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IAM Roadsmart warns against pavement parking ban
Date: 10 June 2019 | Author: Sean Keywood
A blanket ban on pavement parking should not be implemented by the government, IAM Roadsmart has said.
The road safety charity has responded to an enquiry into pavement parking launched by the House of Commons Transport Committee, warning that the move could lead to a need for thousands of new parking spaces that towns and cities are unable to provide.
Instead, it says a more localised approach should be implemented.
In its response, IAM Roadsmart states: "Where data has been collated, the problems appear to be localised.
"Where pedestrians are being put in danger or denied access by inconsiderate pavement parking, or if costly long-term damage is being done, then we have no problem with local solutions being implemented for local problems.
"Local councils should be encouraged to use their existing powers to sign, define, review and enforce local bans as required."
IAM Roadsmart director of policy and research Neil Greig said that local authorities did not have the resources either to provide extra parking spaces, or to implement a blanket ban.
He said: "New traffic orders, new signposting, new road markings and new enforcement administration will all be required at extra cost if a blanket ban is introduced.
"Councils are already struggling to implement low emission zones, cycling and walking policies, active travel policies, 20mph zones and a host of other transport measures against a background of budget cuts and dwindling resources."
The charity is also concerned that a blanket ban risked creating conflicts between neighbours in areas where there has never been a road safety problem.
It added that if a ban did go ahead, the income from fines generated by this should be ringfenced to improve parking facilities in the worst affected areas.
