01/02/2017

Penalty Notices To Be Issued To Cars Obstructing Pavements

The PSNI are to start issuing penalty notices after badly parked vehicles are forcing pedestrians to walk on busy roads.

Guide Dogs Northern Ireland has joined forces with the Cedar Foundation and the PSNI calling for 'Responsible Parking'.

Drivers who continue to obstruct pavements will be 'at risk' of a notice.

Guide Dogs NI has also released a shocking video which shows the dangers blind or partially sighted people face when they are forced to walk on to the road due to vehicles being badly parked on the pavement.

To view the video click here.

The charity also issued a picture of a car obstructing the pavement outside St George's Market in Belfast.

The image shows a silver car parked along a pedestrian crossing blocking access for people to cross the road safely.

However, it was later revealed that the car may have broken down.

A spokesperson from Guide Dogs NI said: "We do sympathise with the driver if they had broken down. However, just a metre to the left would have ensured that pedestrians still had a safe place to cross at one of the busiest junctions in Belfast.

"PLEASE think about your actions when you park, pedestrians should be able to feel safe as they go about their daily journeys."

The Cedar Foundation said: "We are officially supporting Guide Dogs in Northern Ireland & Police Service of Northern Ireland in calling for #ResponsibleParking. Parking on pavements is putting pedestrians at risk!"

'Greater risk' Guide Dogs NI has released You Gov research showing almost three quarters (72%) of people have been affected by vehicles parked on the pavement. Over half (55%) have said cars parked on pavements make it harder for them to walk along pavements and 45% said they have been forced onto the road.

Ninety-one per cent of respondents living with sight loss who responded to a previous Guide Dogs survey said that parked cars on the pavement regularly obstruct them.



Pic: Guide Dogs NI

(CD/LM)

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