Half of drivers illegally using mobility parks - research

NOT VISIBLE ENOUGH? Changing the colour of mobility carparks has been found to cut the number of drivers illegally using them.

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Changing the colours of mobility parking spaces would deter people from parking in them illegally, according to CCS Disability Action.

Research undertaken by the disability support service found that 55 per cent of people using mobility parking spaces with the existing yellow markings were doing so illegally.

After being painted blue with yellow markings, the misuse dropped to 51 per cent after three months and 42 per cent after six months, according to Research NZ, which monitored the parks.

During the same six-month period, those parking legally in the spaces increased from 40 per cent to 52 per cent.

Mobility Parking Permit Scheme manager Peter Wilson said the research was encouraging.

"This study shows that increased visibility affects the rate of misuse and genuine mobility parking users benefit from the freed-up spaces."

Recent amendments to Land Transport rules are likely to see fines for illegal parking in mobility spaces increase to a standard $150

- NZPA