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.

Plenty of people know that the Highway Code has SHOULDs and MUSTs but it's easy to forget which things are which.

ClusterBustering you made me laugh with your 5 mattresses comments. Sorry for my stupid suggestion!

I have seen similar happen and I can sympathise with your difficulties. I would find it very tiring to have people routinely swearing at me for using my own drive!

Close the windows before you start manoeuvre? At least the swearing will be muffled. What wankers.

If you stopped, indicated then pulled forward prior to reversing, I would immediately pull forward as well, if I were behind you. I wouldn't twig you were trying to get into the drive unless you somehow specifically indicated that. In this case, indicator is not enough, as it just looks like you are turning at the road.

I think you have to go in forward and out backwards. The going in forwards is a non-issue. While the out backwards does rely on some co-operation from the queue of cars, it will be clear to them what you are trying to do, and some drivers will be helpful.

Can I echo a previous post - does your garden touch both A roads and if so, could you make a drive in, drive off drive with an entrance on both roads?

Even if not actually illegal I have poor visibility of the pavement reversing off, one toddler running ahead could end in tragedy! School children also use the route a lot, I'd rather risk the traffic. Reversing on means I can see the pavement clearly.

5 mattresses... I totally don't have a bath out there

TBH even if I got a permit one dc is disabled and I don't fancy the extra faff, so I won't fight that one. She does park at quite a distance though and walks

No other exit to land, it's just a typical small east London house stuck on a main road, very little land around it

Forget my post OP, just seen your property doesn't border the other road. I think if it's too busy to reverse on, then you have to drive in and reverse off.

No useful advice but I live similarly, our drive is on the left side of two lane one way system, three houses from a mini roundabout. I slow down and indicate left early, pull close to the kerb and far enough ahead of my drive so I can reverse as soon as there's the gap in the traffic - and put the reverse lights on asap so it's obvious what I'm trying to do. Still takes ages to get a space to reverse in at school pick up time though!

Speak to the council and highlight the issue and ask for the lights line to be moved back or a keep clear area to enable you to pull into your drive - was the house built with this drive or added later??

That sounds awful. What you actually need is a "keep clear" box outside both driveways. Then you can drive into the box and then reverse. It won't solve all dickhead driving but it might make things easier for you.

Dashcam and take footage to the police if people are abusive. I don't see that you can do anything differently. Some people are just twats.

Added buildings to side of house.

My house and drive pre dates other bits, some houses were demolished for flats/ converted to shops and the main road became a very busy road from what was a quiet route before

Not sure I could have a sign without it saying something like I am parking dickface, About to reverse TWAT or something of that ilk. I hate drivers like the ones you are talking about

I am parking dickface, About to reverse TWAT or something of that ilk.

Please do this

Can you rent one of the garages adjacent to your drive and install a remote-control door at each end?

Otherwise, I'd probably drive in and then go out and turn the car round once the road is quiet, late at night.

I agree with most posters OP. Develop a thick skin, smile and wave at the angry wasp road ragers and then continue to reverse in with hazards on. If you get blocked by idiot drivers, stay where you are with hazards on and wait until the rest of the pack get the message and then carry on reversing.

I would also contact the council about getting a keep clear sign for safety though. They're quite common here (Wales).

I agree with a PP, I'd drive straight onto your drive then turn the car around before you go to bed. However I know you're in London so there may never be a time where it's quiet enough for you to reverse back on without the local dickheads carrying on.

I used to live on a busy A road with an awkward drive so feel your pain OP! It's not ideal but my neighbours (our drive was big enough to play car Tetris and do 100000point turns so didn't always have to reverse on) used to pull up onto the path and reverse from there so that they weren't stopping traffic. Is this a possibility? Apologies if this has been asked already!

www.mod-sales.com/direct/vehicle/related/71822/Spartan_CVRT.htm

Sorted!

Ring 101 and ask for advice?

I'd also get a dash cam and place it very prominently, maybe a sticker with "dash camera enabled car" on the back window. The twats might think twice if they think abuse might be shown to the police or sent to one of those embarass dickhead driver programs, or websites.

I know you said there was a tree which can't be cut down and the garden turns into a mud bath, so there is enough room in the garden to do a 10 point turn on?
If so you can buy this very thick plastic mesh, which is designed to allow grass to grow through it whilst taking the weight of a car and not turn into a mud bath. I'm sure I'v seen it at Screwfix.

Reverse in.

Block the road with your car as you swing in so nobody can swerve around you.

I used to move over a little so there was still room for cars behind to pass but it's very odd putting when people swerve around, speed past, rev engines etc. All because god forbid someone has arrived home and wants to park up.

Ignore the twats.

I have a similar set up to you and I find it infuriating that some people just can not/will not wait for around 20 seconds for someone to reverse in.

What does your neighbour do?
What about getting one of those convex mirrors people have at the end of their posh driveway in the countryside - just to flag up that there is a driveway there.