What changes are coming for Blue Badge holders?

Friday, 13 January 2012

The disabled parking system and Blue Badge design are both undergoing changes this year, making it harder for drivers to abuse the strategy.

The new year has rung in changes where disabled car insurance policyholders are concerned, with a series of measures affecting Blue Badge holders.

Introduced on January 1st, a number of strict new measures came into force which aim to clamp down on those who abuse the disabled parking system, as well as benefitting people who really need a Blue Badge.

Here is a look at the changes coming into force, as well as the penalties which could be faced if people still opt to mistreat the strategy for their own gain.

How is the disabled parking system altering?

It is estimated by the Department for Transport that £46 million is wasted each year in the UK alone because of Blue Badge fraud.

To try and cut this statistic significantly in the months ahead, the government has conjured up shared administration between authorities so that Blue Badge renewals can be undertaken in a quicker and more efficient way.

Local authorities will also now be able to have more control over National Health Service spend on Blue Badge assessments, so that people will have increased knowledge about whether a person is eligible to be a part of the disabled parking system.

More people who are really in need of a Blue Badge are set to have their wish come true now as well, seeing as though the system is being stretched to incorporate more disabled kids under the age of three years old and Armed Forces personnel and veterans who have been left severely disabled.

How will the new-look Blue Badge improve the system?

For many years, the Blue Badge was designed using card and was handwritten in places, thus making it rather easy to forge.

However, this should no longer be an issue seeing as though the new document is to be fully electronically printed, much like how disabled motorists receive their driving licence.

To further prevent the new Blue Badge being forged, a digital photo, unique hologram and exclusive serial number will all feature.

With these design strategies being put into force, disabled drivers should no longer need to worry about designated parking spots being taken up by ignorant road users.

What will the penalty be for people abusing a Blue Badge?

Despite all of these changes, there will still be some motorists who take the risk and use a Blue Badge or park in a disabled car parking bay when they should not.

Disabled drivers do not need to take this though, as they can record the details of a car's Blue Badge if they think it is being abused and then report the problem to their local authority.

If said motorist is then found guilty of misusing the disabled parking system, the offender could find themselves slapped with a £1,000 fine, as well as an additional penalty for the original parking offence.

However, those eligible to carry a Blue Badge should make sure not to misplace it or leave it at home while out on their travels.

This is because people who fail to show this document to an enforcement officer if and when required will be found to be in breach of the law and could themselves be hit with a £1,000 penalty.

Abiding by the law and keeping a Blue Badge close at hand should ensure that only those in need of the disabled parking system feel the entire benefits of the strategy from 2012 onwards.

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