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AIBU?

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AIBU to not know the actual rules on parking next to a dropped kerb?

128 replies

Kerbie678 · 18/06/2026 05:51

I'm not sure what's allowed and what's not regarding parking over a dropped kerb, as different websites have conflicting advice.

There's a dropped kerb outside my house specifically for my driveway, and there is a wooded area across the road with no footpath, so it's not as if anyone needs to access the dropped kerb in order to cross the road.
I'm unable to use the driveway presently as it's too steep, but I do use the dropped kerb to turn my car around, because otherwise I'd have to drive down the road to turn it as my road isn't the widest.

I tend to park along my dropped kerb, but lately my neighbour has taken to parking his car directly over it if he arrives home before me and there's little car parking space elsewhere for him. When he does this, it means I have to park further down the road and am unable to see my car out the window to check on it. What's more, this leaves me unable to turn my car round easily, as mentioned.

My neighbour has two vehicles for his property, and often parks leaving a large space between them, and even though I've politely asked if he wouldn't mind parking a few metres further along so that I can park outside my own drive, he usually ignores this,

Do I have any rights to park outside my own dropped kerb, as, like I said, some websites say yes, but others say I'm not able to.
Btw, I know I don't own the road, but would just like advice on this, thanks.

OP posts:
Aiming4Optimistic · 19/06/2026 06:36

Start parking outside his house. Ideally leave one of your cars there for an extended period. Sone people only learn to be considerate, when inconvenienced themselves!

Zanatdy · 19/06/2026 05:53

He is blocking your drive, so yes ask him to stop. You don’t have to say you’re asking him to stop so you can park there yourself, just say do you mind not blocking the driveway. I’d never block someone’s driveway. The reason curbs are dropped is so people can access their own drive, but surely you can block yourself in. No-one is going to tell you off for parking in front of your own dropped kerb. But a neighbour parking in front of your dropped kerb is not on.

1weekinjuy · 19/06/2026 05:38

Kerbie678 · 18/06/2026 22:03

What do you mean 'how does that work in reality'?

so to be clear… you approached him and said “excuse me” and he turned to you? And then you asked him not to block your driveway. And he looked through you, didn’t say a word and turned on his heel and walked away?

And that was that. Correct?

Will you perhaps…. Try again? And may also sort the very mild issue stopping you using your own driveway?

Kerbie678 · 18/06/2026 22:03

1weekinjuy · 18/06/2026 21:51

Reason being, if I park on the drive then he couldn't park along the dropped kerb anyway as he'd be blocking me in

So tell him that

you say you have asked him not to and he pretended he hadn’t heard. How does that work in reality?

What do you mean 'how does that work in reality'?

OP posts:
1weekinjuy · 18/06/2026 21:51

Reason being, if I park on the drive then he couldn't park along the dropped kerb anyway as he'd be blocking me in

So tell him that

you say you have asked him not to and he pretended he hadn’t heard. How does that work in reality?

1weekinjuy · 18/06/2026 21:50

Kerbie678 · 18/06/2026 21:30

That makes no sense. Cyclists who can ride on the cycle path but choose not to do sometimes slow the flow of traffic down, but if you use some logic, whether or not I park on my drive or against my dropped kerb, my neighbour isn't any worse off.

Reason being, if I park on the drive then he couldn't park along the dropped kerb anyway as he'd be blocking me in. Some posters understand this, others like yourself clearly don't.

What makes no sense is having a private driveway but not using it because of something that you could get fixed in less than a morning

Kerbie678 · 18/06/2026 21:30

LuckyLyds · 18/06/2026 19:26

People who park on the road when they have a drive are like cyclists who ride on the road next to a cycle path

That makes no sense. Cyclists who can ride on the cycle path but choose not to do sometimes slow the flow of traffic down, but if you use some logic, whether or not I park on my drive or against my dropped kerb, my neighbour isn't any worse off.

Reason being, if I park on the drive then he couldn't park along the dropped kerb anyway as he'd be blocking me in. Some posters understand this, others like yourself clearly don't.

OP posts:
Anonomoso · 18/06/2026 20:35

I've just Googled and, I'm assuming Google knows my exact area as it states In (names area) it's illegal to park over a dropped kerb. The home owner can infact contact the local council who will come out and ticket the parked car.

Have a check on your local authorities website.

1weekinjuy · 18/06/2026 20:16

Can’t get my head around having a private driveway but not using it because of something that could be so very easily resolved

Bunnyfuller1 · 18/06/2026 19:34

The law isn’t interested in you getting onto your drive, so as long as the drive is empty someone can park there. However, it is illegal to block access to the public highway and so if you used your drive he would need to stop parking across the dropped kerb. Get your drive fixed so you can use it, parking disputes are notorious for exploding into huge neighbour wars which isn’t a good look for when you want to sell.

LuckyLyds · 18/06/2026 19:26

People who park on the road when they have a drive are like cyclists who ride on the road next to a cycle path

Byjoveilasted · 18/06/2026 18:21

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Byjoveilasted · 18/06/2026 18:19

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Kerbie678 · 18/06/2026 18:18

Cob81 · 18/06/2026 14:00

He’s being an ignoramus prick, especially as he’s leaving huge gaps between his cars on purpose, people parking on the streets in town centres like that absolutely rile me, could fit 3 cars in yet someone parks bang in the centre so not enough space in front or behind them unless it’s a smart car 🙄 I would 100% get no parking/ no blocking driveway signs and drill them into your wall both sides of your pillars. Start taking photos every time he blocks your drive with the signs visible in the photos too. I’d say your best bet is to ask the council, doesn’t matter you don’t use it yourself but your visitors do and can so shouldn’t be blocked. Have you anyone with a spare car they’re not using that you could park there so looks like you need access at any time. He absolutely should not be leaving for the day either and leaving his car blocking your driveway.

My sons selling his car as he's bought another one, maybe he can drop it off to mine and leave it on the drive for a while 😁

OP posts:
Kerbie678 · 18/06/2026 18:15

ToKittyornottoKitty · 18/06/2026 17:52

But the parking issue obviously is, you’d be better off sorting the tarmac than contacting highways agency to talk about drop curbs etc. That won’t make any difference to the neighbour parking there anyway. Using your driveway would.

It's really not, trust me, I just made a thread about something that annoys me, but I don't spend each and every day thinking about it, I've more important things to worry about.

OP posts:
Kerbie678 · 18/06/2026 18:12

ToKittyornottoKitty · 18/06/2026 09:13

Knock on his door/post a note through telling him to move his car as you need to use your driveway tonight. Wether he’s right or wrong he probably can’t read minds

I've not long got home from work and I've been able to park outside my drive tonight as the neighbour is parked in another spot. Either he or his wife must've gone out in the 'blocking' car earlier and chose a different place to park.

My neighbour only tends to park against the dropped kerb when there's no where else near to his house, so this makes me question if I'm making a big deal out of it all. Mind you, he's done it on a number of occasions, and it's pissed me off no end.

OP posts:
ToKittyornottoKitty · 18/06/2026 17:52

Kerbie678 · 18/06/2026 17:42

My 'arse has been in gear' very much so actually fyi. I've been working and looking after my seriously ill mum who lives alone, sorry that the tarmac hasn't been on the top of my list of priorities recently . 1

But the parking issue obviously is, you’d be better off sorting the tarmac than contacting highways agency to talk about drop curbs etc. That won’t make any difference to the neighbour parking there anyway. Using your driveway would.

Kerbie678 · 18/06/2026 17:42

Welldoya · 18/06/2026 09:08

I've got to go to work soon myself, but I'm sure I'll be parking down the road again

get your ass in gear and sort the tarmac issue so you can park on your driveway then

My 'arse has been in gear' very much so actually fyi. I've been working and looking after my seriously ill mum who lives alone, sorry that the tarmac hasn't been on the top of my list of priorities recently . 1

OP posts:
ForPlumReader · 18/06/2026 17:40

I don't see how you can complain if you don't even use the driveway. Fair game I'd say.

Kerbie678 · 18/06/2026 17:35

Imdunfer · 18/06/2026 08:48

The answer to this is obvious.

Because if her car is on her drive then he can't park there. So it makes no difference to him whether her car is parked on her drive or blocking her drive.

Besides which, as I pointed out above, it's not legal for him to block her drive.

Edited

Precisely!

OP posts:
Kerbie678 · 18/06/2026 17:32

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 18/06/2026 12:10

Just report him to parking enforcement get him ticketed and off you go.

Phone parking enforcement and get clarity re parking across your own dropped kerb

That's what I need to do, contact my local highways agency and find out if I'm able to park along the dropped kerb or not.

OP posts:
Anarchy99 · 18/06/2026 16:41

Just had a look at the Highway Code (prob more reliable than asking randomers!)

https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/parking.html

QuizNight · 18/06/2026 16:39

Welldoya · 18/06/2026 07:14

There’s two issues here

  1. the fact that the op can’t access her own driveway due to a tarmac issue (odd)
  2. the fact her neighbour is blocking her driveway (rude)

the question about the dropped kerb is irrelevant to this issue

It’s the only thing that’s relevant. There’s no law protecting driveways, only against blocking a car in. That doesn’t apply as she doesn’t use her driveway. There’s no laws against being rude. There is a law against parking across dropped kerbs. Unfortunately for OP, that does also include them.

Their options are:

  • hope neighbour complies with their request
  • fix their drive
  • report neighbour and stop parking their themself
  • leave the situation as it is
BillyBites · 18/06/2026 14:17

Troy me is with parking across your own dropped kern is that it muddies the waters. Other people see a car there (whether or not they know it’s the property owner’s) and assume the space is fair game.
And a parking won’t know it’s yours either.

Cob81 · 18/06/2026 14:00

Kerbie678 · 18/06/2026 07:56

I've mentioned it before to him, asking politely if he wouldn't mind parking a few metres further up so I can park outside the drive, but he acted as if he didn't hear me and didn't respond.

He’s being an ignoramus prick, especially as he’s leaving huge gaps between his cars on purpose, people parking on the streets in town centres like that absolutely rile me, could fit 3 cars in yet someone parks bang in the centre so not enough space in front or behind them unless it’s a smart car 🙄 I would 100% get no parking/ no blocking driveway signs and drill them into your wall both sides of your pillars. Start taking photos every time he blocks your drive with the signs visible in the photos too. I’d say your best bet is to ask the council, doesn’t matter you don’t use it yourself but your visitors do and can so shouldn’t be blocked. Have you anyone with a spare car they’re not using that you could park there so looks like you need access at any time. He absolutely should not be leaving for the day either and leaving his car blocking your driveway.