To park over my neighbours drive

[asianbabe]

Just really wanted some opinions really. Today I parked over my neighbour's drive. There was a reason for me doing this I wasn't being a total arse.

Basically I have two very young children and live on a road where every other house has a drive as we live by a station many people tend to park their cars on my road all day and go off to work. Unfortunately, I don't have a drive.

I've been getting increasingly annoyed with my neighbour who lives across the road for the past year she has only parked her car in her drive a few times instead she chooses to park outside her house on the road. i think she does this so that her visitors are guaranteed a parking spot on her drive.

Anyway I came home from shopping today and was unable to find parking on my road. With Two young kids under the age of 2 and 20 shopping bags i Saw her car not on her drive and just got so annoyed that I parked over her drive. She came out we exchanged words I told her how selfish she was being and she told me to move my car. I informed her that I would not move the car until a spot became available to park in and if she was so concerned to park her car in her drive and I would park my car where her car was.

To cut a long story short she refused and said she was expecting visitors so they could use her drive.

I left my car there over an hour until a parking spot became available then I moved my car.

Just to add she has no kids and leaves her car on the road for weeks at a time so taking up a parking spot.

I told a friend about what I did and she said i was being unreasonable. Just wondered if this is normal behaviour got those that have drives or am I a total bitch

[1withcommonsense]

Why don't you seek answers from the correct authority rather than asking for the "opinion" of others, or are you worried you might not like what you hear? See below... BTW, if you don't like the law (because it doesn't suit you and you are selfish and self-centre) campaign to change it, don't just ignore or break it!

s86 Prohibition of parking at dropped footways etc. (1) In a special enforcement area a vehicle must not be parked on the carriageway adjacent to a footway, cycle track or verge where?
(a) the footway, cycle track or verge has been lowered to meet the level of the carriageway for the purpose of?
(i)assisting pedestrians crossing the carriageway,

(ii)assisting cyclists entering or leaving the carriageway, or

(iii)assisting vehicles entering or leaving the carriageway across the footway, cycle track or verge; or
(b)the carriageway has, for a purpose within paragraph (a)(i) to (iii), been raised to meet the level of the footway, cycle track or verge.
This is subject to the following exceptions.


(2)The first exception is where the vehicle is parked wholly within a designated parking place or any other part of the carriageway where parking is specifically authorised.A ?designated parking place? means a parking place designated by order under section 6, 9, 32(1)(b) or 45 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (c. 27).
(3)The second exception is where the vehicle is parked outside residential premises by or with the consent (but not consent given for reward) of the occupier of the premises.This exception does not apply in the case of a shared driveway.
(4)The third exception is where the vehicle is being used for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes.

(5)The fourth exception is where?
(a)the vehicle is being used for the purposes of delivering goods to, or collecting goods from, any premises, or is being loaded from or unloaded to any premises,

(b)the delivery, collection, loading or unloading cannot reasonably be carried out in relation to those premises without the vehicle being parked as mentioned in subsection (1), and

(c)the vehicle is so parked for no longer than is necessary and for no more than 20 minutes.
(6)The fifth exception is where?
(a)the vehicle is being used in connection with any of the following?
(i)undertaking any building operation, demolition or excavation,

(ii)the collection of waste by a local authority,

(iii)removing an obstruction to traffic,

(iv)undertaking works in relation to a road, a traffic sign or road lighting, or

(v)undertaking works in relation to a sewer or water main or in relation to the supply of gas, electricity, water or communications services,
(b)it cannot be so used without being parked as mentioned in subsection (1), and

(c)it is so parked for no longer than is necessary.

[MerryOnMerlot]

It is not illegal to park across a driveway as long as you are not blocking someone in.

What about blocking someone OUT though?

If someone has a drive, it should be left clear AT ALL TIMES.

[Curleyhazel]

Ok, just saw that you have already resolved it. Well done! I hope the parking situation on your street will get better soon.

[froubylou]

Yanbu.

It is not illegal to park across a driveway as long as you are not blocking someone in. You can park on the public highway like she can.

She is BU by not using the driveway that is taking up parking spaces. And her visitors could park across her drive.

I feel your pain and frustration. I live on a similar road. And have done the same as you. And pointed out to shouty neighbours that if they don't want to use their drive then the curb should be raised again.

They never ever use the drive as their dog uses it as a play area. But wont park in front of it in case they have visitors. They used to park in front of my house and even had a skip dropped thrre as well.

[MerryOnMerlot]

FasterStronger

[FasterStronger]

merry Why is it that so many people think having kids gives them preferential parking rights?

may be that should read Why is it that so many people think having kids gives them preferential rights?

[MerryOnMerlot]

Another YABU.

Why is it that so many people think having kids gives them preferential parking rights?

[Curleyhazel]

Sorry yabu. I can understand your frustration regarding the lack of convenient parking but it is not your neighbour's problem. If I were you I would apologise to her, give her (if you want a civil relationship that is and just explain how stressful it is to have nowhere to park with two small kids. If you are courteous (and lucky) to her, she might well be more understanding in the future and park on her driveway.

[FasterStronger]

personally I think if you have a drive you should use it, but if you choose not to, well, its your choice!

if we didn't park on the drive and a neighbour suggested that we should, I would wonder what planet they were on. there are many things I would prefer other people to do, but I don't go around telling them how to live their own lives.

[asianbabe]

Thanks southeastastra finally someone sees it from my point of view. The sad thing is that the drives on my street are massive and can each accommodate up to 2 cars each

[southeastastra]

i bet all the yabu's have drives they keep empty for 'visitors'

there are some selfish feckers about these days

[asianbabe]

I know that It was my choice to buy this house without a drive. On my particular road every other house has a drive so i kind of assumed that the few parking spots that were available would be left for those who lived here that didn't have drives. I have noticed a few of my neighbours don't use their drives and will often save their drives for their visitors and family. This makes it really tough for others who also live on the road to park. I have enquired about having a drive put in but was declined as the council are already aware of the parking issue and will not authorise it.

[Jaynebxl]

Any reason why you can't put a drive in? Not read every page so may have missed that obvious solution.

[katydid02]

The thing is though, asianbabe, you chose to buy a house without a drive so you have to take responsibility for your choices and deal with the consequences - not your neighbour.

[sparklesandbling]

#off

[sparklesandbling]

YABU
people think they can justify any type of bad parking (including using disabled spaces even if not disabled because their need is more important)

-climbs on high stool -

[EachAndEveryHighway]

Well done for apologising .... you were BU. If you feel so strongly about ease-of-parking / guaranteed parking, you need to prioritise having off-street parking when making your choice of house to live in.

[cumfy]

YABU, but I wish they would tax driveways at the going rate for a resident permit, they permanently take up a car parking space.

[tiggerpigger]

Yab very u. Sort your parking problems iut yourself

[morganster]

She might have a drive like us; it's a really narrow concrete plinth and our neighbour has a big bush in the way so you can't see to pull out safely. It's also too short so our car sticks out 2 feet onto the pavement preventing anyone with a double buggy or a mobility scooter getting past.

I think we'd try harder to park there if there were a shortage of spaces on the roadside though.

[1Veryhungrycaterpillar]

She can (and does) seem to park where she likes but I can totally see why it aggravates, you need to get a drive or move

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

without off road parking....duh!!

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

YAB Totally unreasonable.

She is as entitled to park on the road as you are - the fact that she has a drive is irrelevant. She is saving it for visitors and thats her perogative.

See, this is why I would never buy a house with off road parking!

She pays her road tax, she can park where she likes.

[hamilton75]

YABU.. Totally unreasonable to be honest. If its a public highway with no restrictions she can park where the hell she likes, its none of your business if she chooses not to use her drive. Also its not her problem your kids and shopping.

[Truffkin]

I hate arsey neighbours! I can't see why she can't park on her own drive and then let her visitors block her in. I should imagine that 'ranty harassed mother' won't make her any more empathetic to you than she previously was though! You were both unreasonable IMO.

Happy moving