Criteria for the DPA

The number of severely disabled people who are able to drive is ever increasing, however the matter of being able to access off-street car parks can still be challenging. The Equality Act
2010 says that providers of services to the public must make “reasonable adjustments” to remove barriers which may discriminate against disabled people.
In order to address this problem Disabled Motoring UK introduced the Disabled Parking Accreditation (DPA). The scheme recognises off-street parking facilities which are
accessible to disabled people.The DPA is primarily aimed at improving parking for disabled people and reducing abuse of disabled bays. Car parks that achieve the DPA will not only be demonstrating to their customers that they are committed to creating high quality parking facilities for disabled people.

The accreditation is an initiative the charity Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK) and managed by the British Parking Association (BPA). It is open to all operators with an interest in improving parking facilities for disabled people in the UK.

Car parks that would qualify for the DPA must have:

Accessible bays

The bays will meet British Standard 8300:2009 which are at least 2400mm × 4800mm with a 1200mm wide safety or transition zone marked out with cross patterned stripes along at least one side of the bay (1200mm can be shared with an adjoining accessible bay).

There will be the appropriate number of bays which DMUK has calculated as follows:

Size of Car Park (no of spaces)	Designated Bay Provision
1-50	2 + 3% total car park
51-200	3 + 3% of total car park
201-500	4 + 3% of total car park
501-1000	5 + 3% of total car park
1000	6 + 3% of total car park

Enforcement

Accessible bays will be monitored to ensure that they are not being used by people who do not have a disability.

Clear signage

Signs will form part of an integrated communication scheme that give clear directions, information and instructions for the use of a building.

Access around the car park

There will be level access between pedestrian entrances/exits and accessible parking bays. This does not necessarily mean that they must be on the same floor but where there are level differences compliant lifts or ramps must be provided.

Good Lighting

Parking spaces and any access routes to/from such spaces will be lit artificially to achieve a minimum average luminance for these specified areas.

Easy entry to the car park

Car parks will have an alternative method of entry for people who cannot take tickets or may have difficulty negotiating the entry/exit areas.

Accessible payment machines

If there is only one ticket machine it must always be at a height suitable for wheelchair users. It is expected that the payment machine will be situated as close as possible to the accessible bays.

Alternative payment methods

Alternative payment methods will be in place for people who cannot manage payment machines.

Concessions*

All forms of concessions are advocated

• this criteria will not affect the DPA status if not offered by the operator