What do you think would happen if I broke a car window to aid an ambulance?

[NewMatress]

First let me say I don't really intend to do it!

I live opposite a school. Usually a pain for a few minutes am and PM each day, but usually I'm at work anyway so no big deal.

With the staggered starts it seems to be from about 7:30am until 10 am and then start again by 2pm. I don't know what it is about these staggered starts but parents seem to be even more determined to park as close as possible possible to the gate, which often means across my drive. I'm sure they all believe they'll "only be a minute", but they really aren't and as soon as one leaves another arrives.

Anyway, hopefully, DH will arrive home by ambulance in the next few days. They usually reverse onto the drive which makes life easier for them and gives him more privacy.

I suppose I'd be in the wrong if I broke a window to release a handbrake and move a car? What action would be likely to be taken though?

Do you mean breaking someone else's car window to move their car?

Put your car or a wheelie bin there to stop anybody parking there in the first place

Obviously you can’t do that and you’d probably be liable for the damage caused. YANBU to want to though. Could you ask a neighbour to park across your drive instead so they can move when the ambulance arrives?

*not probably. Definitely

Could you get some chalk and write “no parking- ambulance access required” on the path?

do you have a car?
can you park it where the drive is usually dropped and drive away when the ambulance comes?

how about making up 'tickets' suggesting a donation to the hospice as 'fine' for inconsiderate parking?

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I'd do it.

In this situation I’d imagine a fine to be very likely/repair at your cost. Sorry for your situation, however, returning home by ambulance is likely to be seen as a non-emergency, whereas if it was to enable an ambulance to arrive to an emergency or to clear a spot for an air ambulance to land I’d imagine there would be no issue (and the owner would likely even happily pay for replacement!)

Are they parking over your dropped kerb? If so that needs sorting but isn’t going to be quick.

For a quick fix I would block the space with your own car/ failing that stick a bin there with a clear sign saying access required for ambulance access.

I hope your DH is feeling a little better

Or order some traffic cones from Amazon

No don’t do it. I understand why it’s tempting in your circumstances.

I’d ask the school to communicate with parents not to block driveways during drop off and pick up because they’re blocking access for emergency services - it’s not ok to block your driveway at any time and the need for an ambulance could happen at any time. I’d also use something to block over your driveway so it’s not easy to park across.

I would position two chairs/things with rope string between on the road in front of your drive and hang a LARGE sign saying 'access required for medical transport'. Hopefully this will stop most people.

You'd probably be charged with criminal damage. The ambulance isn't attending an emergency.

You could start leaving notes on every windscreen as of now that ambulance access is required and they're blocking your drive, and you'll have to get the authorities involved if it carries on.

Maybe put some cones out? Or bins, as pp suggested. Or chairs. People use chairs here when they're expecting skips or removals vans or big delivery trucks.

You'd also get a reputation among the school drop-off drivers as a nutter who smashes car windows, so that would get the message across not to park in front of your drive again . Not worth a criminal record though.

I understand the temptation, but a screaming car owner and police turning up isn’t going to make a peaceful return home. Presumably it also requires the space directly in front/behind to be free so the car could be pushed forward/back, as likely there’d be a steering lock?

I don't think it works with an electronic hand brake

Some big rocks across your drive?
That would stop them

Definitely speak to the school although all they can really do is put something in the newsletter

Stand on your drive and photograph number plates of anyone brazen enough to still park across it and report to 101?

Each person thinks it's just them for their 5 mins but the cumulative impact is huge.

Well yes obviously you can't do that. Its not an emergency, and I'm sure the ambulance will be able to do the same job parked outside your property

I'd just put some cones out. Or do you have a vehicle you could park there to hold the space?

Just call the school and explain you need good access on the specific day. They might even have traffic cones they can lend you for the day.

The school I govern at is on a residential road and they have previously asked for specific accommodation for residents due to moving, a funeral etc

I would email the school and explain the issue and ask them to send out a message to parents about considerate parking. I would probably be tempted to speak to any drivers directly and ask them to refrain from parking across your drive. I know it’s a ball-ache ( I also live near a school) but you want to retain the moral high ground and the minute you commit an offence ( in a non emergency situation) you become the baddy of the piece.

You can break a car window to aid a child or animal left inside the car. But you cannot break a car window to move a car (unless that car had like, parked on top of someone and the owner walked off or they blocked access to a water hydrant or something similar which is an immediate threat to life).

The ambulance staff will be able to transport him from the road just as easily as from the driveway.

I do understand your anger. It shouldn't be a solution for just that one day. They should not be doing it any day. Once he is home then presumably the need for an emergency ambulance could easily arise
They need to cease and desist altogether.