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.

I like the idea of you landscaping to include a fence & three parking spaces for YOUR guests. (You know you’re going to have to get bollards to stop other CF’s from parking there, too, right?) Also the fence is going to save you from looking at her cat’s arse face every time she scratches her car. Suspect she will try and blame you and get solicitors involved when this happens as well.

Is it an official shared driveway on your deeds? If you have ROW over her part, and she on yours then neither of you can park on the driveway and you certainly can't incorporate into your garden. Check your deeds first. Otherwise look forward to seeing you in a few months when you need a surveyor to produce a boundary report to defend a court claim.

If it's two separate driveways then I would put up a fence if it's causing issues although this may impact on your ability to open your car door, hence why developers don't put them up themselves.

You may have a problem with the alternative if it's a shared driveway so you'll need to consult with your solicitor, also check your parking rules as it may not be as simple as just parking wherever you like /putting up a post

Also what's on the opposite side of the road, is there something stopping her from making a manoeuvre or two to get parking ready, rather than swinging across your driveway?

We used to have this set up, it wasn't ever an issue so it may be she's just a rubbish driver or too scared to spend a few moments manoeuvring into the correct position before entering the driveway, seems a bit unfair if your deeds say it's ok to park there

Seeing as it's illegal to reverse into a road and neighbour should be reversing into the drive then how you park is irrelevant since reverse parking is much easier into tighter spaces.

Next time neighbour knocks remind her of this and offer to sit with her while she practises reversing a few times.

Your NDN is being ridiculous! Maybe shout her a driving lesson or two!

Lots of people have awkward drives. The more you say the more she sounds lazy.

I'd be a bit sympathetic if it was about obstructed view turning out.

cookiemonster

It is not illegal

It might not be illegal but, if she is reversing out of the drive she is ignoring the Highway Code because it tells you to reverse into and drive out of driveways "if you can" and if you can't see clearly when reversing get someone to guide you. So telling you to move your car is completely the wrong solution.
She is trying to off-load the consequences of her poor driving skills onto you, which is pathetic, but from a pragmatic pov if she does scrape your car you might struggle to prove it was her if she doesn't own up.
Using her side to manoeuvre your car out does make it tricky to refuse to let her use yours to get in though.

Ndn very very unreasonable. Of course you can park in your drive! Some people are just arseholes!

You could sick a caravan there it you wanted to. NDN is unreasonable.
Next time they ask, the answer is 'No.'

You could sick a caravan there it you wanted to

Not necessarily.

I’m not sure dash cams work when cars are parked and the engine is off. CCTV cameras on the front of your house might be better.

I have similar set up with drives side by side and my NDN keeps telling workmen and visitors to park on my drive! It’s driving me mad. I have space in front of my house so park there when I have visitors etc and don’t appreciate having to monitor the drive to check it’s free before they arrive. Xx

You could sick a caravan there it you wanted to
Not necessarily.

Why not if it is on her land? Caravan, transit van, car, any movable item should be fine.

If possible suggest you don't park right at the end of the drive. You may be limiting her view when leaving. Or when driving in especially if having to swing in at very busy times space at the end could be limited. If neither is the case then your NDN should take time regardless of how busy the road i, folk are entitled to manoeuvre safely even if slowing others down or perhaps a bit driving coaching is needed.

Why not if it is on her land? Caravan, transit van, car, any movable item should be fine.

Sometimes there are covenants etc that prevent this.

dont move your cars anymore, get some CCTV installed just in case she side swipes your cars... she needs to learn to slow down and actually turn the car, not veer at speed into the drive way and she would have even more issues if you did put a fence in, so she should learn now while she has the extra room rather than push you to fencing your half off..... and just dont use her side any more, if she sees you doing that she feels she can also dictate to you about how many cars you have on your side and where you park

Our opposite neighbour can't reverse around corners. Shortly after we moved in she asked us not to park opposite her drive and warned me that she would hit it when she reversed (straight) out of her drive in the dark. I never plucked up the courage to book the driving lesson for her... Fortunately for her the council put yellow lines outside our house. (If you are that nervous you really shouldn't be driving!)

If you check your deeds and you are happy to landscape your garden do it. She can’t tell you she’s going to hit and scratch your car and if she does you report her and say she threatened to do so and get some CCTV.

I don’t think you should move the second car back, if in the future you actually have 3 drivers with cars living in your house, I’m sure you’d expect all 3 to be able to park on the drive and your NDN would HAVE to learn to park/pull into drive properly.
I wouldn’t have my child’s car on the road if I had ample drive space just because my NDN struggled. If she’s that bad why doesn’t she park in front of HER house on the road.

The landscaping idea is great but you'll likely get all kinds of randoms using your spots as public parking.

Another vote for "she needs to refresh her driving skills." Who on earth whizzes through a gap in traffic without checking to see what they might be driving into? A damaged car would be bad, a little kid on a bike would be horrific.

Next door needs to learn how to drive properly. Basic stuff, your drive use it as you wish leaving space to each other. If they mention scratches again etc then say back to them that expect repair bills in return and put up a cctv camera! CF's next door!

How the hell does she ever get into a parking space?! Put bollards up the middle and be done with it.

You think you've got problems, our old NDN told me to tell my husband not to park his van on the road outside our house because it made it difficult for her to see when reversing out onto a busy road!! We had a driveway but he didn't always park in it, so that if I needed to go out I could get out without him having to move the van, but if he had parked on our drive it would actually have made it even harder for her to see. Some people just need to learn to drive properly!!

Penguin bollards!!