The number of people in England with a disabled parking badge increased by 10.5% in a year to reach a record high, new figures show.
There were 2.84 million valid blue badges at the end of March 2024, according to analysis of Department for Transport (DfT) data by the PA news agency and motoring research charity the RAC Foundation.
That is up from 2.57 million 12 months earlier and is the highest number in records dating back to 1997.
With parking spaces often at a premium ... it might be tempting to occupy a disabled bay ... but we should remind ourselves that one day we could be the ones reliant on the easier access that blue badges are there to provide
The percentage of the population holding a blue badge increased from 4.6% to 4.9% in the year to the end of March 2024.
The regions with the highest and lowest percentages were the North East (5.8%) and London (3.3%) respectively.
In 2019 the eligibility criteria for blue badges was extended to include people with non-visible disabilities such as Parkinson’s, dementia and epilepsy.
Some 4.0% of badges were held by people with non-visible disabilities at the end of March last year.
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “With parking spaces often at a premium in places like retail parks and supermarkets it might be tempting to occupy a disabled bay – maybe just for a few minutes – but we should remind ourselves that one day we could be the ones reliant on the easier access that blue badges are there to provide.”
Blue badges, which must be renewed every three years, help people with disabilities or health conditions access shops and services by enabling them to park closer to their destination.
Depending on the location, they often enable holders to park free of charge in pay-and-display bays and for up to three hours on single and double yellow lines.
In London, they exempt holders from having to pay the Congestion Charge.
Latest figures show 38% of people automatically entitled to a blue badge hold one.
Some 1,600 blue badges were reported as being stolen in the year to the end of March 2024.
