AIBU to block in school mums parking on my driveway?

[Applepiesmum]

i live down the road from a school and during the school rush parents park everywhere it normally worse in the afternoon at 3pm

I work from home and usually park in the visitor pay outside my house so my partner can park on the driveway he gets home 3.30-4pm

however recently people have been parking on my driveway last week I caught someone pulling in knocked on their window and they argued with me saying they need to pick up their child eventually they did move but moved to where they were just half way blocking my drive way and halfway blocking my neighbor so no one could access it!

I didn’t bother confront them again but in future I’m just thinking to block them in… is that too petty

I have reported it to the school but all they’ve said is they’ve already asked parents not to block residents in so I’m not sure what else to do.

(if I did block anyone in it would only be for 30 minutes to cause a bit of stress and a lesson learned)

Are people really responding to a thread about CFs parking on OP's drive by saying that she doesn't need a car anyway? Really?

Yes I agree. I only rented a place without parking when we didn't drive. We are a 1 car household but all our neighbours have at least 2 vehicles (often 2 plus a work van!). We have 2 drive spaces, so always have a guest parking space which is great for us. When the house opposite has a visitor they have to park on the road at end of drive because they hage too many vehicles making turning around in our tiny cul de sac very difficult.
I do see terraced houses with street parking are a problem here, but I also think more people should try to manage with less vehicles.
My work place is a 20 mile drive without good transport links - DH either gets public transport or works from home. When DD starts school I'll probably pick up in car and DH will drop off on bus or walk (I think DD will struggle with distance at first though!)

I’m not sure how to break this to you but sometimes a couple living together will require the use of a car at the same time

You are being unreasonable.

I’d definitely block people using my driveway, BUT you yourself are using a parking space not intended for you.

If you parked in your parking space and moved it when needed, the mums could use the visitor space instead…

The school can and should be doing more.
take photographs of registration, wide photos of car on your drive and photographs of the parents.
email the school and the council.
we have a “photo of shame” in our
school newsletter, any cars parked on zigzags etc are photographed and put in the newsletter.
the council have also started sending traffic wardens to monitor the situation at school times.
everyone has kids to pick up. I go early because I have a baby, pram and don’t fancy walking miles pushing the pram and holding on to a 5 year old! But if I couldn’t park properly and safely somewhere near I wouldn’t dream of parking ON or OVER someone’s drive and then getting sh**ty about it!
can’t get over how entitled some people are!
Id be accidentally scratching the side of their car with my sons bike handles! After all It’s your property!

I think it might be just as stressful for you, maybe more. Then even if one parent learns the lesson still a few dozen to go.

How about this for an idea
⏬

OP wants to leave her drive empty 🙄

Block them in. I did 20 years of school pick ups and managed to never inconvenience local residents.

Just stand on your drive and don't budge . Word will soon get about that they can't park on your drive

The visitor spaces will be for visitors to the houses not for people collecting from the local school.

Wheelie bin at the bottom of the drive (bang in the middle) so they can’t pull on?
easier moved when DH gets home?

That’s the sort of thing I’d do when in a really bad ‘fuck you all’ mood

Stick a security post in!

I would leave a notice on the car saying they are illegally parked blocking a driveway and their car has been photographed and sent to parking enforcement.

And I would do it.

I might pop out with my online camera as they appeared or reappeared with their kids so they could see me taking a picture. If they asked why, I’d calmly say it was for parking enforcement.

I would also email the school to tell them that you would be photographing and sending evidence to parking enforcement and you suggest they add that information to their newsletters to warn people.

You have to be persistent and keep taking photos and leaving notes. Photocopy a job lot of notes and keep them by your front door so you can leave easily attach them.

I would think twice about any actions which might result in your car being damaged, although I can see why people block the illegal worker in and I think it can be effective.

Who is this mysterious parking enforcement that you keep referring to?

This remind me of something I read in the internet years ago. A parent parked his car in someone’s driveway to pick up his child, when he returned he found his car blocked by the bollard and a note on the windscreen that said “I am going out of town for couple days, see you next week.”

So bollards help both for cars to get in and out😆

How about a chain across the drive that DH can move when he arrives? I doubt anyone would be cheeky enough to move it!

I don't think it's good advice to tell the OP to start taking photos of children.

put a chain across your drive.
park across your drive
if you don't actually need to get out at that time does it really matter? how long are they there for? I wouldn't want someone IN my drive, but across it? If its 10 mins or so at pick up time I think I'd just accept it.in fact I have done, I used to live next door to a village shop. people often parked across my driveway - but not IN it - I only complained if I absolutely had to use the exit at the time.

YABU. Your drive. Simple.

Can't believe the 4% who think it's unreasonable for you to object to strangers using your property without your permission. Try contacting the local council as well.

Could you take photos and ask the school to publish them in their next newsletter?

You misunderstand.

I think instead of parking over her drive to block people in, OP should just park on the fucking thing.

Sorry, that should be YANBU. I wish there was a way we could edit our posts, for say, about 5 minutes afterwards.

Could you put some bollards up?