AIBU to ask neighbour to park car elsewhere? Diagram!

[DinoNuggetsRUs]

So I have never had a drive before and idk whether I'm being unreasonable.
My house is on a residential road - there's no through road, I'm not sure whether this would be classed as a cul de sac?
Anyway, my house and drive is right on the corner of where the road angles off and the neighbours been parking their van directly opposite my drive, blocking their own drive in. They have 3 cars/vans and we have 2. So they park 2 on their drive and one on the road opposite my drive.
While not impossible, it makes it really awkward for me to reverse out in the morning. I'm a bit of a crap driver and I've already accidentally reversed into one of their cars and we've only lived here 3 months. It cost me a fortune to fix but they were really great about it.
I'm not sure whether it would be unreasonable to ask them to park a little further up? They seem like really reasonable and kind people but I guess it's not their fault I'm shit at reversing. I essentially have to do a ten point turn to get out.

@CantHoldMeDown

if we're playing top trumps, I've been driving 40 years...

that doesn't make my boot anymore accessible when the parking spaces are very narrow.

Is it small spaces or massive cars?
Reversing out of a space is generally more of a hazard than reversing in.

With respect you are not a competent driver if you can't reverse safely. I can't understand people who say I am a good driver except for a bloody fundamental part of the driving test.

You had to reverse around a corner and park by reverse on my test in Ireland in the early 00s I assume you had similar.

You really shouldn't be driving if you can't reverse a car, what happens if you have to due to an emergency coming towards you? Book some refresher lessons, we all deserve to be on the road with safe drivers.

Park trolley in front of car.
Take bags to boot one (or two) at a time.
Return trolley.

JoyousPinkPeer · 23/07/2024 12:02
If you know somebody who is good at reversing ask them to sit with you (or stand outside the car) while you practice”

Cant quite believe what I’m reading on this thread. Anyone who holds a driving licence ought to be “good at reversing”!

I‘m with you OP. I used to be completely shit at reverse parking because I never had to do it but was a queen at parallel parking. Now it’s the opposite. People can lack understanding that if you don’t frequently do something it’s not as easy! Honestly now I love a reverse park and it makes life way easier.

@Werweisswohin

its probably both, but my car is only a Ford Focus. But the vast majority of carpark around here are still spaced for older, smaller cars. I can't change that.

Waitrose have just had their carpark re tarmacked & obviously painted and it's amazing, car park spaces designed for modern vehicles!

yes, but in 40 years of driving I've never hit anyone reversing out, I check around for pedestrian, dogs, any other hazards before getting in the car & whist reversing.

which is the more hazardous isn't the point, access to the boot is!

You not meant to reverse onto a main road so reverse onto your driveway x

Seems like a load of extra work for no good reason.

This. I psychologically just can’t bring myself to drive into a space. I have to reverse in every time. I used to joke it’s so I could leave work quicker.

Not if you’ve packed your bags properly and aren’t lazy.

@HotCrossBunplease

definitely! Not to mention if you did that here you'd be filthy from both cars.

It's not any more 'extra work for no reason' than standing loading your boot right next to the driving area and then reversing into traffic, and is definitely safer. My late BIL was a driving instructor and we often commented on how much easier and safer it is to reverse in and drive out.

Why would I be 'flithy'?
I only ever touch the handles of my own car when doing this!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

@CantHoldMeDown

I don't have a problem reversing out of narrow spaces 🤷🏻‍♀️

maybe you need to practice?

parking further away is fine. I usually park as far away as I need to to not park next to someone else as I happen to like my car in dinged!! However it seems to be like honey to bees and people park next to me 😳🙇🏻‍♀️

so I shall continue to do what suits me which is driving in & reversing out.

If you’re rubbing against both cars there’s clearly not enough room to even get in and out of your car properly. So you’re getting dirty either way.

Nope, hazard perception is definitely more important when driving. Also, not hitting things will be down to other drivers as much as you.

If you're not confident reversing, definitely reverse in to your drive (where there are less likely to be hazards and anything you might bump is your own) rather than reverse out (where there are cars, maybe cyclists/kids or whatever)!

From a safety perspective, it's much better to arrange things so you can drive out forwards - so reverse parking into parking bays etc too.

@Werweisswohin

for the millionth time, because the spaces are very small & the cars are right next to each other, I hold the edge of my door so it doesn't touch the other car. Carrying shopping bags between the car would mean I'd brush my clothing on them.

maybe you walk on stilts or are 8ft tall, I'm not.

Millionth time? You exaggerate just a tad.

There are some great videos on reversing, it shows you how to mark it and space the turn. Having driven for years, I was shocked at how it improved my parking.

@Werweisswohin

hazzard perception?

not hitting people, abandoned trollies, dogs, whatever has nothing to do with other drivers.

cars are pretty big, if you can't not reverse into one when driving you shouldn't be driving!!