Shoppers at Britain's largest supermarkets are being encouraged to report drivers who misuse disabled parking bays. Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK) is running its annual Baywatch survey throughout August and is asking the public to share their experiences at Aldi, Lidl, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury's.
Campaign targets parking enforcement
The campaign group warns that "too many barriers" exist for people with disabilities, with private car park operators "often lack the commitment to prioritise disabled bay enforcement and accessibility improvements". DMUK says it is confronting this problem "head on" through its Baywatch campaign, which demands more robust enforcement of disabled bays.
DMUK is inviting disabled motorists and those who accompany them to fill out a brief survey each time they visit a supermarket in August, gathering evidence on the problems they face.
Blue Badge demand rising
The organisation says demand for disabled bays is "rising sharply". As of March 31, 2025, there were 3.07 million Blue Badges held across England. The badges allow people with mobility difficulties to park nearer to their destination, including in disabled bays and on certain double-yellow lines, often without paying.
DMUK stated: "For many disabled motorists, finding an available, properly enforced parking bay remains a persistent challenge and disabled people feel at risk of being judged or harassed, particularly those with hidden disabilities."
Supermarkets losing £501m monthly
The organisation claims supermarkets are losing £501 million monthly due to inadequate accessibility, a figure known as the Purple Pound. It says: "Considering 1 in 4 people have a disability in the UK, it should be in supermarkets' interest to ensure they don't lose custom and loyalty from their disabled customers."
The campaign focuses on the abuse of accessible bays by non-Blue Badge holders, public attitudes and misconceptions about Blue Badge use (especially invisible disabilities), the lack of consistent enforcement by retailers and parking operators, and the general challenges disabled motorists face.
DMUK aims to present the "real world" data collected through the survey to parking operators and supermarkets, demonstrating the necessity for prosecution and urging them to shift their attitudes towards abuse and misuse. It is calling on all disabled drivers and those who travel with a disabled person by car to take part in the survey during their next supermarket visit in August.
