Wheelchair Parking
September 29, 2022Wheelchair parking is a constant battle in SA due to the lack of respect from the general population (and our police services) for the reasons for these bays. However there is also no consistent registration system and each municipality throughout the country has their own registration system. This also means that a wheelchair parking disk issued in one municipality is not necessarily recognised in another municipality, thus creating a major headache for anyone with a disability who travels!
Regulation 305 of the Road Traffic Acts states that:
“No person other than a disabled person or a driver of a motor vehicle conveying disabled persons, which motor vehicle is issued with a sticker for conveying disabled persons, shall park in a parking bay reserved for disabled persons.”
The current procedure is that any person with a disability must go to their local police station or licensing department and hand in a doctor’s letter stating that they have a disability, and once they have completed the relevant documents they will be issued with a parking disc. Certain local authorities require the doctor to complete a section of the form, so the form needs to be collected beforehand. Please contact your local traffic department to confirm whether you require a doctor’s letter or a form.
To apply for the disc, you need to submit the completed form along with:
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QASA 0860 ROLLING / 0860 7655464 / info@qasa.co.za and APD 011 6468331 / info@apdjhb.co.za are able to advise and assist people with getting parking discs.
Dimensions of Parking Bays
For buildings providing facilities for the disabled or the site on which the building is located on, for parking of more than 50 motor vehicles the following apply:
- One parking space per 200 parking spaces or part thereof of the total number must be provided for disabled parking.
- The parking space width shall not be less than 3,5 metres, the length shall be approved and the parking bay shall be situated on a level surface.
- The parking space should be as close to the entrance as possible and the travel path should be accessible to the disabled person
- The parking space should be clearly demarcated for the use of disabled persons only.
(South African Bureau of Standards, 1990:155)
The parking provisions as set out also includes for a maximum distance from the entrance of 50m. It would be preferred to have any building providing an adequate number of parking spaces and not provide disabled parking in ratios to the parking provided generally.
(Source: Department of Public Works, 2001:11)