Council lorry blocking me won't move because he's on his break!

[user1497207191]

Just come out of my house to find a council lorry parked across my drive. They're doing some digging a few doors down. Driver sat in the cab, so i politely asked him to move back a bit to let me get my car out of the drive. Point blank refusal. Says he's on his break, he's legally entitled to his break and he won't move until he's finished his break. Then winds his window up. By the time I report it to police or council traffic enforcement he'll have moved it hopefully. So I'm stuck here, and I'm now going to be late for a GP appointment. There are some pretty inconsiderate arrogant sods out there aren't there?

All the people saying “but he could be on a tacho, so legally he isn’t allowed to move!” - surely if that was the case, he wouldn’t have been so rude, and might have mentioned the restrictions?! “Look, I’m really sorry, but my tacho means I’m obligated to have rest time, it would be illegal now for me to move. But I will be able to shift in (however many) minutes. Really sorry to inconvenience you”.

Sometimes all it takes is common sense, and common courtesy! But 100% he shouldn’t have parked there in the first place! Just helps to soften the blow sometimes when someone is apologetic and polite.

He's not legally allowed to block the OP in either...

Hope you got to your appointment op.
Is there anyone else around, part of the work crew?
I agree than photographing him and dobbing him is a good idea.

Even if he was deterred by his taco timing/eating, he could say "I'm not allowed to drive right now, I'm sorry I didn't see your car there, I'll get one of the other chaps to move the rig" - obviously he didn't say this because he's an arse.

But I really do fail to see how a max five meter movement at .2 mph would really be a taco breach to cause any follow up.

Hmmmm...no sign of the OP coming back. Maybe she went outside to take photos and the truck driver took offence. Anyone local who can go check the holes they've been digging for any body parts dodgy activity?

But I really do fail to see how a max five meter movement at .2 mph would really be a taco breach to cause any follow up

When on a taco, they're not allowed to move the vehicle, it's the rules.

And it would also be an even worse breach to get someone else to drive, even if he had the correct licence, insurance, permission from his employer and cruicially, his own tacho card, because driving on someone else's card to get round rules about breaks is a very serious breach.

The OP will be off by now, but I'd have called the police. And report to the Council and make a formal complaint against the driver.

Did you get to the Drs, OP?

Rules changed recently, pretty much all commercial stuff needs a tacho, right pain the .... it is too.

When on a taco, they're not allowed to move the vehicle, it's the rules

On a taco they’re allowed to drive an excess hour twice a week. When they’re coming to the end of a timing session, the driver is required to sto safely and legally. A taco doesn’t mean “4.5 hours, slam breaks on and stop anywhere”.

They’re also permitted to move in an emergency. Although this wouldn’t apply here as the driver could “reasonably foresee” there could be an issue.

And it would also be an even worse breach to get someone else to drive, even if he had the correct licence, insurance, permission from his employer and cruicially, his own tacho card, because driving on someone else's card to get round rules about breaks is a very serious breach

To be honest, if he’s enough of a dick to park over someone’s drive, I wouldn’t be that concerned about any breach.

I think we’re getting into the realms of fantasy to excuse this bloke. Had he been genuine surely he would have explained with an apology.

Occam’s razor, far more likely the guy is just a prick who enjoys petty little power plays.

A lot of the time with these drivers it is just laziness, there is actually somewhere else to park.

I live on a cul de sac, it's one way and someone opposite has a Tesco delivery once a week. Nine times out of ten the driver "parks" blocking the road instead of parking properly next to the pavement.

omg I need closure on this thread

I wonder if this guy is having issues because of his taco?

OPs probably decided not to come back to this thread

@soupdragon

I presume the lorry's long since gone, therefore no juicy update. Now for the love of God will somebody bring me a taco? Easy on the cheese now.

We've had the same roundtheturn (Virgin Media, new gas mains, new water main, more digging up to fix the phone lines that got damaged when some other lot was doing digging).

They were all very polite and would come and knock if they were going to dig at the bottom of your drive, and come and let people know if they were digging near your car in case you wanted to move it to stop it getting dusty. Best of all were the Virgin contractors, who carried my shopping up the drive for me on more than one occasion and would stop drilling if I walked along with the dog so that she wasn't spooked by the noise.

I really hope this fuckwit lorry driver gets a bollocking.

Hi I am an HGV driver and I can shed some light on this situation...if he has put a tacho card in then within the first 6 hours of the card going in then he must have a 15 min break..it's called the working time directive..he doesn't have to have driven 4and a half hours..but he should not in any circumstance parked across someone's driveway..the OP should have called the police and he would have moved then..it does happen when you take a break but nearly all the drivers I know would just move on and start their break again...

There is no excuse at all for parking illegally and his managers should be made aware that he’s an inconsiderate and rude employee.

I know that delivery drivers have a schedule to stick to, but that’s also no excuse for blocking people, parking opposite other vehicles, so no one can get through and parking on pavements.

I hope OP updates.
Hours ago now... but a pic & immediate tweet tagging the council & the subcontractor company was my first thought.

I want to know what happened.

What utter twattery.

Take photos and report to the council.

If he's moved on now then it's too late but you should have called non-emergency police. Likewise the council. Both those calls with vehicle reg and ASP. I'd also take clear photos - if driver in any way threatens or intimidates you as you do that call call 999.

*and ASAP - not 'asp'!

I expect (hope) OP is at the Drs now, but hoping she did take photos and report.

Can't believe someone actually suggested she should get a taxi