To ask how you'd park on my drive???

[ClusterBustering]

Since the house was built the road outside has become a busy A road. It's the last house before a cross road with lights. I've experimented with different ways of parking in the drive to make it clear, the problem being that I am so close to the lights that if I indicate left people presume you are turned left in another 10ft or so at the junction.

Note: street parking is not possible, either side of the main road a new parking zone starts, neither of which I live in to apply for a permit. The main road has double yellows. I cannot widen the drive or entrance to allow turning according to planning rules.

Option 1: drive in, problem it's then dangerous/ illegal to reverse off

Option 2: position self centrally in traffic to force a stop, problem is people obsessively drive at light and shout and sweat inching up your bumper whether you indicate/ use hazards/ hand signals. Many people even when they get what you want to do deliberately inch into the back bumper to try and force you out the way, about 1 in 6 attempts.

Option 3: so I've been lately pulling over on kerb, then as lights change to red I use a hand gesture and indicate to show I'm reversing onto the drive (I'm pdq at it!). But still drivers want to stop at the red light stop line NOW. Just had a guy leaning through the windows swearing with kids (age 2/4/6) quite scared of him. They then end up waiting at lights I. The same spot for a further 2 min. I have to swing out a bit onto the road to make the turn, but well on my side. At least this way I can't be stuck in the middle of the lane should someone insist on pulling alongside.

Is there an option for using my drive that doesn't involve swearing?? People just drive at the lights like manics.

I do the hazards/ reverse as opposed to indicate due to the lights.... but I get huge rage from those who inch on me.

As above, stop by driveway, hazards on, reverse in.

If you stop level with your driveway and show your reverse lights and left indicator then it's pretty obvious what you're doing. Once the cars behind have stopped, give them a nice thank-you wave, then pull forward and reverse onto driveway. If they try to follow you forward, stop immediately and show the reverse lights again and point at your driveway. I'm sure you're already doing this.

If anyone gets arsey then you just need to do your best to ignore them knowing that you are doing entirely the right thing to reverse into your driveway. The fact there is a junction just ahead is irrelevant to this.

That's why I always stop with enough room to swing forward and begin reversing as soon as there's a gap.

I can't tell from your diagram but does your drive touch both A roads? If so could you have an in and an out entrance and exit, one on each A road?

If your drive is more than a car length can you do a sort of left bit to the front of your house to do a million point turn if you drive in. ( If that makes sense ). Failing that - what pastel said but add indicator too.

Like Rainbow, I was also going to suggest putting hazards on.

I live abroad and hazards are put on every time a car parks or is going to pull over. So here, using hazards versus indicators would mark a clear distinction between turning at the lights and making another manoeuvre.

Of course, may not work or be understood in the U.K. where hazards are largely for an emergency but might be worth a try (and cheaper than a revolving driveway!)

You can get mesh stuff for your lawn so you don't turn it into a total mud bath from driving over it.

Stop just before your drive, stick your indicator on then slowly drive forward and reverse in. Like you would when parking at the side of the road

Sorry saw while writing my post, you posted again saying you do use hazards.

At least I know I do it correctly...

It seems so often people inch on me just to bully, or overtake at speed as I swing out ( road is usually quieter in opposite direction). It's very deliberate, though often also due to lack of observation of the road as they try to run at lights they perceive as ready to change. The drive really isn't one to turn on, and my property does not border any other bit of road

I'd say once/ twice a week I get swearing. I'm a confident driver and can move quick, but I find here the roads are just awful. Lots of wrong side of the roofs etc

Can you stone/flag your garden so you can turn on your land? Not ideal I am sure but possibly the safest option

I hate stressful parking so I'd probably go with option 4) move house!
Seriously though, it sounds like you are doing a pretty good job, can you just learn to ignore the impatient dickheads?

Alone I laugh at them or don't care a lot. But I am in the heat getting guys swearing effectively in the kids faces if the windows are open, today my 6 year old actually answered a guy who screamed in his face 'what the fuck are you doing' as he was inches away leaning out!

I feel your pain- used to live in a house just like this. They built a new estate down the road and installed lights- suddenly it was very busy.

After much wrangling with the council and developers they eventually painted a yellow box in front of my house and right up to the lights, and installed a "caution, concealed access" sign (drive was behind a big council owned hedge) - it did work apart from the kind of wankers who ignored the box too.

I actually don't think a big sign in the back of your window is a bad idea. Might help in the supermarket too

today my 6 year old actually answered a guy who screamed in his face 'what the fuck are you doing' as he was inches away leaning out!

Bloody hell! Lovely. Where do you live OP?!

East London

It prompted the thread, that my 6 year old is so used to it he answered factually and quite calmly as opposed to crying

I would continue to reverse in and the impatient drivers can just wait, although i do like the idea of the sign in the back window

I'd either go with the flashing neon sign saying you are about to park, or go in head first (rather than reversing) then turn the car around in the late evening when the road is clearer. Total pain I know.

I would probably drive in, wait until it is quiet late at night and then come out 'and turn car round. I used to live by a school and if I wanted to be able to drive away at school start times I'd have to park the car on the road.

It is a mystery why people are so keen to get past you to wait at the lights. Perhaps you could train your children to shout 'the lights are on red'!

Possibly going to annoy many people here but why is it thought to be illegal to reverse off a driveway? I've just checked the Highway code and it says you should reverse on if possible. It doesn't say anything about it being illegal to reverse off.

Poor you OP, sounds like a complete pain. I know you said you can't get a permit to park on the main road, but can you get permit parking somewhere else fairly nearby? Even if it was a bit of a walk it would be easier than what you're doing at the moment.

www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/using-the-road-reversing.html