There’s been a rallying cry to address a “hidden problem” that’s causing headaches for Brummies, following the city council’s declaration of a road safety emergency last summer. Councillors from all parties are on the same page, eager for substantial action as concerns mount over the toll of deaths and serious injuries on Birmingham’s streets. Birmingham Live readers are eager to see changes being made.
A key issue highlighted in a recent report is the scourge of illegal or shoddy parking across Birmingham, with Coun Barker (Labour, Brandwood and Kings Heath) warning it could have a “severe impact” on road safety. However, the report suggests locals are sceptical about the Labour-led council’s capacity to crack down on unlawful parking.
Coun Barker drew an analogy between the broader road safety concerns and an iceberg, with the perils of dangerous and illicit parking being the “hidden problem” beneath the waves. “Dangerous parking leads to dangerous driving,” he cautioned.
Read more: Birmingham Airport to have more night flights
Cllr Majid Mahmood, who holds the transport and environment portfolio, commented: “Motorists should always park safely and legally and be mindful of other road users and our enforcement officers will take action where appropriate. We would of course encourage people to use public transport or walk where possible”. He further expressed the council’s administration’s ambition to implement a 20mph limit along with plans to reduce nearly all of Birmingham’s 40mph speed limits to 30mph.
Commenter Vanquish thinks: “About time really. They should turn all of the speed cameras back on as well. You rarely see anyone speeding on the Hagley road, as people know they get a ticket. You shouldn’t really need technology to enforce the law, but if people can’t do as they are meant to, then I suppose you must.”
MaxPayne agrees: “An excellent, if long overdue, initiative. Surely, to maximise the effectiveness of this policy, it needs to be coupled with mandatory annual retests for over 65s.”
Wary71 retorts: “My experience is that most of the worst perpetrators of bad parking are in the 35 to 45 age bracket!”
Lily60 says: “Small Heath is terrible for illegal parking, they are on pavements in between houses, they just don’t care. I feel so sorry for parents with push chairs and small kids, they have to go into the roads because of selfish people.”
Mrfrosty adds: “Definitely needs something done about food delivery drivers. Clogging main roads, parking on double yellows waiting for orders.”
Shirleyotter points out: “We don’t need money wasted on enquiries. People parking on pavements, red lines parked on, grass verges driven, uninsured vehicles, people with 6 cars parked outside 1 house on the pavement. The law is there, enforce it.”
Lock23 agrees: “It has been a problem in Erdington, Gravelly and Slade road, not forgetting the A38 where freight seems to be given priority on the footpaths along that dangerous fast road. It’s been recorded in meetings, fixmystreet, emails to councilors and the MP, but nothing gets done.”
N8935f adds: “It isn’t a hidden problem, it is there in the open for everyone to see. How much has the enquiry cost the tax payer? Why was it even needed when the problem is visible everywhere in Birmingham? Just sub-contract more ticket agents and pay their wages from the fines.”
Michael333 suggests: “Make public transport FREE, more buses that can be flagged down at any point, seize and crush any vehicle that fails to cooperate with existing laws. Instate real people into positions of authority. Many problems in Birmingham could be solved with the correct leadership.”
Notsilentmajority points out: “There has been a failure by Birmingham City Council to ensure that there is adequate parking when approving planning proposals, and there has been a failure by Birmingham City Council to build car parks. People don’t park in inconvenient places unless they have to.”
Vanquish scoffs: “Why, because they made everyone have several cars per household, and told people to ignore the rules of the road?!”
Ukpedestrian just says: “Badly parked cars should be towed.”
What do you think the solution is to dangerous parking in Birmingham? Have you been affected by the chaos? Have your say in our comments section.