Blue Badge holders are being urged to participate in Disabled Motoring UK’s ‘Baywatch’ scheme, in order to improve access to disabled parking bays. This comes as a warning has been issued by the charity over the increasing daily challenges faced by disabled people in the UK, that they argue has been exacerbated by new Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reforms.
While the UK Government has the capacity to eliminate many accessibility barriers for Blue Badge holders, DMUK argues that private car parks often fall short in prioritising these improvements. To tackle this issue, the charity is rebooting its ‘Baywatch’ campaign next week and is calling on disabled people, whether they’re drivers or passengers, to get involved.
The campaign aims to shed light on the ongoing misuse of disabled parking bays and Blue Badge abuse in supermarket car parks, demanding more accountability from operators. Baywatch is encouraging disabled motorists and their companions to fill out a brief survey each time they pop into the supermarket between 21 July and 15 August 2025, documenting any issues they come across.
The Baywatch Campaign is focusing on the following major supermarkets: Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi and Lidl. When the campaign was last run in 2022, DMUK received over 1,000 survey responses. However, with more than 3.2 million Blue Badge holders nationwide – including over 235,000 in Scotland – the number of participants could potentially skyrocket.
For countless disabled drivers, securing an accessible parking space that’s also adequately enforced is a continuous struggle. Many disabled individuals feel threatened due to judgement or harassment, particularly those with non-visible disabilities.
With enforcement reportedly rarely enforced, disabled motorists are often pressured into risking their safety by confronting those who misuse disabled bays. Disabled Motoring UK advocates for all disabled motorists to feel safe, confident, independent, and respected, calling for “greater accountability in both public and private parking”.
There’s a growing demand for accessible parking spaces as there are now 52 Blue Badge holders vying for each designated bay, indicative of a broader issue regarding the accessibility of public spaces and car parks.
The organisation revealed that one in four people across the UK has a disability, highlighting that supermarkets should prioritise accommodating disabled customers to retain their business and loyalty.
Research by the Purple Pound indicates that supermarkets forfeit £501 million monthly due to inadequate accessibility. By collating real-life data, Disabled Motoring UK aims to confront parking operators and supermarkets with this evidence to enforce rules more strictly, encouraging them to alter their perspective on abuse and misuse of parking facilities.
Dr Shani Dhanda, an award-winning Disability Inclusion and Accessibility Specialist, stated: “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.”
She added: “When bays are misused or not properly 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.”
A member of DMUK shared their experience: “I went to a supermarket, which had 25 Blue Badge bays, all were full, only 10 cars had badges the rest had no badges on display, the supermarket said the car park was policed by a private company. I had to try parking elsewhere, it caused problems when my wheelchair lift blocked the car park access road.”
Baywatch survey
Those who participate in the survey will have the chance to win one of two £50 Marks and Spencers gift cards. There is no limit to the number of surveys one person can complete, and individuals are encouraged to take part each time they visit a supermarket between July 21 and August 21, 2025.
The survey can be completed online here. This year’s Baywatch campaign is backed by a broad range of supporting organisations, including:
- Disability Rights UK
- RAC
- Transport for All
- Independent Living
- Phab
- Allied Mobility
- Motaclarity
- Surewise
- The Outdoor Guide
- Euan’s Guide
- AVC
- Hidden Disabilities Sunflower
You can discover more about Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK) on the charity’s website here.
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