Many able-bodied New Zealanders still aren't getting the message about not using mobility car park, an advocacy group says.
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A new survey undertaken by CCS Disability Action has shown little improvement in attitudes towards using mobility parks without a permit from 10 years ago, with just over 15 percent of people openly admitted to using a mobility park in the last 12 months when they shouldn't have.
An observational study carried out in a range of locations in October found that about one in two people using mobility parks didn't have a permit to do so.
CCS Disability Action spokesman Peter Wilson said it was disappointing there had been no change in attitudes.
There had been awareness campaigns and increased fines, but they didn't seem to be making any difference, he said.
"Many people who use mobility parks illegally think because they'll only be a short period of time, or because it's a quiet day, that it will be okay."
But Mr Wilson said people who don't have a medical condition or disability that affects their mobility have hundreds of parking spaces to choose from.
"We know that some disabled people, they have to make a call about whether it's worth going out at times, because if they can't get a mobility park, they literally can't go and do what they want to do, so it's highly frustrating for people."
