THE Government is urging councils in England to adopt the NPP parking control app, which risks alienating many older drivers who will not use the app and be compelled to park further away and possibly in more dangerous locations, says leading breakdown provider Start Rescue.

The National Parking Platform (NPP) app allows motorists to use a single smartphone app to pay for parking in multiple locations rather than downloading several apps for different car park operators.

"This is a fundamentally sound idea," said Lee Puffett, managing director of Start Rescue. "But it has to recognise that many drivers, and particularly older drivers, prefer to pay with cash, bank card or their phone using the likes of Apple Pay. Weak phone signal, bad lighting, and poor parking signage all contribute to making parking payments trickier for older drivers."

Data from Ofcom shows that only 68 per cent of those aged 65 or over use a smartphone to go online. With more than 9.2 million drivers on our roads in the same age group according to the DVLA, that suggests there are potentially 2.9 million older drivers without access to apps to enable them to pay for parking.

Rob Heard, chair of the Older Drivers Forum, said: "While we recognise the convenience and growing popularity of parking apps, it's vital that councils and operators continue to provide alternative payment options.

"Not all drivers-particularly older motorists-use smartphones or feel comfortable relying solely on digital services. A fully inclusive approach ensures that everyone can park safely and conveniently, without being disadvantaged or forced to seek less suitable alternatives."

Start Rescue, part of the Call Assist family, which supports motorists with breakdown cover across the UK and Europe has also achieved Which? Recommended Provider status for seven years in succession, an achievement that's unmatched by any other vehicle recovery operator.