Mayo disability advocate supports campaign against misuse of accessible parking bays
THE Mayo-based Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland (DDAI) has launched a new awareness video campaign aimed at tackling misuse of accessible parking bays.
The DDAI urges the public ‘Don’t Invade My Space’ while also calling for urgent reform of the ‘archaic’ and ‘flawed’ Disabled Drivers and Passengers Tax Relief Scheme.
Hildegarde Naughton, Minister of State with responsibility for disability, was a guest speaker at the association’s AGM in Galway. Disability activist James Casserly and his mother, Councillor Vicki Casserly, of South Dublin County Council, are featured in the association’s video campaign, with Councillor Casserly there to officially launch it with the minister.
Mayo woman Geraldine Lavelle, disability rights campaigner, neuroscientist, and author, from Castlebar, highlighted the issues disabled drivers face daily - from fraudulent parking permit misuse to the inadequacy of the DDS scheme.
The current medical criteria for obtaining a Primary Medical Certificate to qualify for the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Tax Relief Scheme is extremely restrictive and unfairly narrow. For example, a person with a single-arm amputation doesn’t qualify.
“It’s archaic and flawed,” said Richard Ryder, DDAI’s communications and marketing manager. “We need a modern, needs-based, grant-led approach to vehicle adaptations - not a scheme that has seen little meaningful change since 1968.”
The meeting also spotlighted rising tensions around illegal parking in accessible parking bays.
According to a DDAI survey of over 2,600 people last year, the fear of verbal or physical abuse is the number one reason people avoid challenging those parked illegally. But there is hope - and a solution.
Ryder promoted the mobile phone Text Alert Scheme, already active in Gorey, Lucan and Rathfarnham, as a smart, safe alternative, with a sign displaying the bay number and a mobile phone number. If someone is parked in one of those bays without a permit or is misusing the permit, people can text the bay number to alert the traffic warden.
“94% of people surveyed support this system. It’s simple. You spot abuse, text the bay number and location. The warden is alerted - no confrontation necessary.”
DDAI is now urging all local councils nationwide to adopt the scheme.
Guest speaker Geraldine Lavelle, an award-winning advocate and author, shared her personal experiences of navigating daily life as a disabled driver.
She said: “The ability to drive has had a profound and positive impact on my life, improving my ability to work, to socialise, and to manage my daily activities without relying on others.
“People with disabilities don't enjoy asking for adjustments. We would just prefer if things were accessible in the first place and that includes having enough accessible parking bays, especially in popular areas.
“It is disheartening to arrive somewhere and having to turn around and go home because there are either no accessible bays, there’s illegal parking or what is often worse, the space has been encroached upon, making it impossible for me to use.
“I would urge drivers not to invade any space in an accessible parking bay for this reason. I fully support the association’s campaign for a Text Alert Scheme in every county as a safe deterrent to combat illegal parking.”
The DDAI is Ireland’s leading charity for disabled drivers and passengers on a national level. It promotes independence and equal opportunity through mobility, education and training. It administers the EU parking permit (blue badge) on behalf of the Department of Transport.