In European areas, the Blue BAdge scheme allows holders of a Blue Badge vehicular access to streets otherwise prohibited to any other users. Some of these areas are pedestrianised high streets that have restrictions to all traffic except for loading, however many allow blue badge holders to access these areas for parking.
Waze currently does not have this exemption in road restrictions.
Documenting blue badge parking bays specifically would be immensely helpful to millions of drivers (considering that over 23 million Blue Badges have been issued throught Europe and UK).
Can we create a specific exemption pass for blue badge scheme users and link it to road restrictions that way?
If somebody has a blue badge they are usually exempt from paying congestion charges in many cities (e.g.: London, Birmingham, and Oxford) and also for certain toll roads (E.g. M6 toll, Dartford crossing, Merseyside Link etc.).
Several people have already highlighted this issue previously from as far back as 2018.
- Pedestrianised area with limited vehicle access
- Blue badge LTN exemptions
- Include Disabled Blue Badge under the "Add ZTL Pass" feature
Since Waze operates in UK, it is subject to Equality Act 2010 legislation and not having this feature potentially breaches parts of this law as indirect discrimination arising from disability in that blue badge users are treated unfairly in routing options that make it more difficult to access areas they need to get to and are allowed to use… except Waze does not agree by treating this group like all users which is where the legal problem lies.
Let’s make this issue go away and create Blue Badge Scheme exemptions!