Industry News | Jul 28, 2026 | 20 Comments |
Baywatch Survey 2026
July 2026 – Disabled Motoring UK Baywatch Survey
Baywatch survey extended to 30th September 2026 – you can access it here
(external link will open in a new browser tab or window)
When will Blue Badge rules be followed?
Across the UK, disabled people continue to face barriers to independence and participation in everyday life. Disabled parking bays in private car parks remain poorly enforced and frequently abused.
To tackle this issue, Disabled Motoring UK’s (DMUK’s) Baywatch campaign returns this summer. The campaign shines a spotlight on the misuse of accessible parking bays in supermarket car parks, while calling for greater accountability from supermarkets and parking operators.
86% of car parks surveyed in the Baywatch campaign last year were misused/abused. Of the 1,000+ respondents 75% reported they have felt watched, judged, or received negative or intrusive comments when using accessible parking bays. The findings highlight the ongoing challenges disabled people face when simply trying to access everyday services.
Survey open to all Blue Badge holders and fellow travellers
Baywatch invites disabled motorists, Blue Badge holders, and those who travel with them to complete a short survey every time they visit a participating supermarket between 1st – 31st August 2026. The survey will collect evidence on parking bay availability, misuse, enforcement and the accessibility barriers experienced by disabled customers.
The campaign will focus on six major supermarket retailers; Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi and Lidl.
For many disabled people, finding an available and properly enforced accessible parking bay remains a significant challenge. In the absence of visible enforcement, many disabled motorists feel pressured to confront bay misuse themselves, potentially putting their safety and wellbeing at risk.
DMUK believes all disabled motorists should feel safe, confident, independent, and respected. It is time for greater accountability in both public and private parking environments.
Ever-increasing demand for accessible parking
Demand for accessible parking continues to rise. There are now almost three million Blue Badge holders across the UK, with approximately 52 badge holders competing for every accessible parking bay.
With approximately one in four people in the UK living with a disability, improving accessibility should be both a commercial and a social priority for supermarkets.
After gathering real-world evidence through the Baywatch survey, DMUK will present our findings to supermarkets and parking operators, demonstrating the need for stronger enforcement, improved accessibility measures, and a more proactive approach to tackling misuse and abuse.
Disabled Motoring UK’s CEO, Graham Footer commented:
“Blue Badges and accessible parking bays are essential for people with disabilities. When these bays are abused or misused by non-badge holders it means that disabled people often return home empty handed, or they are forced to navigate through unnecessary and unwanted additional challenges to achieve an everyday task. Upholding the integrity of the Blue Badge scheme has always been paramount for Disabled Motoring UK and that is why regularly holding our Baywatch campaign is so important. We wish to see as many people take part in Baywatch as possible, and we urge supermarkets and parking operators across the UK to take note.”
Baywatch Survey Link
Participants are encouraged to complete the survey multiple times during the campaign. A link to the survey can be found here – www.surveymonkey.com/r/8MNFJKZ (external link will open in a new browser tab or window)
Baywatch Survey 2025 – Results
Disabled Motoring UK’s Baywatch 2025 survey revealed widespread misuse of disabled parking bays and a severe lack of accessible EV bays across UK supermarkets, with little evidence of improvement since the survey was last held in 2022. The data revealed disabled bays in 86% of reviewed car parks are being misused, and 75% of the respondents at some point have felt watched/judged or have received negative or intrusive comments for using disabled bays. In addition, only 25 out of 1,007 respondents surveyed a supermarket which provided accessible EV parking.
Over 1000 responses to the parking survey
From mid-July until 15th August people had the opportunity to complete a 5-minute survey each time they visited one of the following supermarkets – Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi, and Lidl. It received 1007 responses.
Tesco was surveyed most frequently – 32% overall, Morrisons least often but it still received over 100 surveys. The survey’s main intention was to reveal how extensively disabled bays are abused and misused while challenging parking operators to step up and improve their services.
The survey also revealed information on other challenges disabled people face and the number of EV charging bays per car park. For many disabled motorists, finding an available, properly managed and enforced parking bay remains a persistent challenge and disabled people feel at risk of being judged or harassed, particularly those with hidden disabilities.
Dr Shani Dhanda summarises the need for change:
“Accessible parking bays aren’t just a nice-to-have – they’re a lifeline. Without them, so many disabled people are shut out of everyday life, whether that’s getting to work, buying food, going to appointments, or just being part of their community. When bays are misused or not properly managed or enforced, it sends a really clear message that our access and independence aren’t a priority. Baywatch matters because it’s not just raising awareness – it’s holding people to account and pushing for real change.”
Results from some of the key areas of the survey
1. Disabled bay misuse:
The vast majority of the car parks reviewed had a minimum of one vehicle misusing the disabled bays. Unsurprisingly only a small proportion of car parks had no disabled bay misuse: 113 out of 860. Meaning that 86% of car parks had at least some disabled bay misuse.
• Highest recorded misuse – Asda had 97% of their car parks disabled bays being misused
• Lowest recorded misuse – Aldi scored best, although still relatively high at 77%
2. Provision of EV bays:
• Highest percentage of accessible EV bays per car park – Tesco had the most accessible EV bays, Morrisons came second.
• Car parks with least EV bays of any type – Asda and Aldi
3. Accessible parking bays per car park
Between 4 and 9 disabled bays was most common in the supermarkets surveyed, accounting for 30.29%.
4. Cancelled supermarket trips
79% of respondents have either had to source parking options elsewhere or had to cancel their trip to a supermarket entirely (57%).
5. The experience of disabled bay users
49% have felt watched or judged for using disabled bays, 27% at some point had received negative or intrusive comments, totalling 75% of all respondents.
6. Blue Badge inspections:
• 87% have never had their Blue Badge inspected by a civil enforcement officer.
• 93% would be happy for their Blue Badge to be inspected.
You can read the full report on the DMUK website (external link will open in a new browser tab or window)
DMUK’s Marketing & Campaigns Manager, Zoe Rush says:
“The results are unfortunately not a surprise to us at Disabled Motoring UK, it is discouraging to see the numbers of misuse so high and to see such little evidence of change over the years, as well as such low numbers of accessible EV bays. Considering the Blue Badge system has been around for decades we’d like to see the scheme re-evaluated and ensure it fully serves the people it was designed to support.”
DMUK’s message to the supermarkets
Supermarkets should review this report and reflect on the impact these issues have on their disabled customers, on their own revenue, and on the wider parking sector. Providing signage and parking bays is not enough in terms of providing reasonable adjustments for disabled people. While operators likely comply with the Equality Act 2010 and the Private Parking Code of Practice, the results from the Baywatch survey demonstrates why this is not enough.
Besides appropriate accessible bay management, the organisation would like parking operators and supermarkets to consider the Park Access accreditation and the Park Access EV accreditation (based on PAS 1899). This accreditation ensures that the accessibility, security, provision and size of disabled bays are truly fit for purpose.
Article ends – click to return to top or check out related resources below
Further reading and resources
Are you eligible for a Blue Badge? We have more information here
Our adapted motoring area is here
If you are concerned about disabled parking arrangements in Europe, following withdrawal of the automatic rights enjoyed when we were part of the EU, we have up-to-date information here.
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20 Replies to “Baywatch Survey 2026”
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I’m disgusted doesn’t matter ware you go and I mean anywhere,
You drive Around looking for a disabled parking buy ,
I’ve seen it for myself and I bet others have to
I’ve seen work vans parked up in the buys
No badge taking two buy up by the length of them .
And the amount of unbadge car vans even motorbikes in buys , and if you say something to them ,the abuse you get plus I’ve seen people get in to fights over them ,
Alot to do with it , is because vehicles of to day or wider longer and can’t fit in a standard parking buys
It’s this that needs to be rectified how do you exspeck people to get out of a vehicle with only 4″
Ether side this is the problem sort that out and maybe and I maybe these none blue badge holders may calm down .
It’s not rocket science no matter how many disabled parking buy you put down your not preventing it , from happening again and again
Widen the standard parking buys and you’ll curb
Some of the illegal disabled parking as I say not rocket science, just logic
I’m a member of DMUK have been for years and I know they try, but this a Laugh none of these supermarkets take any notice as long as people are spending money in the shop that’s all they care about, I asked DMUK if they could speak to Lidl in Longton Stoke-On-Trent and they did and their comment was if the Disabled Bays are full which there is quite a few which are used mainly by none badge holders, There answer was if I can’t find a parking space and there is cars parked without a badge I’m to park up some were get my chair out go in to the store find the manager tell him and he will ask for it to be moved so if it’s p’ing it down with rain I have do all this and end up in a conflict ,my answer is shop some were else and by the way my wife uses a chair so we have to get 2 out and that’s no fun in a narrow car space who is to blame the thoughtless prat’s that park there the answer is who knows I would be very Happy if someone could sort it but don’t think it will be in our life time.
This is a laugh, how long as this been going on and takes untill now for something to be done the amount of times I’ve seen able body people using the disabled bay’s is unreal the arguments I’ve had, no-one cares if you say something to the shop about it they just shrug there shoulders then you’ve got these that use the bay’s with blue badge but the disabled people or not in the vehicle you get to know them more or less then you’ve got these that park to go the bank or pop in the shop to pick something up forcing disabled people to park in children’s and perants bay’s then they have arguments about it , all it is , is a lack of respect ,
I have a drive from wheelchair adapted Vito van. My rear lift requires a full 3m to allow me to get onto and off the lift and in and out of my car.
With it being a van, I am unable to park in multi level car parks that some supermarkets have.
With no legal restrictions on non blue badge holders using these limited availability parking bays, then they are continually misused by able bodied peoples.
As most Motability cars are not wheelchair accessible, they require widened bays to get in and out of their car easier.
I and other wheelchair accessible and drive from wheelchair vehicles have lifts or ramps, we require more space to the rear of the car, so we can get in and out the vehicle. It would be more efficient if there were two types of bays, one for those using non adapted vehicles, and the other that has the additional rear space to allow us to use our lifts and ramps in a safe and efficient manner.
There should be better laws making it a traffic / parking offence for anyone without a blue badge, using these limited availability few disabled parking bays, and the chevrons between the bays; on both public and private parking areas.
Disabled people spend as much money at supermarkets, as non disabled. So why are we being forced to leave because the supermarket car park disabled bays are filled with non blue badge drivers.
They sound like really sensible suggestions, Sandra – thank you for taking the time to post here. Incredibly frustrating when you have to abandon a shopping trip for lack of somewhere suitable to park.
I think we probably spend more.
In my locality a police car is often seen parking in Disabled people’s bays while police pop into tescos to buy their lunch
We have parking bays directly by a cash point. People think if they sit with their engine running while a partner nips out, it doesn’t count. Parking enforcement have told us they can’t do anything until they have been their 8 minutes. They were standing by watching the bays recently but can’t have someone there all day. Recently during roadworks the council relocated the taxi rank into the disabled bays. We also caught a Royal Mail on there while collecting from the Post Office. Flagrant disregard of rules. I had a flaming row with a very rude female driver who seemed to think I was unreasonable as I told her I had to park further away , because it was difficult for her to park! I lose energy complaining it happens so often.
Incredibly frustrating, Melanie – people can be so selfish and unthinking.
After reading all the above comments and having seen, suffered similar encounters all across the UK it is frustrating. As for shops ie supermarkets especially one comment back from management that really sticks with me is they don’t want to upset customers. Well this man is a customer and now has way to focus their thoughts, when visiting said stores and getting that responce (I have then on purpose filled trolley with very expensive items) the at tills ask for manager again and had same conversation with duty manager again and basically said “well you have upset this customer with that response “ again one upset customer so you can forget me buying the goods in this trolley which I leave with him/her at tills.
Sorry a bit back and forth but you get the point.
There’s not enough disabled parking spaces in some areas, and they have two to three in front of the shop’s the rest or scattered around,
I’ve had this with park gate retail complex Rotherham they told me that they had enough disabled parking spaces but when you go down there are all full so obviously they they don’t but then some parking spaces or occupied by none
Disabled people.
I myself have chronic lung disease, spondylosis of the lower spine which affects my walking ,I soon get out of breath but to look at me I look ok, if only some people do not understand the pain I’m in day in day out I gasp for air every day.
This condition was course by work not through smoking.
These people that use he disabled parking spaces seem to get away with it.
And if you say something to them you get abuse off them trouble is there’s no one walking round checking these cars with no blue badge it’s disgusting the way us disabled people get treated not just with parking sorry for going on but it really make my blood boil whenou can’t do anything about it’.
I have noticed recently that it seems to be common practice for people with young children using the “disabled” bays with no blue badge so can only think that they see it as a “parent and child” space.
Only last week at my local hospital saw 3 different vehicles like this and one lady in another vehicle, disabled bay, no blue badge, was overheard saying to her companion something like “….well it’s different for me I …….” Whilst walking back to their car and then sending her companion to pay at the machine (blue badge holders don’t need to pay at the hospital).
I couldn’t say anything as was in too much pain after a small procedure.
I ve looked into this parking for disabled people blue badge
And on numerous occasions able body people or parking in disabled parking bays regularly and nothing is been done about it.
I’ve also asked for more disable bays at Parkgate retail park.
But they say they’ve got enough but there way to far to walk
To other shops and you probably get four bays for disabled
The rest for able body people.
Where’s this right,
They told me that there’s enough parking for disabled people, not even that they would look into this but said theres enough.
Then you see people using disable bays to pop to the banks machine when you say to them is a disable bay you get a load of abuse from them when you mention this to the shop staff they don’t even say anything to them.
Whats the point.
Then you get people using blue badges that or not disabled
Its so frustrating when you cant go shopping because of inconsiderate people and not enough parking bays..
Sorry for going on but sume people will not say anything
Because they do not get heard.
This is disgusting the way disabled people get treated.
Nottingham Railway Station blue badge spaces are being constantly abused and East Midlands Railway are doing nothing about it. Vehicles and taxis are using these spaces to park, pick up and drop off with no repercussions. EMR you need to do something to deter this, like telling people to move or fine them if not displaying a badge. Currently with Level 3 blocked off of the 7 spaces on Level 2, I am the only one with a Blue Badge. See it, Say it, Sorted!!!!!
I posted this to EMR on 28 July, still waiting for a reply
I have a blue badge & rely on this for my family to take me out and use the spaces. My daughter won two tickets to the harewood house mama Mia on the 16/8/21 thru her emergency services job/work, I rang last week the number that deals with providing spaces for all customers needing a disabled space and or a seat. I was told that because they are complimentary I cannot access disabled access? I find this most unacceptable.
it is all very well displaying a blue badge, but who owns it?
As a blue badge holder with a severely disabled son i have difficultyy finding a bay.
Recently at worthing hospital waiting for a space i noticed so many people occupying disabled bays
who were able to walk fine and no obvious disability that needed a space close by. it is the same in supermarkets. it seems if somebody in the family has a badge the anyone can use it.
Hello
The rules about using blue badge parking spaces are quite clear. The Blue Badge belongs to the disabled person, and can only be used when they are travelling in the vehicle.
Best wishes,
Frances
Not all disabilities are visible and it does complicated matters when you have one but still need a disabled bay as people judge your need. I need a disabled bay to be able to open my drivers door wide and have my car close to where I am for many reasons. What annoys me is when the disabled bays are further away from the entrance than other spaces – who decides the siting of them because it’s clearly not a disabled person!
My local Morrisons Supermarket has cordoned off disabled parking bays so the area can be used as a Queueing area.
That’s not very helpful, Christine! Might be worth having a word with the management to ask for alternative spaces to be allocated while the usual parking bays are otherwise occupied.
Good luck and best wishes,
Frances