Rules on parking labels for disabled set to be tightened

This post came out from The Straits Times (28 September 2015)

Those who ferry passengers with disabilities may soon find it harder to get the coveted label that allows them to park at parking spaces reserved for those with disabilities. The authorities are looking into tighten how these labels are issued, following a spike in the number of people using them and feedback on shortage of such designated parking spaces because of abuse.

In future, passengers who use smaller mobility aids, such as walking sticks or frames, may not qualify for the parking labels. The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said: "There is competition for these parking spaces due to the ageing population and we would like to reserve them for those who need it most, especially those who use bulky equipment such as wheelchairs."

An accessible parking space is 1.5 times bigger than a usual one. Last year, 1229 Class 2 parking labels were issued, 62 per cent more than the 757 in 2010. They are given to disabled people who are being ferried by caregivers and allow vehicles to be parked in the allocated spaces for up to 60 minutes each time.

Over the same period, the number of Class 1 parking labels given to disabled drivers increased by 39 per cent, from 271 to 377. Cars with such labels can park at designated spaces with no time limit, and can do so free for the first hour at carparks run by the Housing Board and Urban Redevelopment Authority

The government committee reviewing the scheme is also looking at how the number of reserved parking spaces for the disabled is calculated. More accessible parking spaces may be built in areas with larger numbers of elderly people.

SG Enable, a government established body that offers services for people with disabilities, receives on average 10 complaints each month about the misuse of carpark labels. Half of the complaints are about able-bodied individuals driving vehicles with Class 1 label. The other half come from disabled drivers who cannot find parking spaces because some motorists using Class 2 label exceed the permitted time or use the reserved spaces even when they are not ferrying disabled passengers.

Thoughts:

1. Misuse of carpark labels, I think it is something that the authorities should really look into to deter people from doing so. I am a little skeptical about how gracious Singaporeans can be as they may think that having the label is an entitlement and not willing to compromise. I will support a stronger hand if the Government wishes to impose fines on such drivers!

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big