Bronwyn Lines and daughter Lauren are frustrated at people using clearly marked ACROD parking bays.d406810
Camera IconBronwyn Lines and daughter Lauren are frustrated at people using clearly marked ACROD parking bays.d406810 Credit: Supplied/Jon Hewson

Family frustration at abuse of disabled parking bays

Rachel Fenner, Mandurah Coastal TimesMandurah Coastal Times

Bronwyn Lines’ daughter Laura is an engaging 11-year-old reliant on a wheelchair to get around.

Parking in the ACROD bay at the school is the only safe and easy way to get Laura into the family car.

‘I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to ask people to move out of the bay,’ Bronwyn said. ‘It’s incredibly frustrating.’

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When the Times visited the school, five cars used the ACROD bays.

‘One lady asked me, ‘where am I meant to park then?’ when I asked her to move,’ Bronwyn said.

The Department of Education provides two ACROD parking bays in new primary and secondary schools, and with existing schools, the bays are provided on a needs basis.

Halls Head principal Peter Beckingham urged parents to be safe whendriving to and from the school.

‘This has included reminders to parents on the appropriate use of the three ACROD parking bays at school and the importance of complying with school traffic management requests,’ he said. ‘We will continue to monitor these parking and traffic areas by designated staff.’

People abusing disability parking is nothing new in Mandurah, with local drivers regularly appearing on the Disability Parking Wall of Shame.

City of Mandurah spokeswoman Holly Sutton said last year 170 fines were issued for illegal parking in ACROD bays, at $120 per fine. She encouraged people to call the rangers to report ACROD parking abusers.