A SELBY guide dog owner has spoken out against problems caused in the town by motorists parking on pavements.
A recent survey by YouGov showed that 59 per cent of drivers in Yorkshire and the Humber admitted parking on the pavement, but most did not think about the trouble cause to people with visual impairments.
The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, which commissioned the survey, called the behaviour “thoughtless”, and said it made towns like Selby and other Yorkshire towns “no-go areas for blind and partially sighted people”.
Guide dog owner David Haynes, from Selby, said: “In my area I regularly have to walk out into the road because cars are blocking the pavement.
“As a visually-impaired person, every time I step out of the house it’s a challenge and I need to minimise the risks I face by carefully planning my routes. However well trained my Guide Dog Vinny is, every time I have to step out onto the road I am taking a huge risk.”
Andrew Leon, from Guide Dogs, said: “Imagine how terrifying it is to step into a road when you can’t see oncoming traffic. Too often people with sight loss are forced out into busy roads because an inconsiderate motorist has blocked the pavement.”
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