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AIBU?

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Original poster

Sick of my drive being blocked every single day

103 replies

ForeverLooking · 23/03/2022 14:34

This isn't the worst problem in the world, but it's really starting to piss me off.
Every single day without fail, my drive gets blocked by someone or multiple someones...workman, delivery drivers, people "quickly" visiting other houses, people pulling over to have a snack/talk on the phone. Obviously this doesn't inconvenience me all the time as I'm WFH, but very often I'll have to go out and ask the driver to move so I can get out, or so the taxi bringing my DS (who has SEN and needs to be dropped off at my door) can get in. People do, but it's often accompanied by eye rolls, huffing and puffing or "I will in a minute" or "I won't be long". My house is a cottage on the main road of a village, so I think its just a the most convenient place for people to pull over and access what they need. Yes I've got a full dropped kerb and there is parking a few yards up the road and plenty around the village. I know realistically there's not a huge amount I can do about it aside from seething quietly behind the curtains and going out to ask people to move -do you think people would respond to a sign by the drive asking for it not to be blocked? I have a feeling the "I'll only be a minute" crowd won't give a shit. Has anyone put a sign up and the situation got better?

OP posts:
gonnascreamsoon · 23/03/2022 14:38

Personally I'd put up a sign, you can try it anyway.

But I think you're just going to need to accept that some people will still stop there temporarily, because it's 'convenient' for them.

Original poster
ForeverLooking · 23/03/2022 14:43

I think sadly you are right and I'm resigned to getting frequent shitty glares and eye rolls when I need to use the drive. It's more annoying when I get back home and can't get in and have to either sit and beep or try and hunt down the owner with DS in tow (not always easy)

OP posts:
Ionlydomassiveones · 23/03/2022 14:46

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

TheGriffle · 23/03/2022 14:48

I don’t think there’s much you can do. We’ve recently moved and I have found our drive being blocked by people and delivery vans etc and people visiting next door overhang the dropped kerb which would make it difficult if I needed to go out. But 9/10 I don’t need to go out so I also quietly seethe and peek through the blinds to see when they’ve gone. I would look a complete dick if I went out and asked them to move when I don’t actually need to leave but it pisses me the hell off.

TheGriffle · 23/03/2022 14:50

Talk about timing! This is my drive right this second. That Cavan is not delivering to me. He’s just sat there.

Sick of my drive being blocked every single day
TheGriffle · 23/03/2022 14:51

Don’t think my photo posted.

Sick of my drive being blocked every single day
TonyThreePies · 23/03/2022 14:53

I feel your pain OP. Same thing happens to me. I once got screamed at to FUCK OFF by a very angry man when I tooted (note - not blared) my horn to alert him that I was there. Twat.

Lou98 · 23/03/2022 14:53

YANBU. It's why so many people park across their own drives which they shouldn't have to do!

I'm not really sure what you can do about it though, I'd definitely try a sign but as you say anyone cheeky enough to say "I won't be long" when you ask them to move is likely to just ignore it

LabelMaker · 23/03/2022 14:59

We get it but they are delivery drivers and genuinely aren't long. In your circumstances I'd just keep asking them to move and if they get shitty that's their sad little lives.

Original poster
ForeverLooking · 23/03/2022 15:00

Sympathy to all my other drive blocked people! Funnily enough Griffle the van blocking yours is identical to the one that's been blocking mine for the past hour, down to the beacons and stripe. I don't need to go anywhere now but will have to go out at 3.15 as DS will be home in the taxi.
I'm expecting that one day TonyThreePies...I've been lucky so far but I'm sure it's coming. I'm never rude, maybe I'm too polite.

OP posts:
BambisMum911 · 23/03/2022 15:04

Yes I have a sign politely asking if possible to keep clear before 9am and after 15:00 due to disability needs transport for children pick up and drop home. All my neighbours and others have been great about it as I couldn't get a disabled parking spot(we don't have a drive), well I could have done but the council said if they gave me a disabled bay outside my house anyone with a blue badge can park there so seemed pointless. Hope this works for you to, try it 🙂

Gilly12345 · 23/03/2022 15:04

I would put a sign up if people are parking there as often as you say they are.

Also I would try and ignore the eye rolls etc as they are in the wrong not you. If they eye rolled me I would be telling them to “don’t park in front of my driveway and I wouldn’t need to get you to move”.

People are not considerate enough unfortunately these days.

Chloemol · 23/03/2022 15:07

Speak to your local authority and see if they will put a H bar in front of your drive so the idiots that can’t see it’s a drive have a visual notice

LabelMaker · 23/03/2022 15:07

@ForeverLooking

Sympathy to all my other drive blocked people! Funnily enough Griffle the van blocking yours is identical to the one that's been blocking mine for the past hour, down to the beacons and stripe. I don't need to go anywhere now but will have to go out at 3.15 as DS will be home in the taxi. I'm expecting that one day TonyThreePies...I've been lucky so far but I'm sure it's coming. I'm never rude, maybe I'm too polite.
Omg maybe you are in the same house haha!
Original poster
ForeverLooking · 23/03/2022 15:08

@BambisMum911

Yes I have a sign politely asking if possible to keep clear before 9am and after 15:00 due to disability needs transport for children pick up and drop home. All my neighbours and others have been great about it as I couldn't get a disabled parking spot(we don't have a drive), well I could have done but the council said if they gave me a disabled bay outside my house anyone with a blue badge can park there so seemed pointless. Hope this works for you to, try it 🙂
That's great, will definitely try and will mention on the sign access needed due to disability.
OP posts:
Momicrone · 23/03/2022 15:08

I guess the van drivers logic is if he's just sat there he can easily move if asked

Original poster
ForeverLooking · 23/03/2022 15:09

@Chloemol

Speak to your local authority and see if they will put a H bar in front of your drive so the idiots that can’t see it’s a drive have a visual notice
That's a great idea, thank you! I will contact the council and ask
OP posts:
HowlongWillThisTakeNow · 23/03/2022 15:15

I’m not really sure there a lot can do,
I live 2 streets away from a school and forever have parents parking in the allocating spots, it’s so annoying

Original poster
ForeverLooking · 23/03/2022 15:24

@HowlongWillThisTakeNow

I’m not really sure there a lot can do, I live 2 streets away from a school and forever have parents parking in the allocating spots, it’s so annoying
That must be very frustrating. It's chaos up by the local primary school here, I know the neighbours frequently ask for consideration from parents but there's always a few who use the "I'll be in and out!" line.
OP posts:
TheHoptimist · 23/03/2022 15:32

Yes I have a sign politely asking if possible to keep clear before 9am and after 15:00 due to disability needs transport for children pick up and drop home.

that would be interpreted as park away for the rest of the time

HeDidWhattt · 23/03/2022 15:32

Can you spray? If it’s not against the law I’d spray no parking and a line on the road I front of your drive

underneaththeash · 23/03/2022 15:35

A few nails at the far side of the road?
Honestly just go out each time and tape a note on the windscreen.

lilroo87 · 23/03/2022 15:37

This happens to us all the time. We have a big drive and there's an area outside our gate which looks like a parking layby but isn't. People always pull in there and block our drive or in the height of summer, get out and pee up our wall. One person even let their child sit on a potty in my neighbours garden.
Once people have pulled in I'm sure they must realise there's a house and it's not parking.
If I need to get out or they're peeing then I'll explain it's private and they need to move. So very annoying.
I keep meaning to get a sign!!

Badbadbunny · 23/03/2022 15:39

@Chloemol

Speak to your local authority and see if they will put a H bar in front of your drive so the idiots that can’t see it’s a drive have a visual notice
We've an H bar and people just ignore it, so it's not really a solution. It stops most people from properly parking across our drive (i.e. to go shopping or a walk or long visits to neighbours), but no deterrent for taxis, delivery vans, tradesmen parking to have their lunch, or people "who'll only be a few minutes"!
thatsgotit · 23/03/2022 15:45

Feeling your pain OP. Our driveway is quite long and for some reason people don't seem to 'see' it's a driveway, or else they just pretend they don't, because people are always merrily parking across it. Irritating.