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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

For asking learners to stop parking in front of our drive

99 replies

Limyleek476 · 14/10/2023 09:46

Hi everyone, I’m just after a bit of advice more than anything on what I could do or even should do?

We have a small drive that has 2 cars with a dropped kerb in front, for around 6 months we have had learners practicing reverse parking in front of our drive blocking it completely as the end house parks his car on the road. (They like to use that to reverse round)

this wasn’t an issue until a week or so ago when our child was Ill and 111 recommended taking him to AnE, we rushed and got in the car ready to go when a learner started reversing blocking us in. Long story short I explained the situation and asked them to let us pull of the drive, then they can carry on to their hearts content, all we got back from the instructor is that it’s a public road and he can do what he wants, we proceeded to be held up for 10 minutes before being able to pull off of our own drive.

is there anything I can do here? I know it’s a public road and they are sat in the car with the engine running once the manoeuvre is complete so not technically parking? 99% of the time we just ignore it but in a rare situation like that I’d like to know what my options are if any?

thanks in advance!

OP posts:

pontipinemum · 14/10/2023 11:52

The instructor sounds like an absolute prick. Did he really not give a shit that you had a child that needed to go to A&E, maybe he didn't believe you. But tbf even if you were going to Tesco I think he should have let you out.

I would find him on SM or even his own wesbite or what ever and let him know what he did.

IDK where you live but I would have been tempted to call the police and say I need to get to the hospital with my sick child but someone was blocking me in. Where I live they probably would have come.

Cockmigrant · 14/10/2023 11:53

I don't understand why you sat in the car waiting for 10 minutes.
I'd have been beeping the horn or banging on the window of their car. I would totally have escalated the situation to get out to A and E.

The driving instructor was a complete asshole.

OrangesLemonsLimes · 14/10/2023 11:54

You have proof that you were delayed by nine minutes so a complaint would be justified.

I am glad to read that your child is well now! Must have been worrying at the time.

XiCi · 14/10/2023 11:55

If the child's life was in peril then an ambulance would have been sent
Right, so if the child was just in pain but not life threatening it was OK for the instructor to carry on with his manoeuvres? I also wonder when the last time was you needed an ambulance because the last time I did it took 4 hours and a friend needlessly died. The last thing I'd be doing if my child needed A&E is be sitting waiting for an ambulance. I don't know many people that would sit patiently waiting for this asshole instructor in this situation. If I had been the person taking the lesson I'd have driven off and never used this idiot instructor again.

Dogfureverywhere · 14/10/2023 11:55

I'd also be sitting on my horn behind the learner. That instructor was an arse. And if the driving instructor is a franchisee I'd be reporting to his bosses.

GreenGo · 14/10/2023 11:58

If it's self-employed, do you have neigbourhood app/ facebook page or somewhere where you can have a go ? just to be as petty as the instructor was

Emmalin · 14/10/2023 12:06

This whole thing sounds mad. Why on earth would a driving instructor tell a pupil to park at a dropped curb? And to refuse to allow you priority in an emergency? For ten minutes? It makes so little sense that I wonder if the instructor was drunk or on drugs or a fake instructor.

DinnaeFashYersel · 14/10/2023 12:08

XiCi · 14/10/2023 11:55

I said the instructor was a dickhead.

Not sure how you interpreted that as thinking what he did was ok.

Maybe dickhead has different regional meanings.

SkinnyMalinkyLankyLegs · 14/10/2023 12:21

Preventing a child from getting to A&E? Horrible horrible man. Imagine it was a time sensitive episode?

I don't usually like the social media naming and shaming but in this case, I most definitely would, with the name of his driving school (whether it's a big name or an individual). I wouldn't like my teen being taught by someone like that.

Happyhappy10 · 14/10/2023 12:25

Healthandsocialcaremodule · 14/10/2023 09:49

If you start coming out to watch every time they do it they'll stop bringing them as the learners will hate it. You don't have to confront, just passively watching should put them off.

Lol

Mummyoflittledragon · 14/10/2023 12:32

Tempnamechng · 14/10/2023 10:01

I think a formal complaint to their governing body. I wouldn't mind as a day to day thing, as learners need to learn, but holding me up for 10 minutes getting to the hospital is unacceptable. In fact blocking someone in is unacceptable and unlawful.

Definitely this. You can complain to the driving school as well. But I would go full pelt at them. They put your child at risk.

ManchesterLu · 14/10/2023 12:32

That instructor was a knob, report to his company if he's part of one.

Regarding learners practicing on your front - there are certain corners that will be used on test routes, and if you're unlucky enough to live on one of those, it's just one of those things.

They shouldn't be parked up however, as in out of the car, and if you need to get out of your drive they should move immediately.

Source: My dad is a driving instructor.

Soontobe60 · 14/10/2023 12:34

Sorry, we need a diagram. I can’t picture the scene you’re describing .

gamerchick · 14/10/2023 12:38

itsalongwaybackfromsorry · 14/10/2023 10:50

Social media is your friend here. Name and shame the driving instructor on all the local pages that he advertises on. Take a picture of his car blocking your drive. Explain what happened.

He was utterly in the wrong and his response was appalling.

Yep. Find his page and start.

electriclight · 14/10/2023 12:53

"The OP was blocked into her driveway when the instructor has been informed that she needed to go to A&E. Thinking that that type of driving behaviour is acceptable is bat shit."

Well there is a vast gulf between the suggested action and 'thinking that type of driving is acceptable.'

Abitofalark · 14/10/2023 14:18

Is this a professional driving instructor with a named school of motoring sign on the top of the car or is it just someone with L plates attached and teaching a family member or friend? It sounds more like the behaviour of the latter. If it's the former complain to the professional standards body for driving instructors. No professional driving instructor should be taking up the lesson time in that manner or distracting or upsetting the learner by rowing with residents.

In either case, if this person comes back which seems unlikely (I mean who actually wants rows?) signal your displeasure by gesturing to them to move on; if they don't take the hint and move off, reinforce it saying Do you mind not doing your reversing at my drive / lowered kerb, tell them that they shouldn't be running their engine and get out your camera and photograph the car. I should think they will soon stop coming.

Georgeandzippyzoo · 14/10/2023 14:32

It. IS illegal to block a drive which stops someone leaving their property ie drive/dropped kerb for exactly the reason you give ie an emergency hospital visit.
It is NOT illegal to block a drive which stops someone getting onto their drive.

The man was wrong, and an arsehole and I'm sorry you had to deal with him at such a worrying time x

As pp states complain if a franchise/larger company.
If an independent I'd be tempted to post on fb complaining .

AnSolas · 14/10/2023 17:09

electriclight · 14/10/2023 12:53

"The OP was blocked into her driveway when the instructor has been informed that she needed to go to A&E. Thinking that that type of driving behaviour is acceptable is bat shit."

Well there is a vast gulf between the suggested action and 'thinking that type of driving is acceptable.'

if you are going to talk about what i post please be polite and quote me so I can see rather than copying part of my post.
you are defending a professional driver who is teaching someone else to be an arsehole driver.

Who exactly do you think end up having to manage the problems created by the drivers he "Up-skills" in the OPs local area?

Blondeshavemorefun · 14/10/2023 17:16

Disgraceful instructor didn't move the car if learned couldn't

Nearly 10m could mean life or death

I would contact the instructor /company and write a matter of complaint

SinnerBoy · 14/10/2023 19:59

AlexaCanYouHearMe · Today 11:16

Re what sinnerboy put a link to - I would be more likely to complain HERE

Fiddlesticks! I linked to how to complain ABOUT the DVSA! Silly me...

electriclight · 15/10/2023 09:18

"2) you are defending a professional driver who is teaching someone else to be an arsehole driver.

Who exactly do you think end up having to manage the problems created by the drivers he "Up-skills" in the OPs local area?"

No I'm not defending him. I'm saying the way to deal with it is not the batshit way suggested in the post I was referring to.

AnSolas · 15/10/2023 09:27

electriclight · 15/10/2023 09:18

No I'm not defending him. I'm saying the way to deal with it is not the batshit way suggested in the post I was referring to.

Feel free to contiue to talk at yourself 👍

Fooksticks · 15/10/2023 09:38

Name and shame the driving company on your local FB page.

Absolutely shit behaviour.

Obviously, not abusively, just state the facts and ask parents to consider teaching their dc some empathy in these types of situations if a driving instructor won't.

Hope your dc is OK.

electriclight · 15/10/2023 10:51

"Feel free to contiue to talk at yourself 👍"

Hardly at myself as you keep replying.

No mention of the fact you're wrong though I see, despite very clear evidence that I didn't say what you seem to think I said.

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