To reserve a parking space outside my house with bins - if someone drives into them, am I liable?

[Bingate]

Hi, this is my first post, and I'm well aware that I do not have a right to park outside the front of house, but I am one of a few people in my street who reserves a parking space outside their house with bins.

Generally, this is fine, and most people respect it, but what would happen if someone came round the corner (I am at the end of my street) and drove into them, and it caused damage to their car?

Am I liable for any damage? And if so, why wouldn't this be the case if they drove into my parked car (if it was there instead of the bins)?

Also, is it actually illegal to put my bins on the road in this manner? I can't see anything online about it.

Although I live on a bit of a blind corner where you should really slow down, especially in case children are in the street, but some people drive round the corner like they're practicing for the Indy 500, so I'm still concerned someone might hit the bin.

Thanks.

If you were my neighbour I'd pinch your bin to teach you a lesson.

If you lived in my local authority your bin would be removed. You would be charged a fee of £30 per bin for them to be returned. If you continued to obstruct the highway (or public footpath) with them by neglecting to place the bins on your property the council would remove your bins and you would be expected to sort the removal of waste from your property yourself.

I'm a transport planner, in highway law you have a right to pass and repass on the public highway but no actual right to park. It is unlawful to obstruct the highway unless specifically permitted. Highway means land over which the public have a right of way (can be private land) in your case it is land which is adopted and maintained by the highway authority this most likely includes the carriageway, footway, verges etc. For example you cannot place a builders skip on the highway without a permit. So yes you are being unreasonable to leave your bins on the road and yes if someone had an accident because of them you may well be liable.

And isn't it more hassle to get out of your car and move the bins every time you want to park (and arrange them when you drive off)? Rather than just looking for another parking spot?

Yabu.

I've got a neighbour who does this... even if there's other spaces free, I'll move her bin and park there. She doesn't even have a car!

If you want to have the right to park outside your house then pay to have a driveway put in

I call a wind up. Either that or it's a reverse thread. OP already knows the answer....

I bet you have a sign in your window saying 'NO PARKING!!!!!!!' too.

I also have a neighbour who does this but then she is an unreasonable entitled piece of work

What a weird thread.

There's a house round the corner with a 'NO TURNING' sign outside. Bizarrely, it doesn't have a driveway, or even a dropped kerb. We quite often see them watching TV in their sitting room, as we go past on the way back from walking the dogs. DD likes to stand in front of their window, and twirl.

I really could not be arsed to do this.

1- it's not your road / parking space. If Iit's free when you get home then great, use it. If not then just park somewhere else.
2-bins look shit. Put them away so that your street looks less shit

Ridiculous.

The Highways Act of 1980 makes it an offence to deposit "anything whatsoever" on a highway that could impede "free passage" of that highway "without lawful authority or excuse". You don't have to actually block the road. I wouldn't see your bins as a reasonable excuse, but nor do I think it's likely you'd end up being prosecuted for this unless your bins were directly responsible for an accident in which someone got hurt or there was damage to a third party's property. What's more likely is someone damaging their car and pursuing you for the bill.

You'd probably be far better off trying to get permission for a dropped kerb to have your own driveway or even trying to get resident's only parking, et.

my neighbour acquired road traffic cones and used to use them to reserve spaces for their estate car AND transit van. I used to move them all, then park.

They stopped after a while...

Thankfully half term's nearly over.

OP. You're being a prat.

You shouldn't be parking on a blind bend never mind putting bins there, you really should rethink this, you are really bu

This really is going to turn into a binfest, isn't it?

Hello Bingate- I just want to say that I think people's comments here are incredibly unkind and I can at least see your point of view. Why can't people answer honestly but graciously? There's no need to be nasty, even if you don't agree with the comments or actions of the person posting.

Bloody hell MRSMIKEYC why the heck did you resurrect a ZOMBI_E thread to tell everyone off - how silly

ZOMBIE THREAD

An outrageously entitled parking thread. From a FTP. Some people get the hang of this place so impressively fast.

ZOMBIE THREAD

Doh!

I have a neighbour (selfish idiot) who blocks a thorough fare with their bin. Even the bin lorry has to stop and move the bin to carry out their work. This thoroughfare is a dead end but has been in use for decades but her bin is so much more important. There is another neighbour (selfish idiot) who thinks under their own window is their parking space and would not even get out the way when there was a major police incident.
What exactly is this with parking?

You are very unreasonable. Neither you nor your bins are that special.

This threads bin and gone

Sage