A new initiative aimed at getting people to "think before they park" has been launched by Limerick City and county council and local gardaí.
The aim of the campaign is to stop drivers from parking on footpaths, which causes major inconvenience and safety concerns for people with limited mobility and sight.
It is hoped the campaign will be rolled out in other cities and towns.
The campaign is aimed at raising awareness among motorists about the consequences of their parking choices, which frequently cause obstructions and safety hazards for others who are using wheelchairs, walking aids, those with limited sight, and parents walking with their children in buggies.
What is convenient for some can cause major inconvenience for others.
Motorists who park on footpaths, even for a few minutes, can cause hazards and safety concerns.
People frequently have to go out onto the road when they meet a parked car, putting themselves at risk, or go home altogether which impacts their daily routines.
Ashley McCarthy is a mother and has been using her wheelchair to get around since she suffered a life-changing spinal injury when she was 18.
"This is a massive issue for me. I am a mother to a four-year-old and even trying to get her to preschool in the morning is a disaster. I run into cars who just think they'll pull in on the footpath for a few minutes.
"But that means me having to backtrack several metres to drop off a curb, and go out on the road then which is not safe for me or my four year old."
"My message to motorists is, please be considerate of other people. Think if it was your own family member that can’t get past or, God forbid that it was ever to happen to you, that you need to use a mobility aid - how would you feel if someone was to be blocking your way and making your life very difficult when it’s just a simple thing of thinking in advance of where you park?" Ashley said.
Leigh Gath is a Thalidomide survivor who lives in Pallaskenry, Co Limerick, and again her appeal is for householders and businesses as well as motorists to think of others.
"Think before you park, think also about putting your bins out, putting furniture on the footpath, think about blind people, think about wheelchair users, and also of mothers with strollers. Think beyond what is convenient for yourself," she said.
Clare Dollard is living with multiple sclerosis for the past 24 years and walks with a mobility aid.
"A lot of people with MS suffer from fatigue. Every few extra steps can really tire you out and you might end up having to go home and not do all the jobs you intended to do, all because one person parked blocking your access and progress.
"I’d ask people to just try and keep the footpaths clear and bear in mind that for some people, it changes their life and their daily experience if they have to be negotiating all the time to get from A to B," Clare said.
As part of a new awareness campaign, motorist will not only get a fixed penalty notice, but also a QR sticker inviting them to watch a new video indicating how their actions affects others.
Garda Chief Superintendent Derek Smart said this is primarily an educational programme pointing out to motorists the impact of their parking behaviour on the lives of those vulnerable in our community for whom access is always a challenge.
"We’re looking at progressive ways of getting information out to people and to make them think about their driving behaviour. This is a very simple idea which we hope will get people to change.
"We have spoken to service users who tell us that they cannot use the footpaths on a regular basis because cars have parked on the curb."
"As well as an education and awareness campaign, we also have powers of enforcement. So motorists who engage in this will get a notice and a fine, but also will have a sticker placed on their car inviting them to watch a video which shows how their behaviour has impacted others in our community in an unfair way," he said.
Brian Kennedy is Director of Services for Transport and Mobility with Limerick County Council, and he said the initiative is about trying to make the footpaths around Limerick as accessible as possible for all citizens, but particularly those who are vulnerable.
Last year Limerick gardaí and Limerick Council issues over 18,000 fixed charge penalty notices for parking offences across the city and country.
Contrary to public perception, you do not have to have an actual physical ticket placed on your car - gardaí can issue fines without doing this.
Parking in a disabled bay means a fine of €150 and increases by half if not paid within a month.
