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Disabled Parking - The Blue Badge Scheme

The Disabled Person’s Badge Scheme applies throughout England and Wales and, with slight variation in Scotland, England and Wales, includes all of Greater London except the central area, that is the City of London, parts of the London Borough of Camden, the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

The Disabled Person’s Badge scheme does not apply at certain security-sensitive areas, such as airports.

For further information on the Scheme and other mobility-related issues, visit the Department for Transport and Mobility and Inclusion Unit website on:

How to use the Badge

  • You must display the badge on top of the dashboard or facia panel of a vehicle with the front of the badge (i.e. the side showing the wheelchair-user symbol) facing forward so that the expiry date is legible from outside of the vehicle when using the parking benefits. If the vehicle does not have a dashboard or facia panel you must exhibit the badge in a conspicuous position so that the relevant details are legible from outside the vehicle when using the parking benefits.
  • The badge should only be displayed when using the parking benefits under the Scheme, except if the vehicle is being driven by someone other than the badge holder for the purpose of entering or leaving an area (which is accessible only to vehicles displaying a Blue Badge) in order to pick up or drop off the badge holder (see Section 15).
  • Similar badges given to organisations caring for disabled people must not be used by non-disabled members for their own benefit. These badges must not be on display except when the vehicle is being used for the benefit of disabled people.
  • Badges last for three years only. When you need a new one apply to the issuing authority for reassessment some weeks before the badge expires.
  • You must return the badge to the issuing authority if you no longer need it.

If you have been issued with a Penalty Charge Notice and you are a Badge Holder you may also be issued with a leaflet (see example leaflet here) providing additional information highlighting the reasons why you have been issued with the penalty charge.

Generally, under the Disabled Person’s Badge scheme:

Disabled Person’s Badge holders MAY;

  • Park on single or double yellow lines
  • outside controlled hours without time limit
  • during controlled hours for up to 3 hours with Badge and clock displayed
  • Park on a disabled bay indefinitely (unless time limit show)

Disabled Person’s Badge holders MAY NOT;

  • Park in loading bays
  • Park where a loading ban is in force
  • Park at special bays e.g. doctor, police, diplomatic, sometimes resident
  • Park on footways unless there is an exemption indicated by signs and white lines
  • Park on red routes in London
  • Park on clearways
  • Park on bus stops
  • Park on taxi ranks
  • Park on pedestrian crossing or its extended markings

Disabled Drivers Visiting London Remember...

The City of London, parts of the London Borough of Camden, the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea have different rules. Generally, you should not park there relying on a Disabled Person’s Badge.

Different colour Badges are issued to those who live, work or study in these four boroughs. Residents will also be issued with Disabled Person’s Badges for use outside the Central London area but this does not extend to those issued with local Badges because they work or study in the area.

Disabled Person’s Badge holders may never have their vehicle clamped in any circumstances, even if a contravention has occurred and a Penalty Charge Notice has been issued to the vehicle. Therefore, for example, a vehicle displaying a Disabled Person’s Badge which has parked on a yellow line in excess of the three hours allowed may receive a Penalty Charge Notice but still may not be clamped.

A Disabled Person’s Badge holder’s vehicle may not be removed to a pound but may, in certain circumstances, be moved or relocated to a nearby street if, for example, it is causing a serious obstruction. The Local Authority may not charge any fee for this.

In most cases, local authorities' social services departments issue Disabled Person’s Badges. The Parking Adjudicator cannot deal with any matter concerning their issue or non-issue.

For further information on the Scheme and other mobility-related issues, visit the Department for Transport and Mobility and Inclusion Unit website on www.mobility-unit.dft.gov.uk or www.lancashire.gov.uk

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