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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Advice please - urgent

185 replies

Zaab213 · 16/05/2022 22:38

Someone has blocked my driveway abs I cannot get out. Too late to start knocking on doors (10:38pm) here in Uk. What can I do? Need to get kids to school in morning and I need to get to work. What can I do if they don’t move it by morning?

OP posts:
PrawnToast5 · 17/05/2022 11:36

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 17/05/2022 11:32

Knock, someone blocked me in at 3am once, you know I went knocking to find the owner.
They were not happy I made them move the car at 3am - shouldn't block people in

I have 0% sympathy for the owner who had to move their car; BUT, I feel very sorry for the other, innocent, people who were woken up needlessly at 3am. Not just woken up, but likely very frightened indeed, as somebody knocking on your door at that time is likely to be/bringing very bad news.

If the poster had to leave at 3am it wasn't "needlessly"

ScatteredMama82 · 17/05/2022 11:42

Did you find them op??

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 17/05/2022 11:43

Start a new thread here - www.mumsnet.com/talk/work - you should get some helpful advice there; your question will just get lost here Smile

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 17/05/2022 11:44

That was to @Atchidmsn - I've never used the 'reply' function before and foolishly believed it would tag the person to whom you're replying....

WisherWood · 17/05/2022 11:45

wherever you move the obstacular car to, you leave it in an appropriate place - these will be marked by double yellow lines.

I realise this was said in jest and/ or to make sure the car owner gets a fine, but it could actually be as bad as leaving it where it is. Double yellows are there for a reason, and I get tired of people parking on them when they're in operation. It creates a hazard.

Atchidmsn · 17/05/2022 11:48

Thanks I haven't a clue what I'm doing on this lol

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 17/05/2022 11:50

If the poster had to leave at 3am it wasn't "needlessly"

It was to them - and also to PP, really, as none of them were able to help her. I do get that PP didn't know that, of course - it's just that you know banging on somebody's door at 3am is going to cause a huge amount of upset and fear to people who have done nothing wrong to you.

There was one offender, one victim and a load of innocent, powerless third-parties who ended up getting dragged into it and frightened.

EcafTnuc · 17/05/2022 11:51

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

melj1213 · 17/05/2022 12:01

What I can't get past is why you would "give up" on 101 after 20 minutes in favour of posting on MN?

A car parked over your driv late at night when you don't have to go out till the morning is the definition of a "non emergency" crime. Why not just have your phone on speaker while on hold and then carry on with your evening? Theat way you would have eventually got through to speak to someone who would have been able to do something last night. Blocking you on your drive is illegal as it prevents you from leaving your property, whereas blocking you off your drive is inconvenient but not illegal, so it would be a police matter and they are obliged to do something about it.

ArcheryAnnie · 17/05/2022 12:22

lightfalling · 17/05/2022 09:41

No this is real life. In real life parents are always on stand by to drive their kids to hospital. My husband drove my son to hospital at 11.30pm a few weeks ago.

I am not sure why you disbelieve this. What do you think happens ‘in real life’? That if there is an emergency the parents just say to their sick/ injured child, ‘nah I’m not on duty mate. You’ll have to wait till 9am tomorrow morning when I’m back on.’

Show quote history

How on earth do you imagine all the very many parents who don't have cars get get kids medical treatment in an emergency?

If it's a blue light issue you call 999 and if they agree they will send an ambulance, which handily will include medically-trained people. If its not a blue light matter you call a cab.

Honestly, the level of absolute and utter helplessness of some people when faced with the possibility of not having access to a personal car for even the smallest period is astonishing.

Bennieandthejets · 17/05/2022 12:25

Place making

SunshineAndFizz · 17/05/2022 12:44

Any update OP?

Neverreturntoathread · 17/05/2022 12:44

I’m sorry OP, hope your DH found the asshole that did that.

It happens to my sister a great deal, she lives on a busy road and has had to stop using her own driveway because people always block her in ☹️

splishsplashsploshsplish · 17/05/2022 12:51

Utter dick move. Hope your DH sorted it

SpindleInTheWind · 17/05/2022 13:12

We have a street closed near me for resurfacing as of today, so I'm expecting utter carnage on the 'parking wars' front tonight, with blockings-in and rude notes, rather than people using the carpark about five minutes' walk away. Human nature at its finest.

HoppingPavlova · 17/05/2022 13:13

Just set the alarm off. Failing the owner coming out, sit in your horn.

would have been more effective doing this last night.

LadyDanburysCane · 17/05/2022 13:21

ArcheryAnnie · 17/05/2022 12:22

How on earth do you imagine all the very many parents who don't have cars get get kids medical treatment in an emergency?

If it's a blue light issue you call 999 and if they agree they will send an ambulance, which handily will include medically-trained people. If its not a blue light matter you call a cab.

Honestly, the level of absolute and utter helplessness of some people when faced with the possibility of not having access to a personal car for even the smallest period is astonishing.

Show quote history

Why on Earth would I wait for a cab (20 minutes to 30 minutes wait last time I ordered one) plus pay over £10 (that was the fare to my nearest hospital 5 years ago) when I have a perfectly good car of my own on the driveway?

yes, those without cars would have to but if someone has a car then they should be able to use it.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 17/05/2022 13:22

Honestly, the level of absolute and utter helplessness of some people when faced with the possibility of not having access to a personal car for even the smallest period is astonishing.

It's not helplessness, just expecting to be able to use something that you've organised and paid for. It's also totally different when legitimate circumstances - car at the garage, broken down, the other adult using it - mean that you have to find an alternative owing to nothing but somebody else's (illegal) selfishness.

Of course ambulances and taxis are available if appropriate/no alternative, but I really don't see how you would class needing to take somebody to hospital, when you have a vehicle parked right there outside, as a silly symptom of car dependency.

If somebody took your bag containing your phone and purse/wallet/money/cards (whether a thief or accidentally, mistaking it for their own), would you expect people to think you pathetic to be concerned about it? After all, some people don't have phones or very much money in the first place....

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 17/05/2022 13:22

I've recently been back to the UK, staying at my parents' house - I have a car there that I can use, and I've taken to parking over my parents' driveway myself, since their car is no longer in use and at least that way I can get a carpark 99% of the time!

If you do constantly find you're being blocked in then I would do that too - just park in front of your own driveway, stops anyone else from doing it! (Assuming it's not illegal, obvs)

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 17/05/2022 13:24

X-posted with LadyDanburysCane there.

user1496146479 · 17/05/2022 13:33

@Zaab213 how did you get on?

PinkyFlamingo · 17/05/2022 13:37

Honestly, the level of absolute and utter helplessness of some people when faced with the possibility of not having access to a personal car for even the smallest period is astonishing

Why shouldnt someone have access to something they pay a lot of money for?

2bazookas · 17/05/2022 13:59

Surely you possess a nailfile, or perhaps a screwdriver?

Leftbutcameback · 17/05/2022 14:13

If you choose not to have a car (or can't have one) you benefit by not paying tax, insurance etc. If you pay for your car plus all of that you do so so you can use it when you need it. I don't need to use mine very often, but I pay so that when I do it's outside my house ready to go. Not so I can pay another £20 for a taxi.

ArcheryAnnie · 17/05/2022 14:19

PinkyFlamingo · 17/05/2022 13:37

Honestly, the level of absolute and utter helplessness of some people when faced with the possibility of not having access to a personal car for even the smallest period is astonishing

Why shouldnt someone have access to something they pay a lot of money for?

That's a different argument to the "I need a car at all hours I case I have to drive my DC to hospital at midnight" thing. My point is that (barring special cases, which no doubt some poster will bring up) no, you don't need to have access to a personal vehicle at all times. You might like to have access to your personal vehicle so as you don't have to pay twice for a taxi, but that's a different issue, which I wasn't addressing. Many people in this country manage to have children without having a car in the drive ready to rush them to hospital.