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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Think I was a bit of a twat when I told off someone parking across my drive

67 replies

Boysclothes · 10/09/2014 23:02

I live on the same road is a primary school, about 60 feet from the gate. At drop off/pick up parents park both sides of the road when there isn't really room for this and it can be very tricky driving down my road and the roads that access it, and once I really couldn't manage it, the cars either side just made it too narrow. We've had a few letters from the school along the lines of "sorry, we know it's crap, please let us know the reg numbers of any poor packers and we will highlight it, also we're getting the PCSOs round" so they are proactive with it.

Anyway, I have a big drive entrance with dropped kerb and hockey stick lines which is continuos with my neighbours drive. Today swinging on to my drive from my usual angle I couldn't, as someone was parked sort of half way across my drive entrance. I could still easily get in though by going half across neighbours bit and then into mine.

It riled me a bit so after I parked I got out and saw someone in the offending car. I said "mate, you're parked half way across my drive" he sort of twiddled his fingers at me apologetically. I said "please don't do that again", my tone was arsey. He then said "sorry, just for a few minutes" to which I replied "I don't care how long it's for it's my drive and I don't want it blocked. There's plenty of parking up the road where you don't have to block people in" he nods and smiles so I said "the school have asked to know who is parking badly so please don't do it again" and went indoors. However my tone was very much full of arsiness.

I feel a bit of a prick, I'm someone who doesn't sweat the small stuff generally and feel most of us are just doing our best. And some people live on rubbish dumps in Bangladesh. So get over it. I could, after all, get on my drive and he was just a dad trying to pick up his kids on roads with no parking. WIBU? I'd just run the gauntlet of squeezing between packed cars trying not to knock wingmirrors off and I was pissed off about that really.

OP posts:
Janethegirl · 10/09/2014 23:05

You are ok, just take their number plates and tell the school! It would fuck me off big time.

Loveneverfails · 10/09/2014 23:06

I wouldnt worry, he took a cheeky chance and got told off for it, he probs agrees he was in the wrong and I doubt he will do it again Grin

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 10/09/2014 23:07

You aint a prick, it would have pissed me off too.

TheFarSide · 10/09/2014 23:07

YANBU - sounds like he didn't get the message so I would have got a bit arsey too.

Tadla · 10/09/2014 23:11

Really, dont waste any more energy. The driver must know they've been cocky and a chancer to obstruct a driveway.

I live just a few doors up from a school and I need to leave at school time to take my DC to preschool. I have to edge out or nose out and block the pavement resulting in queues of parents/children at either side of the car waiting to walk down the pavement. I have been know to sometimes do it with a slight attitude but never rude- rude if you get me.

other days i cant be arsed with it and take dc later after the school traffic.

doesnt sound like you were awful.

YouTheCat · 10/09/2014 23:14

He deserved your arsey tone for being an idiot.

Unless he's a blue badge holder, then he could park further away and walk a bit. I really don't get the whole 'I must park right next to school' attitude of some people.

mamasilla · 10/09/2014 23:17

YABU it was only for a few minutes... There are worse things in life

Boysclothes · 10/09/2014 23:18

I'm not too worried about him. It's more what it says about me. I don't want to be that person who gets humpty even though I can still easily get on the drive. The universe works best with a bit of give and take and it didn't actually affect me at all. It's a bit territorial and possessive and I like to be be generous. KWIM?

OP posts:
Boysclothes · 10/09/2014 23:21

Although mamas comment has riled me. IT'S MY BLOODY DRIVE so don't park there for any amount of minutes!

Hmmm. Conflicted. Surburbia is affecting my brain.

OP posts:
TheFarSide · 10/09/2014 23:24

If he'd said sorry and moved away immediately I think you would have been fine OP. To me, the annoying issue is that he said sorry but stayed where he was "just for a few minutes". So he wasn't really sorry and just did what he wanted. People like this need to be challenged OTHERWISE THEY WILL TAKE OVER THE WORLD WITH THEIR EVIL WAYS.

Grin
IAmNotAPrincessIAmAKahleesi · 10/09/2014 23:41

There is almost nothing I hate more than the 'it's only a few minutes' brigade

Especially when it's a school pick up or drop off, of course you won't be parked there for long but it doesn't entitle you to park like a selfish twat!

People are always in the disabled spaces when I get to them and the excuse is always 'I'm only gonna be here for a minute' yes but in that time it means I can't pick my kids up

RedSoloCup · 10/09/2014 23:58

YANBU, I drive to school too much really but would never dream of blocking someone's drive, I'd just park a bit further away.

LatteLoverLovesLattes · 11/09/2014 00:18

YANBU

I thought you were going to say he said he had felt unwell or something.

I pick up from a school like this every fucking night, it's a nightmare. It's not possible to park further away and walk, so you just have to get there early and if you don't 'circle' until a parent has picked up and is moving off. There's no way I'd park as he did, even though others do. I wish there was a way of doing an afternoon collection the same way drop off is done.

MidniteScribbler · 11/09/2014 00:40

You were far more polite than I would have been.

AmIthatHot · 11/09/2014 01:10

I would have been even more arsey. He was in the wrong.

Everyone on this thread , except one mama poster, agrees with you.

Therefore, we are all right Grin

FarelyKnuts · 11/09/2014 01:35

Suburbia brain :o I'm with you, I'd have felt a bit arsey too, you could get on your drive, did it reaaally matter etc. But but but, finger twirling, I'll just be a few minutes dad would have niggled me nonetheless.
So glad I live in ballgobackwards and no one desires my driveway for nowt!

wobblyweebles · 11/09/2014 01:41

Friend of mine had his driveway blocked completely by someone who left the car there and went into the school for 10 minutes. He let her tyres down.

Username12345 · 11/09/2014 01:45

YABU

He said sorry. No need to bang on about it.

TheMaddHugger · 11/09/2014 02:49

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR makes me stabby.

NobodyLivesHere · 11/09/2014 02:50

Haha, I read the thread title thinking it was a reverse and you were the fucking rude bitch woman who parked across my drive when I went out to take my DC to school the other morning. Because she obviously thought I was being a twat for wanting to get onto my own drive judging by her really shitty sounding 'well I was only in there a minute' and then her 'get a life' comments. Grrrrrr.

TheMaddHugger · 11/09/2014 02:50

wobblyweebles Thu 11-Sep-14 01:41:05
Friend of mine had his driveway blocked completely by someone who left the car there and went into the school for 10 minutes. He let her tyres down.

More Deets please Grin

What did lady say when she found her tyres down ?
was she apologetic...?

mindalina · 11/09/2014 02:55

it's horrifying how badly people park on the school run. they're all over the double yellows at our school, perched on kerbs on corners. i haven't seen anyone park across a drive but i did see one woman park ON someone's drive! i've never understood why the traffic wardens don't do something about - it's dangerous for the children and they'd make a fortune in parking tickets for twenty minutes work

NobodyLivesHere · 11/09/2014 02:58

The best one I've ever seen at my DCs school is a woman pull up on the kerb, on a corner then just abandon her car with the engine still running and go into the school yard. It was most bizarre.

KatieKaye · 11/09/2014 06:22

You weren't a twat - he was.
there is never a reason to park across someone's drive and stopping them from getting out. It's just sheer laziness, total lack of consideration and basic manner plus an inflated sense of self-importance
A couple of minutes do matter if there is an emergency and they are stopping you getting out.

seayork · 11/09/2014 06:47

Not sure if this is allowed but could you stick a sign up saying

"If you park here your details will be passed on to the council (or whoever)"