I just lost it over parking

[tallinmanchester]

I live near a post office and a woman just rudely parked outside my drive and was on her way into the post office when I shouted out the window that I'd like her to move her car.

Do you need access to the drive was her reply.

That's not the point, it's called being respectful and I said she should park down the road - literally loads of space like 20 yards further down (quiet residential road).

She got aggressive. I got aggressive. Words were had, she stormed off... I went outside but she obviously knew I wasn't letting it go and she came back and moved her car - together with name calling - which I returned.

Thing is, I don't know why it bothers me. I feel out of sorts at the moment with lockdown and my fuse is really short.

People parking in front of my drive are pissing me off.

But why do I feel off - is it because I'm stuck at home all day working and not getting out much?

I would have smeared butter over her windscreen. It’s a bugger to get off, and would make her think twice before doing it again. Someone upthread saying if you didn’t need to use your drive it’s okay for someone to block it? Seriously? What if op had someone who turned up to visit at that moment and wanted to park on the drive, or if she wanted to go somewhere herself?

@PlandeRaccordement The point is, the woman who parked there didn't know if OP was going to use it. She just didn't care and that is rude.

The Highway Code takes a 'shouldn't' approach. It is up to the council bye laws to state it clearly.

In all the boroughs I've lived the authorities have (eventually) clarified where the law stands with use of single white or double yellow lines.

Just coming back to this skedaddle, in our Borough, it is not necessary to have any line. Obviously, each Borough is different. They are very clear that any dropped kerb entrance is not a legal park by their bye-laws.

We did not have a line at all but I have had this clarified by three senior parking and roads managers as they came out to check physically what the situation was. Now though, they have put yellow lines down. Thankfully.

@Bluntness100

Op do you have a dropped kerb? If you do she was breaking the law. If you do not she was not and was legally entitled to park there.

I don't think the "legal" bit comes into it. Why would you deliberately block someone's access to and from their home or business when you can park somewhere else?

@SkedaddIe

I park in front of drives if it's the only space available, but never if there's a car in the drive or a garage at the end of a drive.

And how do you expect the returning occupant to get on their drive 🤷‍♀️

Jesus, people are fucking mental these days. Would I bollock someone for parking over my drive when I had no intention of leaving the house? Of course not, I’ve got a life.

What law specifically?

1980 Highways act, section 137.

I agree but with the distinction that it is the bye laws that makes the dropped kerb special.

I'm not sure that's true. I think it's an enforcement issue rather than a variation in local statutes. Pretty sure there is case law clarifying this and the Highway Code uses the Must Not rather than Should not notation when something is from the Highways act.

I think the 'dropped curb law' being a council thing is a myth from when some enforcement changed from police to councils.

Either way, no council or police force would refuse to enforce when OPs car was blocked in. I have heard some councils won't enforce when you can't get on the drive and leave it to civil courts.

She was in the wrong. Don't let it upset you.

And how do you expect the returning occupant to get on their drive

I can answer that one because I have been told so many times by CF parkers. Paraphrasing all the answers, but generally, 'it is your issue to deal with, you were the one who bought a house near a school/post office/insert here. I don't care that you have been blocked and it doesn't matter that you have a large item that you need to unload ... Oh and aren't you privileged that you actually live in a house with a driveway?!'

Or, 'I was only a minute and you weren't here anyway'.

Are you allowed to clamp people's cars? Check the legality, but it could be a money making business.

What she did was incredibly rude. She was basically blocking your access. Good for you for not letting it go. I’m shocked that 11% voted YABU to be honest

Haha! I just vented on a bloke parked opposite our Co-op. On the zigzag lines of the pedestrian crossing. Felt soooooo good! Pillock.

I'd have continued but didn't want to inconvenience the car behind me.

YANBU, and the point at which she immediately asked if you needed access is probably when I would have lost it. That’s just entitlement. It’s exactly like when someone asks to use your phone charger, you say, “I’m using it right now,” but then they ask how much battery you have, so they can argue their need is more important. It doesn’t matter if I have 98% battery - it’s MY charger! And it’s YOUR driveway! If she had perhaps asked in a way that didn’t start off questioning if you had a right to your own bloody drive, she might have had a bit more luck.

Would I bollock someone for parking over my drive when I had no intention of leaving the house?

How does the Parker know that you are not about to leave the house? This becomes a major issue when many people believe that it is ok and take it for granted.

YANBU. people who block drives are selfish, entitled arseholes.

@PlanDeRaccordement

YABU even if she was blocking your drive because you weren’t needing to use it right then. She was doing you no harm whatsoever.

Anyone could say that so what happens when someone is out and returns to find a parked car across the drive?

My dickhead neighbours regularly park but up against my drive so they don't block their other car in. It makes it incredibly difficult to get on and off the drive and means our visitors have to park miles away. They even do it when they are away staying with family in tier 3 area while calling the police on people who have moved in together. I encourage children to play football in the street.

Put marmite on the door handle. That will stop them doing it again.

Plenty CFS on this thread

Apparently it's ok to block someone's drive as long as you leave a mobile number. Entitled and selfish.

It's totally thoughtless. If you needed to get out quickly, or try to park there you would have to wait until she got back! Cheeky mare. I would have had words, too.

If she was inconveniencing you, I get that it annoy you. But if she isn't, does that worth getting into dispute?

I live near the school. I get so many people blocking my driveway. I am not bothered at all.

"And how do you expect the returning occupant to get on their drive 🤷‍♀️"

By calling my mobile number on my windscreen. Or by finding an on street parking space like the rest of us. Whichever they prefer @ivfbeenbusy

Just to be clear I won't park across a drive unnecessarily, but I will do it if there aren't any reasonably close spaces (and when the law is in my favour.)

I think that's reasonable

This is the post office up the road from me. I suspect what the houses next door have done is self explanatory.
YANBU and I can imagine living next door to this set up is truly miserable.