A new campaign is alerting drivers in Northern Ireland to the consequences of pavement parking and the impact it has on other road and pavement users.
The ‘Think before you park’ campaign was launched on 1 November by Northern Ireland’s infrastructure minister Nichola Mallon, who describes the road safety issue as ‘important and little understood’.
The campaign will show drivers how parking on the pavement can endanger all pavement users forcing them into oncoming traffic – including people with disabilities, older people, children and people pushing prams.
Minister Mallon said: “Parking on pavements puts everyone using the pavements at risk.
“Drivers often mistakenly think they are doing the right thing by keeping the road clear but fail to realise the consequences of their vehicle blocking the way for people using the footpath.
“The reality is that a seemingly harmless act of parking on pavements, even for a short time, puts people in danger, making them feel vulnerable and at risk. When there is not enough room to get past, a person is forced to step out onto the road into oncoming traffic.
“The risk is heightened in particular for people who are visually or hearing impaired, people with mobility issues using wheelchairs and mobility scooters, those pushing prams, children, older people and those who have dementia and autism.”
In creating the campaign, the Northern Irish Government sought advice from the Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee (Imtac) – and other key stakeholder groups – to ensure that the issues encountered by all pavement users were identified.
Bert Bailie, chairperson of Imtac, said: “Together with many other organisations Imtac has requested action to address the problem of obstructions on pavements caused by illegally or inconsiderately parked vehicles.
“We have numerous first-hand accounts from older people, disabled people and others about the impact that thoughtless pavement parking has on their lives.
“It is important for wider society to understand this impact and I encourage everyone to think twice about how and where they park.”
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