12.03.20
Government consultation on safer pavements for pedestrians set out
The Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps has set out new proposals today (Mar 12) to tackle pavement parking and make pavements safer and more accessible.
New proposals specifically aim to improve the safety of people with mobility or sight impairments and parents with prams who may need to walk into the road to avoid parked cars.
The 12-week consultation, set for the summer, will look at allowing local authorities the civil parking enforcement to crack down on unnecessary pavement obstruction, something which can only currently be done by police, outside London.
Individual considerations will be given to rural and suburban areas and a ‘tailored approach’ will be looked at for areas with different needs, such as necessary exceptions or designated pavement parking spots.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:
“Vehicles parked on the pavement can cause very real difficulties for many pedestrians.
“That’s why I am taking action to make pavements safer and I will be launching a consultation to find a long-term solution for this complex issue.
“We welcome the Transport Select Committee’s recent report and share their drive to tackle pavement parking and improve people’s daily lives.”
A review by the Department for Transport in 2019 found that pavement parking caused issues for 95% of respondents who are visually impaired and 98% of wheelchair users.
Digital, more streamline options for the restrictions process are also being looked into such as temporary road closures for roadworks, special events or permanent changes to speed limits.
It comes after a government advertising campaign called ‘It’s everyone’s journey’ was launched to raise awareness about the needs of disabled people when using public transport.