Drivers urged to report abuse of disabled parking bays

Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK) is encouraging people to take part in the survey between July 21st and August 15th, in order to expose the current situation faced by the community.

DMUK’s Baywatch campaign shines a light on the ongoing misuse of disabled parking bays and Blue Badges in supermarket car parks.

The campaign encourages disabled motorists – and those who accompany them – to complete a short survey after each supermarket visit.

The data collected will help build a clearer picture of the challenges disabled people face when parking at six major supermarket chains, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi, and Lidl.

Worryingly, the survey in 2024 found that almost half (40%) of disabled drivers have been forced to leave car parks because there were no available suitable spaces. A further 36% reported non-badge holders occupying accessible bays.

DMUK’s data also showed that a further 40% of disabled people say that they cannot park at local shops due to them being inaccessible.

The demand for accessible bays is growing rapidly. With nearly three million Blue Badge holders in the UK – and a 10% rise in England alone last year – there are now an average of 52 Blue Badge holders for every accessible space.

These figures underscore a broader accessibility gap across public infrastructure and parking, leaving millions of disabled people at a disadvantage.

• Parking guide – where you can and can’t park
• Driving with a disability – all you need to know
• Parent and child parking bays – know the laws

Dr Shani Dhanda, Award Winning Disability Inclusion & Accessibility Specialist, said: “Accessible parking bays aren’t just a nice-to-have - they’re a lifeline. Without them, so many disabled people are shut out of everyday life, whether that’s getting to work, buying food, going to appointments, or just being part of their community.

“When bays are misused or not properly enforced, it sends a really clear message that our access and independence aren’t a priority. Baywatch matters because it’s not just raising awareness - it’s holding people to account and pushing for real change.”

Results from the DMUK Baywatch campaign will be released in August 2025.