Disability, accessibility and blue badge statistics: 2022 to 2023
Data on trips made by disabled people from the National Travel Survey, and disabled parking badges (Blue Badges) held and issued in England.
Applies to England
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Statistics on trips taken by disabled people are obtained from the National Travel Survey (NTS).
In 2022:
- disabled adults in England made 25% fewer trips than non-disabled adults
- this difference was smaller amongst the 16 to 59 age range (14%) than amongst the over 60s (35%)
- disabled adults in England made an average of 686 trips, compared to 916 for non-disabled adults
- new analysis on income shows that in general, the difference in number of trips taken between disabled and non-disabled adults decreased with increasing income
Statistics on parking badges for disabled people (‘Blue Badges’) in England are obtained from the Blue Badge Digital Service (BBDS) database.
As at 31 March 2023:
- 2.57 million Blue Badges were held, an increase of 5.7% since March 2022
- 4.6% of the population held a Blue Badge
Between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023:
- 1.14 million badges were issued, an increase of 101,000 badges (9.7%) on the previous year
- this increase is likely to be at least in part due to the effects of the gradual easing of coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions on local authority processes and staffing
- 39% of these were issued without further assessment
Contact us
Transport: disability, accessibility and blue badge statistics
Email localtransport.statistics@dft.gov.uk
Media enquiries 0300 7777 878
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