Drivers have called out supermarket car park age limit rules introduced at stores such as Aldi, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons. Many UK supermarket stores have dedicated parent and child parking bays, with strict rules in place over who can use the spaces.
Typically, parent and child bays are reserved strictly for parents or guardians in the care of one or more children at least under the age of 12. These parking bays are typically a lot wider and are specially designed to give parents enough space to manoeuvre. However, drivers admit to seeing individuals regularly breaking the law, with one motorist even claiming it “happens all the time”. One motorist even suggested giving access to specialty bays was a “lazy” move by stores.
Express reader @onion posted: “Why should young parents have preferential parking. It’s making them lazy.
“I have a relative who has a disabled badge. I have lost count of [non BB] holders parking in disabled slots. Usual excuse, ‘get a life, only going to be a minute etc’. They are the ones all supermarkets should fine.”
@jaque added: “Everybody must have seen people without kids in the car park in those bays. It happens all the time.”
Fellow Express reader @euripedes posted: “I am sure that every parent with children and drivers who regularly shop at supermarkets, are very aware of certain parking bays that have restrictions, some choose to ignore the restriction, they are the ones who are ignorant imbeciles.”
According to the RAC, there is still some ambiguity over whether pregnant women can use the parking spaces. Meanwhile, rules are likely to vary between stores and locations, with motorists urged to check signs before walking away from their vehicle.
Drivers unsure of the rules or guidelines have been told to ask an individual store manager to avoid being caught out. Experts at StartRescue have warned motorists could face hefty fines if they breach supermarket parking rules.
They explained: “Rules among supermarkets vary when it comes to child/parent parking spaces. In general, to park in a child/parent parking space, you should be accompanied by a child aged 12 or less.
“If someone parks in a child/parent space but does not have a child with them, they will probably be asked to move their vehicle (via the supermarket’s public address system). It’s also possible a fine may be levied for those who refuse to move their vehicle.”