People with a Blue Badge cannot park in these 12 places at any time day or night
Blue Badge holders in England are being warned of 12 places they cannot legally park at any time, day or night.
It’s an extremely handy tool if you’re disabled, claim PIP or have a health condition which the DVLA needs to be told about, but drivers are being warned that a Blue Badge is not always a get out of jail free card.
Blue Badges allow drivers to park on double yellow lines and in places where other vehicles wouldn’t normally be able to stop, and can often park for free in many on-street car parking spaces or in disabled spaces in private car parks.
But there are still rules governing how Blue Badges work and drivers can be fined as much as £1,000 if they misuse their Blue Badge.
You might be surprised to find out there are 12 places you cannot legally park at any time day or night in England.
And there are also rules governing when you can use the badge at all, including in private car parks.
Where it’s legal to park with a Blue Badge in England
Your Blue Badge usually lets you park for free:
on streets with parking meters or pay-and-display machines for as long as you need to
in disabled parking bays on streets for as long as you need to, unless a sign says there is a time limit
on single or double yellow lines for up to 3 hours unless there’s a ‘no loading’ sign
But there are 12 places you cannot park legally even with a Blue Badge or risk a fine.
Where you cannot legally park with a Blue Badge:
in most loading/unloading bays - although some councils will let you if signs specify time limits for badge holders
on double or single red lines during their hours of operation
where there are one or two yellow markings on the kerb
where there are double white lines in the centre of the road, even if one of the lines is broken
parking places reserved for specific users such as residents or taxis
pedestrian crossings and zigzag lines
clearways (no stopping) including urban and bus stop clearways, during their hours of operation
school ‘keep clear’ markings during the hours shown on yellow no-stopping plate
bus, tram or cycle lanes (Badge holders are not entitled to drive in bus lanes)
suspended meter bays or when use of the meter is not allowed
where temporary parking restrictions are in force - such as roadworks or no-waiting cones
At junctions where the position of the vehicle endangers people - e.g. blocking visibility out of a junction
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The government also warns people to follow proper guidance on using the Blue Badge. You must ensure it’s the right way up, is clearly visible through the windscreen and that it hasn’t expired.
If you park somewhere with a time limit, always set the parking time clock on your blue badge to show the 15 minute period that you arrived.
You can only use your badge when you’re driving or you’re in the car as a passenger, or someone is picking you up or dropping you off and they need to park close to where you need to go.
If you give your badge to someone else, or keep using it when you no longer need it, or use it to park if you’re waiting, all of these can break the rules.
