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ECMT Archives on Accessibility for People with Reduced Mobility Reciprocal Recognition of Parking Badges
In 1978, the ECMT Council of Ministers agreed that all Member Countries of the ECMT would grant the same parking concessions to people with disabilities as they offered their own nationals. These concessions usually allowed special parking in areas reserved for people with disabilities, or allowed longer parking periods or exemptions from charges.
This Resolution was updated and extended in scope in 1997. In addition to all the Member countries of ECMT this Resolution now applies also to the ECMT Associated Countries (Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, New Zealand and United States). This means that disabled motorists from all ECMT Member and Associate countries are now entitled to the same parking concessions as nationals in all ECMT Countries. The only condition is the display of a badge showing the international wheelchair symbol.
In 1998 the EU adopted a
Resolution along the same lines for the Member countries of the EU.
The badges to be displayed are to be standardized to facilitate
recognition and to avoid difficulties at local level.
To facilitate the implementation of these decisions the following information is provided to help people visiting the various countries understand the local rules. At present different badges are used and where this information is available these badges are shown. This page describes what the concessions are, where disabled people can park and where they can't.
Use the links below to go directly to the relevant country: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | L | M | N | P | S | U
Designated disability parking spaces are available across Australia. Currently, the responsibility for delivering the parking schemes is shared across a range of state, territory, and local government and non-government organisations. The Australian Government is currently working with state and territory governments to harmonise accessible parking schemes. Key features of the Australian system are that:
See also www.gov.au Reciprocal Recognition Some States and territories have regulations that comply with ECMT Resolution 97/4. There is a commitment to harmonise schemes across Australia and to implement ECMT Resolution 97/4. Further information on the Australian Disability Parking Scheme can be found at: www.disabilityparking.gov.au or from accessparking@fahcsia.gov.au
AUSTRIA On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. Do not park there if the space is marked with a name or vehicle registration number. Parking on roads
Parking in car parks: Public car parks offer no concessions to vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card. Parking badge: EU model Contact Ms. Liliana PREROWSKY
On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. Parking on roads
Parking in car parks: Some car parks allow vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card to be parked free of charge but only in specific parking bays marked for disabled people. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. Parking badge: EU model
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA Currently there is no national system. Schemes vary in different administrative areas. Domestic legislation is in preparation to establish and apply rules for parking badges for disabled people and to harmonise with EU requirements. Reciprocal Recognition No yet in place - see above Contact Dario BUSIC
BULGARIA Contact point for further information Mr. Jordan STOYANOV
Each provincial and territorial government legislates parking for people with disabilities. Responsibility is then delegated to cities and municipalities for enacting and enforcing their own parking bylaws. As a result, parking policies for people with disabilities may vary somewhat from one jurisdiction to another. There are, however, important common elements:
Reciprocal Recognition Visitors to Canada must bring their valid parking permit from their home jurisdiction with them and suspend it from the rearview mirror or display it in plain view on the dashboard of their vehicle. Canadian jurisdictions will recognize disabled parking permits from other Canadian provinces and territories, from the United States and from Europe. It is the responsibility of the permit holder to comply with local parking bylaws. Contrary to most European countries:
For more specific information on the policies of a particular Canadian jurisdiction, visitors may wish to contact the parking permit issuing office of their provincial destination:
Contact Barbara NELSON
CZECH REPUBLIC Card People in wheelchairs are equipped with a card issued by the Czech Association for Environment of Disabled People. The card consists of 4 pages:
At present the card does not have a pictogram of a person in a wheelchair, but later this year a pictogram - blue on a white background - will figure on the title page. This pictogram is already in use elsewhere in the Czech Republic (in the metro, public areas, health institutes and transport infrastructure). It is regulated by Decree No 30/2001 to the Act No 361/2000 Coll. Parking regulations for foreign visitors Foreign citizens using wheelchairs and/or with mobility handicaps, have the same rights as Czech citizens in respect of parking, provided they are equipped with the document issued by the authorized organisation. This is regulated by Decree No 99/89 Coll., on traffic rules for road communications (the Traffic Rules), issued by the Ministry of the Interior. In brief, people with mobility handicaps may park their vehicle wherever parking is generally permitted. As regards the parking fee, the owner of the parking place determines the amount. Contact Mr. Vlastimil SINDYLEK
On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. Parking discs are required when drivers park in areas that are time limited. Foreign vehicles may display discs which are issued and accepted in the home country. Parking on roads Vehicles displaying a disabled person parking card:
Parking in car parks In car parks where payment is required, the driver must generally pay according to how long the vehicle is parked. Though in Copenhagen, vehicles displaying a disabled person parking card may park free of charge in public zones. Check locally. Reciprocal Recognition Denmark uses the EU model badge and has implemented ECMT Resolution 97/4. Contact The Ministry of Justice
Parking badge: National Model Contact Mr. Hellat RUMVOLT
On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. Do not park there if the space is marked with a name or vehicle registration number. Parking on roads
Parking in car parks Vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card may be parked free of charge and beyond time limits. Parking badge: EU model Contact Ms. Anne JÄRVINEN
FRANCE Although there is a national system of parking concessions, local variations can apply. Check locally. In Paris, vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking car may be parked on roads free of charge. On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol on a vertical sign. As a general rule, a wheelchair symbol is drawn on the pavement but this feature is not imposed by regulation. Parking on roads
Parking in car parks Car parks do not generally offer concessions to vehicle displaying a disabled person's parking car. Reciprocal Recognition Parking Badge: EU model. The recognition of badges from other EU member States was established in 2000. Badge holders from other European countries have the same parking concessions as French badge holders. France has implemented ECMT Resolution 97/4. Contact Mme Michèle TILMONT
On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a road sign (wheelchair symbol). Do not, however, park on spaces marked with a parking card number reserving them for certain disabled people. Parking on roads
The above regulations apply unless there is another parking facility available at a reasonable distance. The maximum parking period is 24 hours. Parking in private car parks Ask the car park attendant on the spot whether disabled people are granted parking privileges. Reciprocal Recognition Germany uses the EU model badge. ECMT Resolution has not been implemented. In Germany, the Federal States (Bundesländer) are the appropriate authorities for the surveillance of road traffic and they have rejected this in the past. Reasons included likely difficulties caused by varying documents/badges (different style etc.) and possible language difficulties. Recommendation for disabled people from associated ECMT countries is to get in touch with the local authorities responsible for road traffic at their place of residence, to see what kind of special parking permission is suitable or if the parking badge of the home country is sufficient. Contact Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs
GREECE On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. Do not park there if the space is marked with a person's name or vehicle registration number. There are no concessions for street parking or parking in car parks. You may park only where parking is permitted, and you must pay parking charges and observe time limits. Parking badge: EU model
Parking badge: National model Contact Mr. Sandor RADAI
On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with wheelchair symbol. Do not park there if the space is marked with a person's name or vehicle registration number. Parking on roads
Parking in car parks Car parks do not generally give concessions to vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card, although some local variations may apply. Check locally. Parking badge: EU model
IRELAND On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with wheelchair symbol. Parking on roads
Parking in car parks In some car parks, payment concessions are given to vehicles displaying the disabled person's parking card. Drivers should check with the car park notices or ask an attendant for details. Reciprocal Recognition Parking badge: EU model. Road traffic and parking regulations of 1997 provides for recognition of parking badges issued by authorities in any country across the world. This provision is sufficiently broad to encompass the EU Recommendation for the reciprocal recognition of the Community Model parking card. No express reference is made to any particular measure in the 1997 regulation. Contact Anthony BYRNE
ITALY On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with wheelchair symbol. Do not park there if the space is marked with a name or vehicle registration number. Parking on roads
Parking in car parks One in 50 spaces in public car parks is reserved for use by vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card. Vehicles displaying a parking card may be parked there free of charge. If these spaces are occupied, vehicles displaying a card may be parked in other spaces free of charge. In some private car parks, vehicles displaying a parking card may be parked free of charge, and often for longer periods than other vehicles. Check locally. Parking badge: EU model
Parking badge: National model
LIECHTENSTEIN On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with wheelchair symbol. Apart from reserved spaces, there are no concessions for street parking or parking in car parks. You may park only where parking is permitted, and you must pay parking charges and observe time limits. Reciprocal Recognition Parking badge: EU model. ECMT Resolution 97/4 has not been implemented and there are currently no plans to do so. Contact Wilfried HAUSER
LITHUANIA Lithuania has not yet introduced the special Parking Card for people with disabilities according the the European Union Council Recommendation 98/376/EC. According to the provisions of the Road Traffic Rules parking privileges are applied for vehicles bearing the wheelchair symbol. A person driving a vehicle with the wheelchair symbol is allowed:
LUXEMBOURG On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with wheelchair symbol. Parking on roads
Parking in car parks Public car parks offer no concessions to vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card. Parking badge: EU model
Reserved spaces for parking badge holders (known locally as the 'blue sticker') are allocated in all localities on-street. Reserved parking spaces for parking badge holders are also allocated in government owned off-street parking areas. Planning regulations for major private developments with off-street public car parks require the allocation of a proportion of the total public car parking spaces to be reserved for parking badge holders. Reserved parking spaces for disabled persons are marked with the wheelchair symbol and may be used by any person holding a valid 'blue sticker' parking badge. Parking in roads in controlled parking areas Vehicles displaying a 'blue sticker' parking badge may park on-street in the reserved spaces without time restriction in time controlled parking zones and without a charge in zones that are controlled using time-based parking fees. Parking in public and private car parks Vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card may be parked free of charge in certain localities or against the standard parking fee/time restrictions in other localities. Reciprocal Recognition Parking badge: EU model Malta has adopted Council Recommendation 98/376/EC and there is mutual recognition of parking badges from EU countries. Regarding parking badges from non-EU countries, the following provision of ECMT Resolution 97/4 would apply as there is nothing in law to state the contrary: "To give the same parking facilities to holders of this document coming from another member or associated member country as they do to their own nationals". Contact David SUTTON
On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with wheelchair symbol. Do not park there if the space is marked with a name or vehicle registration number. Parking on roads
Parking in car parks Public car parks offer no concessions to vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card. Parking badge: EU model Contact Mr. Gerard VAN EGMOND
NORWAY On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with wheelchair symbol. Do not park there if the space is marked with a name or vehicle registration number. You may not use parking places reserved for other vehicles or vulnerable users. Parking on roads
Parking in car parks In many car parks vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card are allowed to be parked free of charge and without time limit, but only in bays reserved for disabled people. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. Reciprocal Recognition Parking badge: EU model. ECMT Resolution 97/4 was implemented in 2000. Contact Harald GJELSVIK
On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are
marked with wheelchair symbol or signs D-18, D-18b plus plate T-29. Parking on roads: A person driving a vehicle with a disabled person's parking car is allowed (provided that he/she drives with caution) to drive or park in the area which has following regulatory signs:
Parking in car parks Public car parks offer no concessions to vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card. Local authorities may establish: free parking only in marked places, free parking in whole area, reduced charges for the first hour, reduced subscription for parking. Parking badge: EU model Contact Ms. Malgorzata CHOINSKA
PORTUGAL On public roads and in car parks there are places designated for disabled people. Such places are marked with the wheelchair international symbol and they are provided for holders of a European Parking Badge. Under national legislation, this badge is issued without considering either who drives or who owns the vehicle, and it may be required by any disabled person, in order to make it possible for them to be transported in another person's car. The badge guarantees the right to park one's own car of another person's car, both on designated places and places not designated for disabled people, when it is absolutely necessary and for a short time period, since this will not be to the detriment of the normal circulation of vehicles and pedestrians. The current Highway Code has created another possibility of parking on-street and in car parks. Under this new disposition, disabled people have a right to park either their own vehicle, or the vehicle in which they are travelling, in new designated places provided in car parks and parking areas marked with the wheelchair symbol, as well as two other pictograms: a pregnant woman and a person carrying a child in their arms. Parking on roads
Parking in car parks Car parks do not always offer concessions to vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card. Reciprocal Recognition Parking badge: EU model. Portugal has implemented ECMT Resolution 97/4 under the 8th article of the Decree-Law n°307/2003. Contact Carlos PEREIRA
On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with wheelchair symbol. Parking on roads
Parking in car parks In most places car parks offer concessions to vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card. Check locally. Reciprocal Recognition Parking badge: EU model. ECMT Resolution 97/4 has been implemented. Contact Mr. José Antonio REDONDO
SWEDEN On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with wheelchair symbol. Parking on roads
Parking in car parks Car parks often make concessions to vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card. Check locally. Parking badge: EU model Contact Mr. Lars AHLMAN
SWITZERLAND On public roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are indicated by the wheelchair symbol. For parking in other places (including long term), the parking badge must be displayed with a parking permit. Parking on Roads
Parking in Car Parks National parking concessions do not apply in private car parks. You need to check locally on reserved places and charges. Reciprocal Recognition The badge is similar to that prescribed by the European Union. Switzerland has implemented ECMT Resolution 97/4. Contact Stephan HALTINER
On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with wheelchair symbol. While the Blue Badge disabled person's parking Scheme operates throughout the United Kingdom, there are small variations in its application in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In England and Wales the Blue Badge disabled person's parking card is used in conjunction with a parking disc. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, there is no time restriction on parking for Blue Badge holders. However, people from other countries who display the disabled person's parking card in England and Wales without a parking disc will be given the same conditions. Parking on roads
Parking in car parks Some car parks allow vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card to be parked free of charge. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant. Reciprocal Recognition Parking badge: EU model. The UK has not yet implemented ECMT Resolution 97/4 but it has taken the necessary legal powers and is committed to doing so. There is no timetable yet for implementation. Contact Blue Badge Team
UNITED STATES In the United States, every individual State has its own rules and regulations on disability parking permits, among other things. Each State has a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) which is usually the point of contact for that State and any vehicle related questions, including disability parking permits. Requirements for disabled parking permits for visiting overseas motorists vary from state to state. Many of the websites of individual state Departments of Motor Vehicles provide information and/or application forms for a disabled parking permit. ou may also check with your car hire company or contact a state travel/tourism office. Useful websites
For further information, please contact Mary CRASS |
