On 04/02/2024 11:57 am, Simon Mason wrote:
Ministers must crack down on dangerous pavement parking that can affect the safety of around 85 percent of visually impaired pedestrians, charity Guide Dogs insists.
It claimed vehicles obstructing footpaths cause major difficulties for people with a vision impairment – and has launched a petition calling for the law to be toughened up.
For those relying on guide dogs, their only option is often to put themselves at risk by stepping into busy roads to avoid parked cars.
It claimed vehicles obstructing footpaths cause major difficulties for people with a vision impairment – and has launched a petition calling for the law to be toughened up.
For those relying on guide dogs, their only option is often to put themselves at risk by stepping into busy roads to avoid parked cars.
Clare Williams, from Smethwick in the West Midlands who owns guide dog Quita, said pavement parking has turned day-to-day tasks into a “scary obstacle course”.
She explained: “It is not just a nuisance, it’s dangerous for all pedestrians but especially those of us with visual impairments. In my experience, simple tasks like going shopping can turn into a scary obstacle course as my guide dog helps me to
negotiate cars parked on the pavement, meaning we have to walk in the road.”
The charity, which trains dogs to support people with a vision impairment, said despite the Department for Transport holding a consultation in 2020, no progress had been made.
Eleanor Briggs, from Guide Dogs, said: “Cars blocking the way undermines those with impairments’ confidence to get out and about.
“This daily threat can mean people can’t safely get to work, education or to see friends.
“We welcomed the Government’s recognition of the problem but now is the time to make good on their promise and give local councils the power to tackle problem pavement parking in their areas.”
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1816302/drivers-danger-crackdown-visually-impaired-guide-dogs
The law might change, but the only really effective legislative change
would occur if households with no off-street parking were simply not
permitted to keep a motor vehicle at all. Then there would be no
"pavement" parking (FOOTway parking).
And those households which do have some off-street parking need to be
limited to only the number of vehicles which can be, and are, fitted
onto that space.
It is such an obvious solution and would have several effects, including
making the ownership of small pockets of land in residential areas a
valuable asset because off-street parking spaces could be rented out (or
even sold freehold or leasehold).
Of course, people like Julie with her mobility difficulties, are more in
danger (while on the FOOTway) from speeding chav-cyclists. I certainly
don't support FOOTway parking, but chav-cyclists are only against it
because they want the FOOTways cleared for *their* use. Chav-cyclists
could not care less about pedestrians or mobility scooter users.
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