds and help they need.
If you are one of the undeserving – shame on you!
Malcolm Edwards, Chase Road, Burntwood.
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Many towns have far more blue badge holders than spaces.
Often us disabled people have to drive round and round to find a space – some times and places are busier than others.
But can you tell who is disabled? I can’t. Someone that looks able bodied can be disabled and unable to walk far. Just can’t see it directly.
The blue badge scheme is abused by some able-bodied. Plus some people will park in a disabled bay regardless of not having a blue badge.
I’d be happier with a lot more disabled bays. In the meantime we have to cope with trying to find the few we can.
Martin
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I have a disabled child aged 10 and when iv pulled into a disabled parking space before im able to get wheelchair out boot i have had elderly people looking for disabled parking spaces tlling me to ue mother and baby or shouting to me they are disabled and need the space but when iv lifted wheelchair out boot not even an apoligy from them it is not only elderly people who are disabled so are children….
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Disability comes in many forms and unfortunately it dosn’t always appear apparent. My father has heart problems and also qualifies for disability but dosn’t need a wheel chair. There are a lot of malingerers on the state that much is true but thats been the case for many many years under all previous governments. Yes the letter writer is correct they do seem to give a lot away these days to disabled people but then again its all paid for by that great wealthy product called oil. So don’t disspare when fuel tax goes up cos it’s going to a good cause (well in most cases it is)
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I THINK SOME PEOPLE MUST BE USING THESE BADGES
ILEGALY . MORE ON THE SPOT CHECKS WOULD ROOT OUT
THE DODGERS.
I ALSO THINK PEOPLE LIKE JEANNIE AND HER SON SHOULD BE GIVEN PRIORITY .
ANY PERSON WITH A WHEEL CHAIR NEED CLOSER PARKING.
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Not so sure about any person with a wheel chair needing closer parking.
They at least are on wheels – there are some who have to walk, despite pain or physical problems.
Parking close to where you need to go can make the difference between a relatively easy journey and a nightmare.
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The only thing shameful is this mans warped views.The sick and disabled deserve our sympathy and compassion.Because some are playing the system,and I don’t deny that,it does not follow that we should berate all blue badge holders or seek to restrict the numbers of spaces available to them and where on earth do people get this idea that claiming disability benefits is a doddle? It is a demeaning,long winded and ruthless process which includes seeing your GP, an ‘independent’ DWP doctor and DWP officials.The forms run to literally dozens of pages and unless you are terminally ill you have to jump through these hoops every 6-9 months even if your own GP considers that you are unfit for work.Write about what you know mate,otherwise you just look like a bigoted idiot.
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Steve – you give an extreme example of disability benefits.
Few people have a DWP doctor these days, forms running to dozens of pages is what you get with self assessment covering basically a large number of problems people have.
And jumping through hoops every 6 – 9 months? Again, unusual. Many of us get disability benefits awarded for longer than a year, sometimes even for life.
Being disabled is no doddle, though like any other benefit claimant we can get help with form completion. Life with limitations, medication, doctor and hospital visits and so on isn’t brilliant but its soemthing we get used to.
I wouldn’t wish anyone to become disabled, but once you are then at least some things exist to try and help people.
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I agree with number 3 – disability comes in different forms. My Dad had 3 heart attacks and has a blue badge due to terrible breathing problems but if someone saw him step out of his car they would see quite a healthy looking gent. Same applies to my 50 year husband with severe arthritis in his back and hip. He works full time and has never claimed benefits but without his blue badge he would not be able to park near his office to a days work. Malcolm Edwards ought to refer to the Disability Discrimination Act which also includes people with cancer. I am slowly recovering from breast cancer and although look healthy am still suffering side effects of the treatment and medication. Please don’t judge all Blue Badge Holders or disabled people – we’re not all on the fiddle. Steve Sant is right – some people do have to jumpo through hoops to get DLA. Same refers to receiving a Blue Badge which includes a letter to the applicants doctor for confirmation of disabilty (I know because I issue Blue Badges in my job).
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I agree with chris and mandy – I know someone who has a condition crohns and they have a blue badge as they need to be near adeqaute facilities (i.e. WC), not all blue badge holders are visually disabled thats a really bad misconception. On the other had, i am, aware that some people are playing the system, this needs to be investgated
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I didn’t interpret the author’s letter as being bigoted toward the disabled, more as a comment on how the majority (in this case the able-bodied but it could just as easily be any majority) get absolutely no concessions whatsoever in today’s Britain, and I agree with that point. For the record, my Dad and my Sister-in-Law are registered disabled.
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My husband is disabled-Cerebral Palsy and works full time.He is now 42 and has only ever got his blue badge never any benefits or help because he works.He never moans but when we go out or shopping there are so many people abusing these parking spaces its disgraceful(no blue badge)This goes to the person who wrote the letter..You have the disability and see how you feel.People don’t ask for there disability and really would be happy not to have it.Wait and see maybe you might need it one day.
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Genuine disabled stand out and malingerers do get found out. I have no problem with disabled people getting as much benefits as they can. They deserve it and have no control over not being able to work.
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MY dad and Granddad are both registered disabled and my Dad only gets the basic disabilty money and yes he has got a car on disability, but that is it he doesn’t get anything else and we struggle to pay the bills and get food shopping.We are lucky to get our food bill to £20/£25 a week, especially when you see people spending £50+ a week.If my parents were asylum seekers then they weould get everything all the bills paid,cars,houses ect… they seem to get everything even our jobs.My Dad worked for 40 years and paid into the system and now he can’t work and needs help the system doesn’t want to know.
Claire
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TRAFFIC WARDENS & POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD START TO
CHECK THE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE DISABLED PERSON.
AFTER ALL (WHAT IS THE PHOTOGRAPH FOR)
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reply to 14, How can Traffic wardens, Police officers check the photo when you have to put that part of the card facing down??? Do you want them to stand their waiting 3hrs for that person to come back just so they can check their picture?? I wouldn’t want mine facing up cos someone could use their Mobile take a copy of your picture and use it to all sorts with clever that is ent it???? Don’t you think there is enough FRAUD with out giving an open invitation???
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Few would object to genuine disabled people getting help, but there are too many shirkers out there. Someone above refers to being examined by independent DWP doctors, you’d think that genuinely ill people would be happy to be assessed, but a surprising number do all they can to get out of being examined….wonder why???
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well those complaining obviously have never been to a dwp review, my last was a gruelling 4hrs in total, and yes im one that is genuinely disabled but visually look fit and well. as for misuse of badges this is not as bad as we are led to believe, however those bays allocated are not aadequate in numbers acros uk and are abused by others that are not diasabled.it seems when you report this misdemeanour, people get away with a ticking off instead of a instant fine. the amount of people on Disability is a lot lower than the media portrays or the government cos its all part of the plan to turn people against vunerable groups in society, to cut back on benefit provision, in the ‘dob thy neighbour’culture we now live in and its usually those genuinely in need getting the hard time and seen a scroungers, rather than those still fiddling.
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i agree there should be parking for disabled and that the system is abused, i dont think they should all get a car.however one thing i can never understand is what gives a blue badge holder the right to park anywhere, on double yellow lines, zig zags etc and even on the pavement. they park in areas that cause danger to others but are not bothered because they have a blue badge, they should get tickets for parking illegally/dangerously like able bodied people do.they go crazy if someone parks in their spaces, they cant have it both ways.
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I have a blue badge but i still got a penalty notice for £90 on my windscreen and my badge was clearly on show .This was on concord market in brierley hill.
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Mole has it wrong! Having a blue badge has never entitled anyone to park on zigzag lines or obstructing pavements. Not only can they be fined for doing so, but their blue badge can be rightly withdrawn, a double whammy.
As more people use cars, more genuinely disabled people will require spaces. As I have had rheumatoid arthritis for many years, I invite anyone to walk in my shoes for several paces, if you can stand the pain. Yet I try to look and walk normally because I won’t give in to it. Very often it is a case of getting back to the car in agony after my joints give out, rather than when I first park.
I agree with the writer who commented on the photograph being used for criminal purposes, but a bar code on the front could be linked to a description of the owner, ie. female, brown hair, height, age, etc. If no-one of that description is using the vehicle then they should be fined.
Also a disabled bus pass should be issued to the owner so the authorities could quickly check if it matches the bar code. I already use my disabled bus pass for disabled ID, as it differs from the over 60s pass. The two could easily be linked and would help weed out the fraudsters.
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I think there should be a law change to mforce blue badge holders to actually display the badge with the holders picture “in view”, that way it would be easier for everyone to see if the disabled person is actually the person exiting the car! As it stands, anyone could be using a badge illegally and get away with it.
not only that but how many times has someone seen a person drive into a disabled bay and get out to go to the shop without even putting a badge on display. but when asked to display a badge, they shout abuse at you and saunter off. doing such, just because it is convenient that walking from further away.
When you try and tell someone inside the shop, the are very appologetic, but do they sort this situation out? I dont think so. So I think it is about time that these shops and supermarkets who provide disabled bays, should also police the bays to ensure they are being used by badge owners only. instead of which, they simply ignore such requests and prefer to stand inside a nice warm and dry shop. Afterall is easier pay to stand and do nothing, that go outside and do something really useful for a change!
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What I don’t understand is why the spaces have to be so close to the supermarket/venue? Surely if someone is able enough to walk around the place then walking that little further across the car park won’t kill them? And surely a wheelchair user will have an able bodied person to accompany them so again – why the need to be so close?
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