Are Supermarkets Doing Enough for Disabled People? Baywatch Campaign Launch
Baywatch invites Disabled motorists, and those who travel with them, to complete a short survey each time they visit the supermarket between 21st July - 15th August, providing data on issues they encounter. The campaign focuses on six major retailers- Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi, and Lidl. Last time the campaign ran in 2022, DMUK received over 1,000 responses.
For many Disabled motorists, finding an available, properly enforced parking bay remains a persistent challenge and Disabled people feel at risk of being judged or harassed, particularly those with hidden disabilities. With little evidence of enforcement, disabled motorists sometimes feel pressured to put their personal safety at risk by challenging disabled bay abuse. Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK) wants all disabled motorists to feel safe, confident, independent, and respected. It’s time for greater accountability in both public and private parking.
Demand is rising sharply, with 52 Blue Badge holders competing per accessible bay and nearly 3 million badge holders across the UK, including a 10% increase in England last year this is of no surprise. These issues reflect a wider accessibility gap across public spaces and car parks, disadvantaging millions of Disabled consumers nationwide.
- 40% of customers have been forced to leave car parks because there were no available suitable spaces. This is very disappointing considering 36% reported non-badge holders occupying accessible bays, according to a recent Confused.com report (June 2025). This is an increase from DMUK’s 2019 Baywatch campaign which reported 20% of bays were being abused.
- 4 in 10 Disabled people said they can’t visit local shops because they are inaccessible. (Purple Pound)
- Nearly 1 in 10 people admit to parking in Disabled bays without a permit, often due to- lack of spaces, being in a rush or “will only be a few minutes” (Confused.com June 2025)
- Over two thirds (67%) of Blue Badge holders have never had their Blue Badge officially inspected (Baywatch 2022)
Considering 1 in 4 people have a disability in the UK it should be in Supermarkets interest to ensure they don’t lose custom and loyalty from their Disabled customers. At the moment Supermarkets lose £501 million a month through lack of accessibility (The Purple Pound). By gathering real-world data, DMUK can present this data to the parking operators and supermarkets showing the need for prosecution and encouraging them to change their attitudes towards abuse and misuse.
“Accessible parking bays aren’t just a nice-to-have - they’re a lifeline. Without them, so many Disabled people are shut out of everyday life, whether that’s getting to work, buying food, going to appointments, or just being part of their community. When bays are misused or not properly enforced, it sends a really clear message that our access and independence aren’t a priority. Baywatch matters because it’s not just raising awareness - it’s holding people to account and pushing for real change.” - Dr Shani Dhanda, Award Winning Disability Inclusion & Accessibility Specialist
“I went to a supermarket, which had 25 blue badge bays, all were full, only 10 cars had badges the rest had no badges on display, the supermarket said the car park was policed by a private company. I had to try parking elsewhere, it caused problems when my wheelchair lift blocked the car park access road.” – DMUK member (male)
“A father and adult daughter got out of a car which had no blue badge. My daughter politely asked if they had forgotten to put the BB on display, the abuse that followed was disgusting. I then approached the man and received the same. Security witnessed it and did nothing. I thought it was going to get physical, I walked away.”- Andy S, contributor
Survey Link and Supporting Organisations
Participants who complete the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win one of two £50 M&S gift cards, and are encouraged to complete the survey multiple times during the campaign. A link to the survey can be found here.
This year’s campaign is strengthened by the support of a wide range of supporting organisations: Disability Rights UK, Transport for All, Independent Living, Phab, Allied Mobility, Motaclarity, Surewise, The Outdoor Guide, Euan’s Guide, AVC, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower & RAC
Disability Rights UK also offers a free Factsheet on the Blue Badge scheme.