Parking AIBU *with Diagram*

[PaintDiagram]

Please excuse the KS2 diagram as I've used an online version on paint - as you can tell from the wheels of the cars it's not to scale.

NDN keeps asking us to move the second car on the shared driveway. Apparently it's blocking her access to her driveway as it's a struggle to get past/see when she's turning in. The first time I thought she meant that I had parked too far over and now we park on the pavement near the garden. 7am this morning we get another knock asking us to not park at the end of the drive way as it will be our fault if they scratch our car. Apparently especially during rush hour it's difficult to get in (it's not overly) and that's why they whip around. We've lived here for donkeys years and only just moved back (was rented out when they moved in), we've never had an issue with other neighbours/nobody has ever complained of struggling to get in.

I thought they were very unreasonable but a family member agreed that maybe they had a point (but she is a very nervous driver).

*named change as I think this could be very outing.

[PanamaPattie]

I have a similar setup. We reverse in to our drive, as do our neighbours. It's not an issue. Your neighbour shouldn't be on the road if she's that nervous and lacks confidence in her driving.

[PaintDiagram]

If NDN has parked two cars on their drive we usually park one of ours on the road. My partner doesn't live with me full time so it's not an overall issue for us two. It's usually the guests who come who park nearer the end of the drive way (as I guess they don't want to be parked 'in').

[superfandango]

If you had a single width driveway that was long enough for 2-3 cars what would you do? Would the second car back always park in the street? Everyone I know with a long single width driveway arranges it so that the person who is going out first parks at the front of the drive.

Neighbour is being U but so are you for using their side to manoeuvre.

[PaintDiagram]

@DishingOutDone

Well with the drip feed (the spanner issue) that DOES make all the difference - I think we need to know as previously asked is this a shared drive with rights of way, or is it that you simply have your drives next to each other and no one has ever bothered to put up a fence? If its the latter get a fence up, everyone sorts themselves out, end of.

Everyone along this road has a similar set up and surely neighbour wars would have caused some fences to go up. What would the point of having a shared driveway if it wasn't for rights of way? Life would be easier if we could put up a fence, avoid her awful driving, and if we ever wanted to change our driveway we wouldn't have to come to a compromise?

We're not so much of dicks that we let the kids play on their side or just wander on it just for the fun of it. As I mentioned above I thought her issue was that she was struggling to get passed as we were far too over (still on our side but still) and I moved the car.

[lanthanum]

If it's designed as space for each of you to park two cars, you're entitled to do that. Obviously you can be helpful and try to park as far over and as far back as possible.

I wouldn't just stick up a fence - you could suggest it as an option, but it would actually make it more difficult for her (although it would protect your cars).

When I started driving, I worked out a recipe for reversing into our drive - I know where I stop and start reversing from. Maybe a Sunday morning (when there's less traffic) spent working that out and practising would reduce the stress for her. But in the end of the day, if she's not confident doing it, she'll have to park somewhere else. We did that one year on holiday, as the cottage's parking space was very tricky to get into, and on a busy road so you held traffic up for ages doing a seven-point turn. We ended up parking the car a couple of streets away instead.

[Sirzy]

Why can’t you park two cars on your drive if your neighbour has?

The more I read it seems to be that there are very much issues with parking on both sides!

[HuggedTrees]

Seriously, if it’s a 3 car length drive you’re entitled to park 3 cars. Just because they tuck up 2 cars doesn’t mean you have to. She’ll soon improve her driving skills if you build a wall to the pavement!

[JumpiestBat]

YANBU she needs to learn to back in so she can poke her nose out into the traffic to better see what's what. I'm presuming you're as close to the houses as poss and you've said you use the path so create much space so I don't think you can do much more.

[Brakebackcyclebot]

Your neighbour is being ridiculous

[Dubbadubbadumdum]

Your neighbour is a tit, and if they can't negotiate past a parked car then they shouldn't be driving. Also, if they hit someone's car, it's entirely their fault, and I'd be telling them that too!

Any chance they think that you're actually renting? Were they living there when you first bought? I think people bully tenants in minor ways that they wouldn't bully the property owner!

[TheMidasTouch]

Does she tend to turn left when getting off the drive? What kind of car do you have - is it an SUV or something quite tall that prevents her from seeing oncoming traffic?

I'd agree with parking as far down the drive as possible to ensure she does have the best view possible when turning left when she is leaving the drive.

[NotYourTypicalNerd]

YABU - Have a proper chat - you use her driveway and she is just asking you to move a little forward so she can get out. Is it really that hard?

[DishingOutDone]

@PaintDiagram - I'm asking if you know the fact of whether its a shared drive/rights of way etc? Or if its become the case over years of use? Why did you mention the "spanner" if you are not aware that it puts you in the CF zone? I'm not the only one to have asked about this. What would happen if they got a second car?

[sunshinesupermum]

I'd agree with parking as far down the drive as possible to ensure she does have the best view possible when turning left when she is leaving the drive.

This. To avoid neighbour wars.

[TheMidasTouch]

You definitely need to check your paperwork. I wouldn't be pulling out onto their side of the drive in the car nearest my house to go around the car parked further away. I would move the other car onto the road and then drive the other out (and then reverse the other back on, if necessary).

[Inforthelonghaul]

You both need to use your own drive, neither of you should be using the other side. You have to drive one car out if you want to move the first and that’s correct. Personally I think the OP is being a CF by using the neighbours side at all. Either do it properly or always park the second car on the road then no one will have an issue.

[freeingNora]

We have two independent drives side by side, when we moved in we had the builders dig out a huge square and gravel it to the right of the drive it's loving known as the turning circle and that's what it's for. Fits two cars side by side problem solved

Yanbu by the way

[Gruzinkerbell1]

Can’t you just put up a wall or a fence? Each side then has their own drive. No need to share anymore and pretend you don’t think she’s a shit driver

[Branster]

I haven got time to read the thread right now but I really, really wanted to say I bloody love you diagram

[ManiacalLapwing]

Park your second car right behind your first car, then move it to the end of the drive temporarily if you need to get the first car out.

[Toomuchgoingon]

Why do you park your second car on the street if they have their 2 cars on the drive?.

[EL8888]

She’s being unreasonable and precious. I wouldn’t feed into it at all. I would also tell her not to knock on your door so early

[bloodynamechange]

Tell her to get to fuck

[Dilkhush]

She's already scraped a car. She's probably worried about doing it again. Move your car up to be nice and stop driving on her drive. It's not like a shared access to garages at the back, you have one side each.

[beminetonight]

NDN is being unreasonable. Out of politeness your DP could park nearer to your car.

asking us to not park at the end of the drive way as it will be our fault if they scratch our car.
No. If she damages your car she is responsible. I'd put in cctv just in case.

Apparently especially during rush hour it's difficult to get in (it's not overly) and that's why they whip around.
She will be in the wrong if she does this. You are not meant to complete a turn manoeuvre unless the point you are entering is clear. If she is driving too fast into the space she is responsible. Imagine if she hit a pedestrian instead of your car. She would be at fault. She has to drive responsibly.