To put spikes in my front driveway flower bed.

[PurpleBugz]

I live on a road where very few houses have driveways. This means there are cars parked both sides of the road. Cars regularly pull into my driveway to allow other to pass/turn around.

I used to have a gravel driveway and the constant cars turning made a massive dip. It was filled in periodically but a reoccurring problem. I saved up and block paved my driveway. it’s got sort of decorative raised brick along one side and I’ve planted nice flowers down the other side. Before it was set people turning on it messed up the brickwork on one side and they have just repeatedly driven over the flowerbed and ruined it.

Every morning I watch one particular taxi turn on my drive and most days he hits the bricks amd they are getting loose. I’ve gone and stood there when I know he’s due and point to what he's doing to make it very clear I’m not happy. This took courage for me as it’s a neighbour from down the street and I don’t cope well with confrontation. He has continued to to it. I’m having the day from hell for other reasons and I just watched another neighbour churn up the flowers with his massive van- he lives in the house opposite and does it every day too. I stood angry at the window with my arms up in a gesture of “what the?! I can see you” he looked directly at me and just carried on and unashamedly parked on his own drive opposite. I’m scared to speak to that family as they are loud and agressive regularly vandalise cars that park near their driveway and I think they were raided by police for drugs a few months ago or it may have been next door to them.

Probably bimonthly on bin day my bin gets knocked over by cars reversing onto my drive and knocking it over. Not so bad when it’s empty but if it’s before the bin lorry has been I’ve had to deal with rubbish bags soaked from rain missed by binmen/ripped open by cats.

Would I be unreasonable to put spikes in my flower bed and on the bricks at the other side? If I do this I will probably damage at least a couple car tyres a day as it happens so much each day. As the main culprits are the taxis work vans and Amazon/delivery drivers it will impact their income.

Who else might you injure though would be my concern? A child if they fell wrong? Someone’s dog?
Also not sure how legal it would be…

Probably my own children to be fair. And I know it won't stop them doing it as they won't know how it happened if it's a slow puncture. I'm just so angry

Bollard?

I wouldn't put spikes because I think you'll get retaliation - but could you put something bigger, noticeable & not easily movable eg a large rock painted white, a metal sculpture/flowers/something on a spike which sits at least about 50 cm tall, a bird table, grow broad beans up a wigwam structure, a fence post in the ground, a big tub of flowers....

Chain across the front of the drive?

Big (but carryable) flowerpots blocking it that you can move when you need to get out?

I cant picture the set up youre describing. We need a diagram

I'd say bollards.

Cheeky bastards using your drive!! At the very least, they should be taking care not to damage it, not just driving willy nilly all over it - but they're trespassing!

Spikes will see retaliation of your windows being bricked if the man opposite you is as you describe.

Would a gate stop them turning in?

https://www.ultrasecuredirect.com/telescopic-security-posts-bollards--c76?gadsource=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwltKxBhDMARIsAG8KnqXTzgQnFzhks-qLtBtQiibE-JGctxxkk3414N7lAKHdIwBokrvUU-gaAulvEALwwcB

Don't do spikes. If someone gets injured you could be in trouble

Use big plant pots etc to create an obstruction

When u had saved up to put a drive or whatever, you should have built a 3ft wall and some gates.

Hard to picture but large painted stones might work

Haha I knew I would need to do a diagram lol. Hang on

Gate? If that's too expensive just put a chain across. It's so obvious that I can't see why you've not done this already.

Big rocks
Pita to move if you need to drive off your drive but I'd do it in a heartbeat
Cheeky twats

No. Get some big ornamental fuck-off rocks or something like that.

You're bound to get retaliation or could really hurt your kids/a dog/cat if you opt for spikes.

I agree. I've seen large stones painted white work in these sort of circumstances.

Put a gate up. Or failing that a chain you can padlock to the posts.

I would suggest one of the following:

Chain across the drive
collapsable bollards
large heavy plant pots

Can younot just get gates or a chain across the end of your driveway?

Where would you even source spikes to fit the bill anyway?

If you are home to see this where is your car? Park in a way it obstructs?

Diagram

I think one of these choices is the only way you’re going to stop it. It’s already become a habit and it’s clear they don’t care that you’re justifiably annoyed. It’s entitlement and a lack of respect.

Anything big and decorative will be stolen this is a bad area.

I can't block access to my drive as my upstairs neighbour has their front door at the top of drive my front door is accessed via the path.

A chain may work I guess but judging by the bin regularly knocked over I expect they will just drive into that too

I'd be putting huge rocks out after seeing you diagram
And waiting for the regular taxi every morning to tell him to fuck off or run you over
Sit like a Buddha on your drive