Blanket ban on pavement parking could leave thousands without a parking space, warns IAM RoadSmart

A blanket ban on pavement parking could lead to a need for thousands of new car parking spaces that towns and cities are simply not equipped to provide, warns IAM RoadSmart.

Last September the House of Commons Transport Select Committee called for a nationwide ban on the “blight” of parking on pavements and today (12 March) the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced that a consultation on pavement parking across England could be published to help pedestrians.

One suggestion that emerged from the original enquiry is a blanket ban on all vehicles parking on any part of a pavement – but IAM RoadSmart, the UK’s biggest independent road safety charity, said this could cause a major parking headache for drivers across the country.

In its submission to the committee last year, IAM RoadSmart said: “Where data has been collated, the problems appear to be localised.

“Where pedestrians are being put in danger or denied access by inconsiderate pavement parking, or if costly long-term damage is being done, then we have no problem with local solutions being implemented for these problems.

“Local councils should be encouraged to use their existing powers to sign, define, review and enforce local bans as required.”

“New traffic orders, new signposting, new road markings and new enforcement administration will all be required at extra cost if a blanket ban is introduced. Councils are already struggling to implement low emission zones, cycling and walking policies, active travel policies, 20mph zones and a host for other transport measures.”

IAM RoadSmart added that a blanket ban risked creating conflict between residents as they attempt to find a place to park, often in areas where there has never been a road safety problem.

“If enforcement is going to be applied rigorously then councils should provide safe and secure alternative parking arrangements in those areas where pavement parking has been banned but worked well before. IAM RoadSmart welcome the consultation but would like to see more research and pilot schemes before a decision is made on a total ban. In many urban areas, pavement parking is actively encouraged and the road marked up to allow it.”

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IAM RoadSmart has a mission to make better drivers and riders in order to improve road safety, inspire confidence and make driving and riding enjoyable. It does this through a range of courses for all road users, from online assessments through to the advanced driving and riding tests. IAM RoadSmart is the trading name of all businesses operated by the UK’s largest road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and was formed in April 2016 combining the IAM, IAM Drive & Survive, PDS and IAM Driver Retraining Academy. The organisation has 92,000 members and campaigns on road safety on their behalf. At any one time there are over 7,000 drivers and riders actively engaged with IAM RoadSmart’s courses, from members of the public to company drivers, while our Driver Retraining Academy has helped 2,500 drivers to shorten their bans through education and support programmes.

To find out more about IAM RoadSmart products and services visit the new website www.iamroadsmart.com                     

To find out the name of your own local IAM RoadSmart group please visit: https://wwwiamroadsmart.com/local-groups                

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