I was pleased to be able meet representatives from the charity Guide Dogs to speak with them about the challenges pavement parked cars create for blind and partially sighted people, who may have to risk their safety by walking into the road just to get by. A survey by Guide Dogs has shown that 97% of blind or partially sighted people encounter problems with street obstructions, and 90% of those have experienced trouble with a pavement parked car. Guide Dogs is now calling for a clear national law on pavement parking, and I am supporting their campaign to make pavement parking an offence, except in areas where local authorities grant specific exemptions. This would give local authorities real power to properly tackle this problem.
It was a pleasure to speak with James and his colleagues at Guide Dogs. They do such important work and I would encourage you to find out more: