File image. Photo: 123RF
A blind Auckland woman who is regularly forced to walk on busy roads with her guide dog says she is fed up with thoughtless and inconsiderate drivers.
Sally Britnell said people are parking their vehicles on footpaths of busy roads, stopping those with disabilities, prams, and mobility aids from getting past and forcing them into the path of traffic.
She lives in Glenfield on Auckland's North Shore and said it happens throughout the week - with Sundays being worst of all.
People visiting a place of worship and local businesses are the culprits, parking their vehicles on footpaths when spaces are available in car parks, she told Checkpoint.
Britnell said her 3-year-old guide dog Sienna will take her up to the car and show her that she cannot get through.
With around five to 10 degrees of vision, Britnell will reach out and see how far away it is.
"So I can use that but she will take me up to the car, show me it and then I will tell her to find the way and she will find a way around.
"Lately more, there hasn't been ways around and it's not just because of the car, it could also be because there's a power pole or things like that."
In situations like that, the only choice for Britnell and Sienna was to walk out onto the road.
"I have to listen and I have to make sure there's no cars coming, tell her to go forward, she will actually disobey me if there's cars coming as well, to keep me safe."
"But doing that when you've actually got low vision, I also have a partial hearing deficit as well, is actually quite challenging."
Britnell said she has reported the issue to the council - who say not much can be done unless she makes complaints while still at the scene.
But not being able to read the vehicle's number plate - and having places to be - made that difficult.
Britnell has been sharing her experiences on social media, creating videos to educate people.
"I'm sharing it actually to educate the public and that's why I started making videos in the first place, because there were a lot of people who haven't met anyone with a disability, or haven't met a disabled person I should say, and haven't seen anyone with a service dog, don't know how to act and don't really realise there's even challenges going on so I started making the videos.
"I think I've made quite a big impact for a lot of people, but I feel like some people just don't want to learn, even if it is something illegal I've pointed out."
Britnell said she would love to be able to report the matter after the fact - and for people to be ticketed just through photos alone.
She said a little consideration could go along way - and it was not just disabled people it was affecting.
"It's not just people who have low vision, it's not just people who are disabled. Think of people with prams, think of people who might be on crutches."
