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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that if your car is likely to get stuck in the snow you shouldn't park it outside my house?

51 replies

grumpypants · 18/12/2010 15:26

ok, I get being sensible and needing to attempt to get to work/ wherever. BUT, last time we had snow, and now today, about four people have driven their cars round to the front of the close (we live in a t shaped road; two dead ends; five houses (incl. ours) come off the main road before our close splits and heads down the hill the estate is built on.)
This means that when the snow turns to ice, I have to come off my driveway, and turn sharply to avoid the cars left on the road in front of my house. People turning in to the road have to drive on the wrong side of the road, and it just makes life really hard for the four of us, when, really, its quite selfish. Plus, the cars are left so close to the corner of the junction it's dangerous generally.

If an ambulance or emergency services (has happened before) needed to turn in, these people have made it slightly trickier.
Prepared to be flamed by all of you who have just driven to the front of your roads and left your cars!

OP posts:
panettoinydog · 19/12/2010 10:20

It is n ot the right thing to do, ani.

I don't see how people can't see that.

coccyx · 19/12/2010 10:24

Maybe they could park in your drive???? tough, get over it. Why should they spend ages finding a spot that suits you

Animation · 19/12/2010 10:25

Panettoindog

It's a bit of a nuisance I know - but needs must when you've got to get places.

RumourOfAHurricane · 19/12/2010 10:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

mosschops30 · 19/12/2010 10:35

OP this really fucks me off too. We live in a cul-de-sac and the end of our driveway (where the kerb is lowered) is seen as a great parking space for those who either have too many cars or visitors.
On friday when the snow started the woman in then corner house drove her car out of her drive and parked it at the end of mine.
I went out and asked her to move it knowing thst it would be there for days.

Suprise suprise her car is now completely engulfed in snow outisde someone elses house. She doesnt work, hasnt been out in it, just didnt want it stuck on her drive!!! Angry

Both me and dh have had to get our cars out so needed the access.

People who park like this are just plain ignorant

hairyfairylights · 19/12/2010 10:56

She blocked your drive? That's outrageous!

pianoplayer · 19/12/2010 11:06

We have a similar problem with parking outside our house. The parking on the road doesn't cause too much of a problem EXCEPT thoughtless selfish indiviuals block our Drive. There is a private nursery that's not accessable by car due to the snow, so parents think its fine to block our drive for 15 - 20 mins - always at a time when rushing off to work and looked shocked when greeted by an irrate women !!neighbours visitors also think this is totally fine.

ChippingIn · 19/12/2010 11:16

It is never OK to block someone elses driveway no matter the weather - that should go without saying!

GrumpyPants - I know it's annoying when it makes life more difficult for you, I'm in a similar position - I need to go out today and someone has parked on the road opposite where I back out - normally I could probably just about squeeze out, but can't risk it in this snow/ice - they aren't parked illegally so there really isn't anything I could do except hope they come for their car later on! However, as you say, you are at the top of the hill before going down to the estate - those people probably didn't want to risk the hill in or out and maybe need the car for work - so I guess they have done the best they can do to park safely.

Original poster
grumpypants · 19/12/2010 11:30

Thank you Chipping - It's only when it's snowing that it drives me slightly crazy - it might be annoying when people park outside at other times, but it doesn't make things more awkward for me. Esp as one of the cars has been there for over 24 hours, just waiting for the thaw. Piano - people are selfish now - its part of the me first thing going on.

OP posts:
LittleMoosh · 19/12/2010 11:36

I agree with hairyfairylights.

we can't get up our road when it snows so have no option but to park on main road outside someone's house. My DH got abuse off an elderly couple last winter for parking his car outside their precious house. I wouldn't mind but it wasn't parked illegally and they had their car parked safely in their garage. He won't park there now, but believe me if I can't get back up our road I will certainly make a point of parking outside their house. If they have anything to say to me I'll tell them to get stuffed :)

panettoinydog · 19/12/2010 12:23

It's not 'a bit of a nuisance' when there is heavy snow. It is dangerous and it stops many more people getting to work safely and in a reasonable time.

muminthemiddle · 19/12/2010 12:40

YANBU.
It is Illegal to park within a certain distance of a junction. It also makes it extremely dangerous for others to get up/down the hill. One winter I went sideways down my estate in the ice and if anybody had been parked in the way I would have taken their car with me.
People should clear their drive and the road in front of their house BEFORE the snow has time to freeze. Hard work but necessary.
Could you put something in the street to block parking-like big rocks?
You have my sympathy.

Animation · 19/12/2010 12:55

On our main road there is plenty of room for everyone to park, - and thankfully a nice tolerent community spirit towards those of us who live off the beaten track, up the steep narrow roads.

StewieGriffinsMom · 19/12/2010 12:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Animation · 19/12/2010 13:14

Oh I see, - most of you are talking about people who rather than sweep a staightforward drive will park on the road.

I'm talking about those of us who can't get up our roads, never mind the drives.

muminthemiddle · 19/12/2010 13:41

Yes there is a difference Animation. If I parked on the road outside my house during recent heavy snow then nobody would have access to our cul de sac. Now technically I am doing nothing wrong (I think?) but I got off my backside and had to shovel lots of thick snow both off my drive and the road itself, otherwise no access to my drive.

miniwedge · 19/12/2010 13:53

OP YANBU.
We can't get out because some twat has abandoned their car across our drive. We were due to go to see my mum today, it's the last chance we had to get to her. We won't ee them again until the end of Jan.

I'm gutted. The kids are gutted. DP is shouty.

The twat has come off a side road into our cul de sac and completely fucked us over. There were plenty of places to park if he had to leave his car that would not have blocked us in.

StewieGriffinsMom · 19/12/2010 14:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ChippingIn · 19/12/2010 14:30

Muminthemiddle - but that isn't what we are talking about - we are talking about people who don't live on the street parking there - presumably so they can actually get to work or wherever they need to be - they aren't parking a mile away from their home for the bloody fun of it!

Mini - you could actually get them towed for parking illegally couldn't you? I can understand that maybe they lost control and kind of abandoned it there, but if the lights were on I would have knocked your door if not, put a note through it with my phone number on - or at the very very least been there at daybreak to do something about it. I'm not supprised DH is shouty! - I think if I'd really needed to get out I'd have been very 'dially'. Actually have you tried sitting in your car and beeping your horn OR tried rocking their car, it might set off their alarm?!

I am actually blocked in and wanted to go out today, but in all fairness I'm not sure the person who has parked *behind me realised that they have effectively blocked me in as in normal weather I would just about be able to squeeze out but not on the ice that is in carapark today! If I was desperate I could go out and blast my horn!

muminthemiddle · 20/12/2010 21:11

ChippingIn-Sorry to disagree some people are lazy twats. If you have to abandon a car then you should make sure you are not endangering the lives of others. I live at the top of a very steep hill it is an estate so no gritters/snow ploughs ever come. Once again some people are lazy, abandoning a car and not going back to it is off. And btw I am sure it is illegal to abandon a car when it can cause a road block.

mayorquimby · 20/12/2010 21:19

if they're parked legally and aren't blocking anyone in then I don't see the problem.

muminthemiddle · 20/12/2010 21:23

It isn't illegal to push in a queue is it? It isn't illegal to sit at someone else's table in a cafe without asking. There are lots of things that aren't illegal but still polite to do the right thing.

muminthemiddle · 20/12/2010 21:26

Also it is against the law to prevent someone from gaining access to their private property, this includes driveways. Who in their right mind thinks it acceptable to force someone to do a 500 point turn just to gain access to their own drive? Park elsewhere for gods sake.

Lilyloo · 20/12/2010 21:34

Whenever we have snow or forecast of snow our whole estate other than the 4x4 vacate to the main road. We have not had our cars near our houses for 2 weeks last year. This is only done when we have no other option.
We are very steep on a hill with block paved roads that turn into sheet ice when cleared.
If we had any other choice than to hike the hill daily with kids in tow bring shopping home via sledge i am sure we would.
I still clear the roads outside our house in the hope it speeds up the thawing process.

Original poster
grumpypants · 21/12/2010 08:49

Well, there is a car still parked across the corner, and cars now left for two days in the bus stop.
The cars opposite the driveways today stopped the refuse collectors from continuing beyond the first two houses (so I'm okay Grin) and I am terrified about backing out today down the sloping drive in case I crash into one of the cars. But, that is my problem.
Personally, I think if you are going to drive your car round to the front of my house, park it so that people turning in have a problem, and not come back for two days, why bother? (Before anyone says, yes I know there could be a sudden need to drive to hospital/whatever)
Apparently, the police deal with dangerous parking, and the council with parking in restricted areas.

OP posts:
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