Hadi Daghriri was shocked to see able-bodied drivers vying for parking bays reserved for the disabled. Daghriri, who was accompanying a relative who has impaired vision, is among a growing number of drivers who are calling on the government to fine motorists who park in spots reserved for the disabled, Makkah daily reported. “Finding an empty parking space is a miracle despite the fact that parking spots for the disabled have been allocated in front of both government buildings and private businesses. The concerned authorities should slap heavy penalties on whoever parks his car in a parking space allocated for the disabled. The Traffic Department should play an effective role in this respect,” he said. Miteb Hamdi, another motorist, said awareness needs to be raised on the issue as many people are unaware how much the disabled have to suffer when an able-bodied person occupies his parking spot. “At malls, sometimes it is store employees themselves who park in parking spots for the disabled. In fact, the majority of parking bays allocated for the disabled are occupied by normal people. People need to take the circumstances of the disabled into consideration and this can only happen if there is awareness in society. This is a goal that all should cooperate in achieving,” he said, while calling for warning signs to be erected so able-bodied drivers know they will be fined if they park in a disabled parking spot. Aside from providing annual assistance that can reach SR8,000, depending on the degree of disability, the Ministry of Social Affairs has distributed over 4,000 specially equipped vehicles for the disabled. The Ministry of Education spends SR170 million annually for transporting the disabled and has also allocated vehicles for them. The director of Traffic Police in Makkah, Col. Salman Al-Jumay'i, said heavy fines will be imposed on those who use parking spots meant for the disabled. He said disabled parking spots are monitored by the Traffic Department to ensure that they are not occupied by able-bodied drivers. “Traffic police will tow away cars that are parked in parking spots meant for the disabled,” he warned.
