Carers keep using non drop kerb to get on my drive

[DirectionsForUse]

I have a large drive, enough room for 5 cars. However, we only ever put 2 cars on it because this is all the access you can get from the drop kerb. (Without manoeuvring cars).

Our application for a new drop kerb to make it a drive on drive off type arrangement was declined.

Anyway DH has carers coming and they regularly drive across the pavement to get on the empty bit of driveway.

As I understand it, this is illegal, but who is liable? Me as the householder of the drive being accessed or them as the driver?

Them as drivers, but unless they mow down a pedestrian nothing will happen

When I say we have large drive we basically have a paved frontage with, as I see it, easy driveway access for two cars. Room for more if you're prepared to block each other in or drive across the pavement

They have no right to assume they can park on your drive. With or without a dropped kerb! Usually a visitor to a house would park on the street and if there is no dropped kerb there it shouldn't be a problem. Tell them to stop!

If you don’t want them parking there tell them. Could you also put some planters there to stop them, if you don’t have the same carers coming all the time

I would give your carers a break, to be honest. They don't get paid for their travel time and things like parking and traffic can be inordinately stressful for them. So they want to shave a few seconds off their round? Not your circus, not your monkey. You wouldn't be liable for any accidents and I'm presuming they check for pedestrians first?

@Crockof

Them as drivers, but unless they mow down a pedestrian nothing will happen

Not necessarily. I relative of mine got instructed to stop using his paved front garden as a drive unless he dropped the kerb. No pedestrians were mown down, but the council still noticed, or were informed and took action.

The planters are a good idea, especially if you have different carers so will park before you have a chance to tell them.

What's the parking like outside your property? I do find it presumptious when people think they can use your drive.

I regularly get hire cars delivered to use for work, and ask them to leave them on the huge open tarmacked area at the side of my house, which I would have thought is the obvious place to park, but no, they often either put it on the drive, or at the other side of the house, on the pavement or blocking the narrow bit of road. They have four choices of where to park and always pick one of the three stupid ones and ignore the most suitable place .

I don't want the hire car on my drive because I'm not supposed to drive it until the hire starts and they're often delivered hours or even the day before, so I'm either left without a car because they've blocked mine in, or they're forcing me to shuffle cars around, one of which isn't insured.

If you have a drop kerb hasn’t there been reinforcement work done to protect any pipes underneath, so driving over the pavement could cause damage, it’s more about that than knocking over pedestrians!

It's because we're opposite a school. Mostly parking is fine, but at certain times it's chaos and with the staggered starts that's spread more through the day atm.

I do symathise, TBH I hate the whole system, they work horrendously long hours doing horrible work for a pittance, but we do badly need them. I fully understand the time pressure they're under, but they're always very patient with DH, who can be difficult because he's in such pain.

@ineedaholidaynow

If you have a drop kerb hasn’t there been reinforcement work done to protect any pipes underneath, so driving over the pavement could cause damage, it’s more about that than knocking over pedestrians!

Damage all round I think. Pipes, pavements, cars...

@DirectionsForUse

It's because we're opposite a school. Mostly parking is fine, but at certain times it's chaos and with the staggered starts that's spread more through the day atm.

I do symathise, TBH I hate the whole system, they work horrendously long hours doing horrible work for a pittance, but we do badly need them. I fully understand the time pressure they're under, but they're always very patient with DH, who can be difficult because he's in such pain.

Then maybe do the manoeuvring if possible to make it easier for them?

@DirectionsForUse

It's because we're opposite a school. Mostly parking is fine, but at certain times it's chaos and with the staggered starts that's spread more through the day atm.

I do symathise, TBH I hate the whole system, they work horrendously long hours doing horrible work for a pittance, but we do badly need them. I fully understand the time pressure they're under, but they're always very patient with DH, who can be difficult because he's in such pain.

In which case, presumably you need one car on the drive to help DH's access, but couldn't you park your second car on the street and give them better access over the drop?

I don't think this is something you need to worry about. It's not your problem, and raising it will make you look seriously unreasonable. As you say, they're doing a very difficult job for very little money.

I hope everything is okay for you

Actually, we only own one car currently, so they can access the drive via the drop. Until just now, that hasn't occured to me! I blame the very stressful circumstances we're living under

You you not jiggle your cars so they can easily access the drive?

@DirectionsForUse

Actually, we only own one car currently, so they can access the drive via the drop. Until just now, that hasn't occured to me! I blame the very stressful circumstances we're living under

How is it even an issue then if you only have one car on the drive and there's space for them?

@Sirzy

You you not jiggle your cars so they can easily access the drive?

They don't need jiggling, we only have one car. I wonder if they do it because the non drop is nearer the door...

One less thing to worry about then @DirectionsForUse

@TitianaTitsling I've no idea but they do it 2-3 times every day.

@ineedaholidaynow

One less thing to worry about then *@DirectionsForUse*

Yes, I shouldn't worry, but although they have access via the drop kerb, they're not using it

Could you put something in the way then, like a planter?

Unfortunately I think a planter close to the pavement would soon be destroyed. Of course the vast majority of parents and children are lovely but some of the behaviour we witness is shocking.

if they could use the drop and don't, perhaps a quiet word to them about how "a neighbour has commented" and you like to keep on good terms with neighbours so would they mind please using the dropped kerb?

Is your car in the way?

Diagram?

I'm trying to picture a scene where a professional visitor to your home would assume it was fine to park on your drive, then bump their car over a pavement when a flat drop was available. Not even one carer, multiple carers?

Big stones painted white so they’re obvious when it gets dark early is the easy answer.

Is it an issue? Really? I mean, outside of Mumsnet land I have NEVER heard anyone moan about driving over a non dropped kerb before. In fact, at my old house, half the houses on the street had drives (or paved front lawns as Mumsnet would call it) with no dropped kerbs. Council never did anything about it in the 15 years I lived there. No one ever complained.

These people are probably earning minimum wage with a 20 minutes break to come and care for your DH. They're probably on zero hour contracts as well. So seriously, why give a shit if they drive over the kerb?