Drivers have been encouraged to snitch on fellow motorists who could be abusing a major parking benefit across the UK, which could see millions slapped with penalties.
It comes after a new campaign has launched, which looks to crack down on Blue Badge misuse, particularly across supermarkets.
The campaign has been launched by Disabled Motoring UK and takes place between July 21 and August 15, in order to expose the number of drivers taking advantage of parking benefits.
The group’s Baywatch campaign aims to shine a light on the ongoing misuse of disabled parking bays and Blue Badges in supermarket car parks.
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Drivers can be fined £1,000 for Blue Badge misuse | GETTY/PAThe campaign encourages Blue Badge holders to complete a short survey after each supermarket visit, with the data collected used to help uncover challenges disabled people face.
The survey will look at the parking situation at six major supermarket chains, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi, and Lidl.
The need for action follows a survey recorded last year, which found that almost half (40 per cent) of disabled drivers have been forced to leave car parks because there were no available suitable spaces, with 36 per cent of respondents finding that non-badge holders were occupying the bays.
The data also showed that a further 40 per cent of disabled people have been unable to park at local shops due to them being inaccessible.
Roughly 52 Blue Badge holders have been competing for one parking bay
| GETTYThe charity shared: "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.
"With little evidence of enforcement, disabled motorists sometimes feel pressured to put their personal safety at risk by challenging disabled bay abuse."
The organisation added that it wants all disabled motorists to feel "safe, confident, independent, and respected", with the campaign hoping to ensure drivers take greater accountability in both public and private parking.
According to research, the demand for Blue Badges has been growing each year with 52 drivers now competing for one accessible bay and nearly three million badge holders across the UK.
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Due to demand for Blue Badges increasing significantly over the past 20 years, the Department for Transport now estimates there could be 650,000 additional Badge holders over the next 10 years.
Last year, the DfT revealed that 1,600 Blue Badges were reported stolen, with many later found to be still in use by relatives of the badge owner for fraudulent purposes.
Under UK law, Blue Badges must be renewed every three years and cost up to £10 in England and £20 in Scotland, but are free in Wales.
Drivers caught misusing the Blue Badge scheme can face fines of up to £1,000 under the Road Traffic Regulation Act or higher penalties under the Fraud Act 2006.
Drivers can be fined for parking in disabled bays without having a Blue Badge | GETTYDr Shani Dhanda, Disability Inclusion and Accessibility Specialist, said: "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 warned that when bays are misused or not properly enforced, "it sends a really clear message that our access and independence aren’t a priority".
Dhanda explained that the Baywatch campaign matters because "it’s not just raising awareness, it’s holding people to account and pushing for real change".