Persons with disabilities included in Bill
Government has taken concrete steps to recognise the rights of persons with disabilities within this country’s traffic laws.
So says Minister of Transport and Works, Michael Lashley. He made the comments in the House of Assembly yesterday morning as he piloted the much anticipated debate on the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2017. According to Minister Lashley, in particular the Bill speaks to designated parking spots for the disabled, ensuring that anyone who parks in such spots could, if found guilty, be required to pay a fine. He made the point while noting that to this point, persons with disabilities, which number 14 000, and of those 2 500 are wheelchair-bound, have only had “moral suasion” to use to try to get able-bodied persons who ignore the disabled signs to park elsewhere.
With that in mind, he commended the Barbados Council for the Disabled (BCD) which, on its own, developed permits to be carried by members to show they were entitled to park in such spots, and he said, now the legal footing will be there to help them face such situations head on. He explained that the Bill states that a person guilty of parking in disabled parking spaces will be, if found guilty, be required to pay a fine of $500. He is therefore encouraging motorists to obey the disabled parking signs where they see them and he is further urging persons who see persons disobeying the law to report them to the authorities.
“No driver of a motor vehicle shall stop, stand or park a motor vehicle in a parking space that is designated for disabled parking by a disabled parking sign, unless the motor vehicle prominently displays a disabled parking permit issued by the Licensing Authority that clearly indicates that the motor vehicle is owned and operated by a person with a disabilities or used for the transportation of a person with a disability,” he added.
Likewise, the minister said that the legislation also seeks to ensure that persons with disabilities have no hindrances in respect of mounting sidewalks. He explained that motorists are also prohibited from hindering the use of a dropped curb, unless they are picking up or setting down passengers who have disabilities.
“Mr. Speaker, in this Bill we also define a person with a disability. It means a person whose mobility is limited as a result of a permanent or temporary disability that makes it impossible for the person to walk or to move basically. So we have covered the disabled community and for the first time, Parliament has decided to recognise the rights of the disabled community in relation to the road traffic legislation,” he noted.
Minister Lashley said his Ministry has to now work along with the BCD, to ascertain those persons who require a permit so as to furnish them with such. He made the comments as he revealed that representation has been made to the Ministry by the BCD to widen sidewalks, so as to ensure better use of such by persons with disabilities; and he stated that they will also work along with the BCD to ensure that the widening is also put in place. (JRT)