MPs have asked the Government to help motorists who have problems parking because of increasing use of mobile technology apps.
They say people are being left to ‘wrestle with countless apps’ to pay parking charges or face a fine if they fail, and the elderly and vulnerable are most at risk.
Clive Betts, chair of the levelling up,?housing and communities committee, has called for a ‘national parking platform’ so that motorists who do not have smartphones or cannot get a mobile signal will still be able to pay for their parking.
Mr Betts said: ‘Finding suitable, affordable, and accessible places to park is an important part of our transport infrastructure and of considerable value to people as they visit villages, towns and cities.
‘Recently, there have been accounts of motorists being, in effect, digitally excluded as local authorities phase out pay-as-you-go parking meters due to 3G networks being switched off by mobile operators.
‘People shouldn’t be left to wrestle with countless apps to pay a parking charge or risk a fine when they aren’t able to navigate the app successfully.
‘These developments pose particular difficulties for elderly or vulnerable motorists who may not have a smartphone, or who may struggle to use apps if they do.’
