Blue Badge holders at risk of up to £2,500 fine for key mistake

Blue Badge holders who drive could face fines of up to £1,000 and even lose their licence if they fail to do one thing

Blue Badge holders face the prospect of a £1,000 penalty and potentially losing their driving licence if they make a key error. The Blue Badge scheme provides vital support for those with disabilities or health conditions, allowing them to park closer to their destinations.

The programme permits badge holders to use disabled parking spaces or even park on double yellow lines. Financial benefits are also included in the scheme, with badge holders often receiving complimentary parking in disabled bays and selected car parks.

And, the badge isn’t tied to a specific vehicle and can be utilised in any car, including taxis, as long as the holder is present. However, Blue Badge holders have several obligations that must be met to avoid potential consequences.

Reporting health conditions to the DVA

Part of this includes reporting health conditions that can affect your ability to drive. Guidance from the DVA states:” It is an offence if you do not tell the DVA about a medical condition that may impact your ability to drive and is punishable, on conviction, of a fine of up to £1,000.

“It is also an offence to drive after making a false declaration about your health to the DVA and is punishable, on conviction, of a fine of up to £2,500.”

When telling the DVA about a health condition, they issue you a medical form that you or your doctor will need to fill in. You must also allow you doctor to release your medical information to the DVA so they can make a proper assessment.

The DVA and its medical advisors will assess whether you’re fit to drive or not. uses the DVLA’s guide for assessing fitness to drive, which includes assistance for a wide range of conditions such as diabetes, psychiatric disorders, cardiovascular disease, and more.

The advisors may require more information from you or your doctor, or could even ask you to undergo a driving assessment or driving test to clarify your ability to drive with a health condition.

Further details on reporting a medical condition to the DVA can be found here. Full details on the rights and responsibilities attributed to Blue Badge holders can be found here.