Umm… Can we get around the front or the back maybe?

We have to go around the back

Mummy there's a tree

OK. Come on. Umm … can anyone see a way around

Around here

Are we going to have to go on the road are we?

Yeah

Find the kerb. Ooo … Sorry

Find the kerb

[Music ends dramatically]

It may seem perfectly harmless

But a car, parked across a footpath like this

can really ruin your day if you have a vision impairment

G'day I'm Dunc

And I'm Mark

and this video has a simple message

Think Before You Park

When I lost my sight

I was determined to remain independent

But this usually means encountering obstacles that I normally wouldn't find

Although it's hard enough with the dog and I, on our own

It's even harder with the kids

It creates stress and anxiety

This may seem like such a small issue

But for me and my family

it makes such a difference

when we're able to walk

to our destination, safely along a footpath.

When you've got a job to do, or a delivery to make

and there's just no parking around

what are you going to do?

It's just for a minute...right?

It might not seem like a big deal at the time,

but where you park in a hurry,

could cause a major problem for someone else.

With a vehicle, there's things hanging off the back of it.

And so the cane would hit the car

but the cane would actually miss the object sticking out

which might hit the face which causes... a bit of injury

Basically then what I do

is I find

the gap in between a fence and the car

or a brick wall

and if that doesn't work

I'll need to go towards the kerb

which makes it hard, especially when you're on a highway.

So think about the simple decisions

that you can make everyday

like keeping footpaths and building lines free and unobstructed.

And it's not just people with a vision impairment who are affected

How frustrating is it, for somebody pushing a pram

or perhaps in a wheelchair

who are forced onto the road

by a vehicle

that could have easily, left the pathway clear.

A crossing zone is that path

well the end of the footpath where it

in most cases tapers down to the road

for prams or bikes or whatever

where is the usual place in which to cross the road

When I arrive at the crossing zone

Umm...and there's a car

Umm...well I have Archie, and he'll come to a stop

but he may take me quite close to traffic.

I, may have children with me, or,

or whatever, so

I've got enough to deal with already

but when I have to actually, divert from the footpath

It does make things a lot harder.

So if people can think before they park

it will make my life so much easier.

A car parked over a crossing zone

is a major obstacle for someone with a vision impairment.

And, can put them in danger.

So, Think Before You Park.

Yes, well that's a bit of a shock

when I walk into a car across a footpath

because I'm not expecting to see an obstacle like that

And of course my cane hits it first which is my warning,

from there I work out which way to get around it

whether I can go to the left of the car or the right of the car

and most times I find I've got to work my way to the gutter

As far as my confidence goes

I can lose my confidence a little bit

because it makes me quite nervous

and I wonder why people do that sort of thing

just park a car without thinking

that, that could be an obstacle for a vision impaired person

to get around.

The small decisions you make

can make a big difference in someone elses life

and to their confidence and independence

Pull right into the driveway.

Keep paths and building lines clear.

And never obstruct a crossing zone.

Think Before You Park