IWA day of action shines a light on illegal parking

 “I’LL just leave my car in the disabled car-parking space for five minutes.” It’s a common excuse people use to take up disabled car-parking spaces they don’t need. And it’s illegal.

Recently at Fairgreen Shopping Centre, Carlow, the IWA Local Access Group came together to highlight the significant impact parking in an accessible space can have on a person with a disability through the ‘Back in 5’ campaign.

During this day of action, several wheelchairs parked unexpectedly in car-parking spaces around the town, to put the brakes on this illegal parking. The campaign was also supported by the community gardaí. The Back in 5 initiative involved a regular car space being taken up by an empty wheelchair parked in it with a note pinned to the back with messages such as 'Be back in 5 minutes', 'Just gone to the bank' or 'Just running in for a coffee’.

“These are throwaway statements that people with disabilities encounter every day, when people use accessible spaces that do not need them,” said Louise Barry, IWA local service support officer. There are currently almost 75,000 disabled drivers parking permits in circulation in Ireland. The availability of wheelchair-accessible parking spaces is an essential lifeline for motorists with disabilities, yet far too often, these spaces are occupied by able-bodied drivers.

Back in 5 reminds motorists that it is an offence to park in a disabled parking space without an official Disabled drivers parking permit. Offenders are dealt a fixed charge notice for €150, rising to €225 if not paid in the first 28 days, which results in a very expensive five minutes.