Parking- why wouldn't you use your own drive?

[Tomboytown]

This is just an irritation at the moment, but I'm wondering if I'm missing something.

Neighbours have two drives, two spaces that they could use without blocking each other in.
They have small children, I would have thought it's easier/safer to get them out in their drive rather than in the road.
The cars aren't too big for the gate posts-they're quite wide.
I recently couldn't use my drive and it drove me crazy parking in the road.

There is a big tree outside which they park under and birds crap on their cars. The kerb is all uneven because of the tree roots and they back up to it.
There are no other cars on the road. The road is wide.

It's annoying me because it restricts my view when I'm backing out, they park right up to the entrance of my drive, so I have to do a big arc to get in, and even though I indicate, cars behind me can't figure out that I'm turning in a drive.
When they have visitors they park outside my house, so in turn my visitors are parking further down.
Is it just a quick getaway they're after?!!

I have gates to my drive and as I have a small garden, the drive forms a large part of my outdoor space. I keep the gate locked because we have a lot of burglaries in our area and I want to make it difficult for them to get to the back of the house when I'm out or asleep.

Because the gates are kept locked it's a pain in the arse getting on and off the drive, I have to park up, come inside via the front door, then go out the back door, unlock the gates from the inside, start the car again and drive onto the drive, and lock the gates again behind me. Then do it all again if I go back out. Cannot be arsed.

On the odd occasion I use my drive, some knob will park in front of my gate so I can't get off. So I park in front of my gate instead. Nobody else should park there, so I'm not taking anyone's space.

Maybe they’ve previously parked up their drives, but found it difficult to get out quickly due to traffic or badly parked cars or something?
I know there are some areas near me that are gridlocked on a bank holiday or sunny weekend. Visitors double park, on yellow lines and even block peoples driveways and the council and police seem unwilling/unable to do anything about it. As a result lot of residents have taken to parking on the road outside their own houses to prevent being blocked in of a weekend. Maybe it’s something similar if you live near a school or shops or something?
Of course there’s always the possibility that they just find it easier for some reason and don’t think of the effect it has on anyone?

Its obvious isn't it? They would have to open and shut the driveway gates every time. Why don't you (OP) make the grassy bit part of your drive then have an in and out driveway?

Their gates are never closed
I could, callmeadoctor, but I have the original gateposts that I want to keep, very old- lead to the servants quarters!

I have a neighbour who always parks in the lay-by which is right next to her drive but leaves her drive empty. This means that visitors to other houses in the close have difficulty parking. I’m tempted to ask her if my visitors can use her drive as she seems not to want to use it!

Another reason to park on the road is so that your visitors can always get a space on your drive....

My diagram isn't quite right.
The tree is further over to the right so they're actually squashing up two cars under the tree.

I've decided that the gateposts are just too narrow for their liking. Plenty of space to get a regular size car in and plenty of space once they're in but it's probably tight getting in. That's the only thing it can be.

It's a strange law, as not being able to get out could be more problematic than not being able to get in.

" if the car is making you unable to get into your property then the police can have it towed away. (If it's stopping you getting out, then they can't. It's access to your place that's illegal, apparently.)"

I thought that it was the other way around-that access to the highway mustn't be blocked?

I thought that it was the other way around-that access to the highway mustn't be blocked?

I'm pretty sure it's getting out that's the problem. Not getting in.

Really? Well, I bow to your greater knowledge - I'm just repeating what I think dh reported was what the cop said, but I could be remembering wrong or he could have got mixed up. Sorry, for confusing people.

I really do need to check on that as it's not the first time I've said it

YY its legal to block an empty drive - there was a load of hassle near to me where there were restricted hours single yellow lines. Residents were being blocked out so parked on road and got tickets.
There was nothing they could do.

I want to park on the road now so my neighbour with the behemoth vehicle can't park opposite because it would narrow the road too much. Its moved (temporary )
I cba moving though

Just had a quick google. I was wrong and everyone else was right. More apologies. I shall try to rewire my brain so I don't give out duff info again on this subject. I'll report my post too so noone chancing upon the thread and not reading all of it isn't misinformed.

Thank to you two forputting me right

I never use my drive and always park my cars on the road purely as i dont want my car parked within a few feet of my door. I have two kids as well. Also have to park next to a fence on one side so it makes it hard to get kids in.... maybe your neighbour has similar thoughts to me.
If the car is taxed and there is no road restrictions then they can park where they like.
you are being unreasonable