Parking rule for ‘special’ people will be uniform

“The Ministry of Health (MoH) has decided to devise a uniform policy, under which people with special needs can fully avail of parking areas assigned for them across the country,” according to Dr Saeed Abdullah, Member of the Medical Committee at the MoH. Issuing parking licence for disabled is conducted by the Traffic Department at the Ministry of Interior, in coordination with the Medical Committee at the MoH.

Applicants get a one-year renewable permit. Speaking to Khaleej Times yesterday, Dr Abdullah explained that the move aims to put an end to the misuse of parking places for people with special needs. “The unified criteria will curb this practice and help people with special needs fully benefit from parking facility,” said Dr Abdullah. He said the MoH has prepared a unified form to be filled by specialised doctors at health institutions across the emirates on health conditions of disabled persons and how far they are in need for special parking areas.

He said, “Under the new policy, people with special needs applying for a parking licence will be categorised in accordance with the type of disability.” If the disability is permanent, the applicant might get a licence with two to three-year validity, to spare him/her hassles of renewing procedures, he said.

“Some people who had met with road accidents and sustained temporary disability also used to unjustifiably apply for the licence”, he noted.

The Medical Committee is the authority to decide whether the applicant is entitled to get the licence or not, he clarified. The official underlined that in case the applicant does not drive, the licence will not be valid unless the special needs person is travelling in the car.

“In some cases, parents or sons of the disabled person try to utilise the facility , especially during peak hours though they are not carrying the ailing member of the family, said Dr Abdullah.

He said the age and health condition of the applicant will also be considered in specifying the location of the parking place. “If someone applies for a licence for his 60-year old mother, the authorities concerned will make sure to provide him/her with a licence that will be valid in hospital areas. However, the applicant in this case should not expect to get a licence for parking in a shopping area, “ said Dr Abdullah.