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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Report neighbour or leave him alone?

84 replies

sparklywindmill · 21/09/2026 12:26

We have an elderly man across the road who is a terrible driver, he takes ages to manoeuvre his car into a space in the street going back and forth, getting out to look and then pulling back out and in again several times before ending up exactly where he was in the first place with one end sticking out at an angle, you can see his car is covered in dents and scrapes.

He is a lovely man but I am concerned about his driving ability and also as there is only on street parking I’m concerned about him damaging other cars and probably not noticing as he was millimetres from my car the other day, even he got out and had a look to see if he’d hit it before pulling forward.
There was no damage but I’ve found myself watching nervously now whenever he is parking.

OP posts:
redboxer321 · 21/09/2026 12:35

I would. Don't expect anything to happen for many months though.

HoppingPavlova · 21/09/2026 12:33

You could be talking about me, but I have been that way for nearly 50 years driving, nothing to do with age. Takes me between 10-15mins for an average reverse park if I need to do it (will do anything possible to avoid), and can take up to 10mins pulling into tight parking spots where I don’t have choice if parking is limited. That’s with reverse and front cameras and sensors🫢. No dents on car though, or hitting any other car, which is why I take so long, so this doesn’t happen. No issue with general driving though, just parking, and I’ve never had an accident where I have been at fault.

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 21/09/2026 12:33

Would you report him if he was 18? or if he was a mum of primary aged kids?

I would probably report him but it's tricky.

GiveOverRover · 21/09/2026 12:33

We had an elderly lady over the road who's driving deteriorated in a similar way, it got terrible. I didn't want to insert myself and be responsible for limiting her getting out and about, and it resolved itself in the end. The car was sold and that was her stuck in the house. There are plenty of terrible drivers out there and you can't 'report' them all.

sparklywindmill · 21/09/2026 12:33

NewGoldFox · 21/09/2026 12:28

It’s a tough one, is it just parking he struggles with though or are you genuinely concerned about his ability to react safely?

I haven’t seen him on the roads but his car is covered in scuffs and scrapes and a broken back light.
Watching him walk up the drive he looks very frail and slow and I’ve had to go over and tell him he’s left his lights on.

OP posts:
saveforthat · 21/09/2026 12:29

I mean unless he has bad eyesight, he may just be crap at parallel parking, many people are.

NewGoldFox · 21/09/2026 12:28

It’s a tough one, is it just parking he struggles with though or are you genuinely concerned about his ability to react safely?

sparklywindmill · 21/09/2026 12:28

saveforthat · 21/09/2026 12:27

Report him to who?

DVLA

OP posts:
saveforthat · 21/09/2026 12:27

Report him to who?

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