Private driveway - would this annoy you?

[newhome11]

New home in a gated development. Paid extra for corner plot which I thought would equal more privacy. Moved in 5 months ago and in the beginning it didn’t bother me but now it’s annoying me that almost everyday kids and adults are constantly cycling, scootering and vans and cars are turning their vehicles around in my driveway. There’s my driveway then access to my garden via the driveway so no need for anyone to be going there at all. Neighbour to the left has a sign saying “private driveway, no turning, no…..” along those lines, few houses down they have bollards. I haven’t said anything and when I see anyone I smile out if my window to be friendly but is it time I do something? It’s also the fact they could scratch my car which they seem to scooter very close to! What really pisses me off is that I’ve been in the driveway a few times getting things out of my car and done scooter right past me! Not even a hi or anything just scooter and back again like it’s a public area.

M

Yes because people do it in any vehicle including HGVs including driving on my grass due to there being building work just beside my house. And they’re careless bringing mud onto the drive, which is block paved and gets dirty / damaged.

Why do you keep smiling at them? They obvioulsy take that for your consent and approval.

Put up a sign and also, verbally let the local kids and their parents know they no longer have access because of damage to your car

Why's everyone making expensive suggestions when OP's watching them do it and hasn't even asked them not to yet?

Diagram, diagram, diagram!

You either need to put up a physical barrier; fence, plants, cones or chain, or you need to have a word with people. If you’re keen to be friendly, you could use it as an excuse to swing by and talk to parents of scootering kids.

Each time someone does this do not smile, go out and breezily say, "I need you to stay off my property/drive way. Thanks soooo much". If its a kid, "Hi there, great moves.. New seeds planted, so need to stay out of my garden area. Thanks!". Use a rake to ariete your lawn if you have one, loudly sprinkle seed around. Make a sign, "newly planted seeds, thank you for not staying off".

Staying off!!

Sorry! Just saw this and had to share 😬

i totally feel like you, i have end house small open plan front lawn,kids ride bikes/scooters etc over it my pride and joy, evan found them sat on it,i glare at them, am looking into getting black metal posts with chains between to surround my lawn, agree you need to put pots with plants etc , speak to them get a sign

If they've been doing it for 6 months while it stood empty they probably think they're entitled to, and this really annoying new owner now parks a car in the way of all their fun!

If you can't face speaking directly, "oh, that looks a lot of fun! But I need to ask you to do it somewhere else now that I’ve moved in", then plonk something in their way, which will break the habit and they'll automatically find somewhere else because yours isn't accessible anymore.

Cones, sign, if interaction required, just say it didnt use to bother you but now it does. You don't need to offer more explanation and you can still be friendly in delivering this message.

We've got a corner play with open drive. Since getting a ring doorbell we can now see that so many people simply use our drive as a short cut rather than walking the extra half dozen temps or so to go round it,

I've set the parameters of the doorbell to only our private drive and none of the surrounding areas, such as the pavement and roads. But some days it goes off all the time. The neighbours are constantly walking across it when they take their dogs out on walks, or when returning from anywhere tbh. There teenage daughter and her mates have been known to stand or sit there too, probably because there is a lamppost so lighter there in the evening,

It doesn't affect me in that it isn't causing damage or anything, but it is annoying as the doorbell notifications are going off several times a day with it. It also records if they are speaking, etc. They know the doorbell is there so couldn't complain if they've been recorded saying or doing something they shouldn't.

I would never walk across someone's private driveway though so it surprised us how many people regularly do

I couldn’t be bothered with this - just put some gates up.
And where’s the diagram??

In these kind of estates, the layout and lack of fencing etc means people do it all the time, without even thinking or realising.

Having a word with people doing it won’t work……there are simply too many of them and their actions are unwitting and encouraged by the layout. This is why other people have out in bollards or fencing or pots or a physical thing to stop people. These work. People who live there and pass regularly and those just visiting or workmen see the barrier and don’t cross it. Simple. Those turning look for anywhere where there isn’t a barrier. Currently,it’s your drive as others have prevented theirs being used.

The only question really is how you want to create a barrier. Without a diagram it’s difficult to know what will work, but bollards,or plant pots or a gate or low fence could work. Remmeber it’s not just about deterring cars but also people on foot. Definitely look at what neighbours have used and perhaps drive round some similar estates to see the options. No-one will bat an eyelid when you put whatever you choose up. Others have already put barriers up.

I feel for you! It would annoy me too - like you say it’s for a number of reasons. I think a sign like your neighbours would be a good starting point

We park our cars in assigned spaces next to our home. There is a space next to our cars that is literally never parked in yet people walk between our cars constantly (we live on the edge of a beauty spot and get lots of dog walkers), they literally walk sideways squeezing between them sometimes and our cars have both been scratched quite a few times. It’s extremely annoying but we are unable to block them off so I do 100% feel your annoyance

Do you not have gates?

I think I'd get a lockable bollard for the driveway and pots or something to form a boundary to stop the scooters. Really it's only cf who do this so talking to them will achieve nothing as they believe they are entitled to do what they/ their children want.

You shouldn't be smiling at them if you don't want them there. It just encourages their behaviour. Just go out every time and say please do not use my driveway, it's private property. Every single time.
I find it hard to believe that you were getting things out of your car, some kid scooted past and you said nothing. Of course they are going to think it's ok to do it and keep doing. Other people have signs and bollards up and will have told those kids before not to play on their drives, that's why the kids are on yours.
It's not being unfriendly etc., it's setting boundaries.

If you don't want people turning on your driveway, put up a sign as other neighbours have and bollards or whatever works.

We can't really suggest solutions without a diagram.

There is a guy on TikTok who put a rock at the bottom of his drive. It's just videos of cars being wrecked as they turn on his drive. Put a massive rock there.

If it's similar to our drive then gates wouldn't work. The whole front of our house is open. There is nothing to attach gates to.

No diagram no sympathy!

Cant you just fence it all off and keep the gate closed - people will get the message after a while

I’m only here for the diagram.

Diagram! Diagram! Diagram!

Would you be liable if a kid injured themselves on your property?

I’m not sure why the original poster asked a question then never bothered to return to the page for answers- most people dont understand the location & have suggested a diagram might help with suggestions. As many have said ‘where’s the diagram?’