Policy background
Car travel is a lifeline for many disabled people. Government statistics show that, like non-disabled people, disabled adults made almost two-thirds of all trips by car in 2021. However, disabled adults make a higher proportion of journeys as car passengers than non-disabled adults (19% compared with 12%), and we make slightly fewer trips as drivers (42% compared with 48%) (Department for Transport).
- 28% of disabled adults live in households which don’t have access to a car, compared with 15% of non-disabled adults (Department for Transport)
- In 2021 only 61% of disabled adults had a full driving license, compared with 80% of non-disabled adults (Department for Transport)
- In 2019/20, 2.15 million people were automatically eligible for a blue badge, yet only 46% of those people held a badge (Department for Transport)
Our research and work on car travel
Self-driving cars: the future of accessible transport, or a turn for the worse?
Self-driving cars: a closer look at what could go right, what could go wrong, and what we need to do to make sure that disabled people benefit from technology that’s being built in our name.
Access Problems in York
Flick, Transport for All member and retired Disability Equality Trainer, blogs about her campaign to ensure Blue Badge holders can still access York city.
Support us
We can't do this without your support. Take action, give what you can, or sign up as a member - and join our movement of disabled people fighting for a better future.