Pavement Parking Law Change Welcomed by Suffolk Guide Dog User
The government says councils in England will be given simpler powers to introduce area-wide pavement parking restrictions.
A Suffolk guide dog user has welcomed a change in the law that could make pavements safer for disabled people, following confirmation from the Department for Transport that councils across England will be given new powers to restrict pavement parking.
The government says the move will allow local authorities to introduce area-wide pavement parking restrictions more easily, replacing what campaigners describe as a slow and inconsistent street-by-street approach.
The current problems people are facing
Simon Daws, who lives in Woodbridge and has used a guide dog for more than a decade, says vehicles parked on pavements can make everyday journeys dangerous and, at times, impossible.
“Pavement parking and obstacles on pavements can be a great issue to us,” he said. “With larger items like vehicles, as soon as they get onto the pavement, there is not a hope of even squeezing past them on the inside. It does force people like myself and wheelchair users and parents with pushchairs into the roads, and that is not a good safety thing.”
Mr Daws explained that while some people assume quieter residential streets are safe to step into, guide dogs cannot distinguish between busy and quiet roads.
“They (guide dogs) don’t understand what is a busy road is and what is not,” he said. “So I’m not prepared to walk out into a busy road to potentially be knocked down by a vehicle.”
He said being confronted with blocked pavements often leaves him with no good option.
“I either try and get around it and go into the road and risk it, which largely I’m not prepared to do, or turn back and find an alternative route, which could take me well out of my way or just get back home even,” he said. “It makes you feel pretty dreadful when that happens, actually, for the want of somebody parking where they wish to.”
Why this is so important
The Department for Transport says the new powers are intended to protect people who are routinely forced into live traffic by blocked pavements, including blind and partially sighted pedestrians, wheelchair users, parents with pushchairs and older people.
Mr Daws described a previous incident where a pavement obstruction led to a serious near-miss.
“I came off the side of the kerb because of it and got hit by a car,” he said. “Fortunately, I didn’t sustain bad injuries, but my guide dog did get injured. And it was a very traumatic experience.”
He welcomed the government’s announcement as progress, but said clearer national rules would help both pedestrians and drivers.
“From a public perception point of view, it would be far easier if they understood that pavement parking is a national issue, national law, rather than being put onto local councils to implement,” he said.
Campaigners from Guide Dogs said cars blocking pavements are particularly dangerous for people with sight loss, who may be forced into traffic they cannot see, reducing independence and confidence and limiting access to work, education and social activities.
Mr Daws said education is just as important as enforcement.
“I’m a strong supporter of people just being more thoughtful and observant,” he said. “Education is the key to that. Parking on pavements causes problems for people who need to use those pavements and should not be forced out into the road and placed in danger because of that.”
The Department for Transport says it will work with councils on how the new powers are implemented, with further details expected in the coming months.
Guide Dogs statement:
“After years of campaigning, we welcome the announcement to give councils greater powers to tackle problem pavement parking.
“Cars blocking pavements are a nuisance for everyone, but especially dangerous for people with sight loss, who can be forced into the road with traffic they can’t see. Pavement parking is also a barrier that shuts people out of everyday life. When pavements are blocked, people with sight loss lose confidence, independence and the freedom to travel safely. This stops people from accessing work, education and social opportunities.
“We look forward to working with the Government and local authorities to ensure these changes are introduced quickly and consistently enforced so pavement parking becomes a thing of the past.”