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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Asked neighbours visitor to not park so close to my driveway

125 replies

9hashbrownsplease · 24/05/2025 12:18

I live in a cul de sac, and annoyingly, the majority of visitors choose to park outside my house. I was unaware of the extent of the issue until after I had moved in, but it is what it is. There are no alternative parking options available without blocking someone’s driveway, so everyone parks here instead. It’s every single day and a bit frustrating at times, but nothing I can do.

The majority of people are considerate and leave enough space for me to come and go, however, there are some, such as this woman, who park excessively close to the dropped kerb, preventing me from passing their car. I’m then forced to drive out in the opposite direction, turn around and come back.

This specific car comes by several times a week and parks so near that she might as well park directly across my drive. She visits the house a few doors down. Although I have never spoken to her, this morning I was outside when she pulled up. I asked if she could give me a little more space while parking here, explained my reasoning, and she merely rolled her eyes at me before walking away.

I want to clarify that I have no problem with her parking here (despite how annoying it may be), it’s a public road and anyone can park there. I know that. I just wish she would give me a bit more space to get in and out of my drive. There is genuinely no reason for her not to park a little further down the kerb, she just chooses not to.

I have included a (poorly drawn) diagram. The road is not as wide as depicted in the diagram and is, in fact, quite narrow, which is the reason I cannot swing around her car when leaving. I have maintained good relationships with my neighbours, and now I’m concerned that it may become uncomfortable due to the comment I made to their friend.

What motivates someone to intentionally create challenges for the neighbours of their friends or family? Was I unreasonable for asking this?

Asked neighbours visitor to not park so close to my driveway
OP posts:
9hashbrownsplease · 24/05/2025 18:23

@Myleftoryourleft yes I’ve now realised they are a nightmare when it comes to parking. Nice place to live, quiet etc, but a parking pain lol.

OP posts:
Communitywebbing · 24/05/2025 18:48

9hashbrownsplease · 24/05/2025 13:54

@Communitywebbing well, what do you suggest? Am I wrong for adopting the same attitude as them? Why should I care and be considerate towards other people when it’s not reciprocated?

I'm not suggesting anything except that having said you didn't want to be petty or do tit for tat, you are planning to score a point against your neighbour's visitor, who would probably park somewhere that inconvenienced somebody else and possibly create bad feeling with other neighbours as well as the one who has the annoying visitor. Is it worth it just to avoid making a small detour a few times a week when leaving your drive?

StMarie4me · 24/05/2025 18:57

pictoosh · 24/05/2025 12:33

Googled it - so it causes the tyre to slowly deflate. I see.

Can't imagine this suggestion was made in seriousness.

So then the visitors would not be able to drive away. Really helpful…

9hashbrownsplease · 24/05/2025 18:59

@Communitywebbing but why do I have to be the one to suck it up and just live with it? Why do I have to be the one that’s inconvenienced multiple times a week? It’s easy to point and say “do this, do that, don’t be petty” when you’re not the one having to put up with it.

OP posts:
9hashbrownsplease · 24/05/2025 19:01

@Communitywebbing also, I’m not sure why I have to be the bigger person in this situation. I tried that, I asked nicely. She was awkward, didn’t care. Fine, I’ll adopt the same attitude then 🤷🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
Communitywebbing · 24/05/2025 19:07

9hashbrownsplease · 24/05/2025 19:01

@Communitywebbing also, I’m not sure why I have to be the bigger person in this situation. I tried that, I asked nicely. She was awkward, didn’t care. Fine, I’ll adopt the same attitude then 🤷🏼‍♀️

With luck, maybe she will note the point you are making, and start parking a bit further over next time you park in your drive.

spoonbillstretford · 24/05/2025 19:14

Myleftoryourleft · 24/05/2025 17:46

I can’t see any problem with where she’s parking from your diagram. I’d never buy a house in a cul de sac because they are notorious for parking problems, kids playing etc.

Kids playing! The horror 😱

Love living on a cul de sac with no parking problems, people driving slower than on most roads, kids could play out when they were younger, really friendly and pet friendly.

Ddakji · 24/05/2025 19:33

BreezyAquaCrow · 24/05/2025 17:13

We’re saying she should drive in instead and reverse off. Based on the diagram that would be easier.

Yes. That’s right.

<slopes off in embarrassment>

MyFavouriteDaughter · 24/05/2025 19:51

@9hashbrownsplease but you would be ‘ frying’ your clutch whichever direction you are driving if it is a steep a slope as you say. Your turning circle is better reversing, so take it slowly and you will get out. Also, if people start parking in the circle of the cul de sac you will have to stop turning there anyway

9hashbrownsplease · 24/05/2025 19:56

@MyFavouriteDaughter unfortunately, it’s simply not the case here. It’s so much harder to reverse out. My father and sister, who have both driven for years even struggled with it, to the point theirs cars nearly rolled into the front of the house when they tried to reverse off. I’m happy to see how it goes, and hopefully she will give me more space when she parks there. However, if she doesn’t, I will park my car on the road and she will have to find an alternative space.

OP posts:
TimeForTeaAndG · 25/05/2025 00:14

Is the driveway angled from the road down towards the house?

Duvetsse · 25/05/2025 08:49

Honestly OP, you sound too nice.
Just do it.
The rudeness of her to raise her eyes like that would mean you should do it today.

For5moreminswere6 · 25/05/2025 08:58

What I have learned about Mumsnet car posts .

  1. Its free road.
  2. It is unacceptable for you to ask that someone else could be more considerate.
  3. Especially if you can 'just reverse in'
  4. You are unreasonable if you cannot see all around at all times to make sure you will never ever hit something
  5. Because obviously you are the problem expecting others to be more considerate when it inconveniences you to have turn around at the end of the cul de sac every day.
  6. God forbid you have an SUV.
In real life it is not unreasonable to ask others to be more considerate and not dicks to enable you to have an easier life with no inconvenience to them.
1SillySossij · 25/05/2025 09:21

The width of the dropped kern should allow for 'visibility splays' for this reason

SociableAtWork · 25/05/2025 09:32

You asked nicely so maybe she will be considerate. In the meantime, I’d park on the road a bit over my own driveway, with enough space for her to park behind on the road. When she’s used to parking a bit further back you can start to use your drive again.

All you asked for was a bit of consideration which would help you, and not inconvenience her at all.

Some of the replies on here are really odd (and unnecessarily argumentative).

Yorkshiremum80 · 25/05/2025 09:33

spoonbillstretford · 24/05/2025 19:14

Kids playing! The horror 😱

Love living on a cul de sac with no parking problems, people driving slower than on most roads, kids could play out when they were younger, really friendly and pet friendly.

Same I love living on a culn de sac ours has wide streets and all properties have drives with enough space for 2 cars, which according to the deeds we have to all keep. We rarely get cars parking on the streets. However it is an old street with houses all built in the 70's, all detached and a lot of space. The new build cul de sacs popping up near us seem to be the opposite. Narrow streets, small driveways and cars parked everywhere

Koolandorthegang · 25/05/2025 09:34

We live in a cul de sac and had a similar issue and got blocked in a few times trying to get out of our garden so we just started parking outside our house on the street. Much easier to get in and out now

Katemax82 · 25/05/2025 09:43

She may not be blocking the drive but parking so close is inconsiderate..we had temporary traffic lights erected really close to our drive but not blocking it recently and my husband scratched his car reversing out

LlynTegid · 25/05/2025 09:47

Is it a case of the alternative place to park is not as easy to do so. The driver concerned not being a confident driver or hiding something such as poor eyesight or a medical condition?

I am assuming neither you or said driver have an SUV. If either of you do, then you are the unreasonable person as neither of you have need of one.

Schoolchoicesucks · 25/05/2025 09:48

I agree with PP that she was rude to roll her eyes and walk away.

She isn't blocking your dropped kerb and preventing you access, but is causing you minor inconvenience. There could be a reason she parks like that - to leave room for another car behind her without making it difficult for your neighbour to leave for instance. But you don't know that as she didn't communicate.

If she continues to park there, you could start to park there yourself - however that risks escalating with her and will also inconvenience any other neighbours with visitors who usually park there as well.

Leaving your drive in one direction and turning round within a small cul-de-sac does not sound the most inconvenient thing, OP. The council recently changed my road to one way for cars. So now every time I leave my house I have to go one way and drive around the block if I wanted to go the other way. You get used to it.

HurdyGurdy19 · 25/05/2025 12:26

I worked with a man who was in the Highways department. He lived near a school, so you can imagine the parking he encountered around his home.

He said he asked people to stop obstructing his driveway. They weren't blocking it, but were stopping him from easily getting on and off his driveway, similar to the OP.

He said that the cornerstone at the end of a driveway marked the parameters, not the straight line from the driveway edge to the road.

So where the arrows point in my (not very good) diagram, is the point where a car should stop.

I doubt it has any legal weight, and it may not even be correct, but you could ask them not to obstruct your driveway.

The man I worked with said it had some results for him. But I bet it doesn't work in the majority of cases.

Asked neighbours visitor to not park so close to my driveway
Murdoch1949 · 25/05/2025 16:53

If there's a specific time they leave their car there, I would be bloody minded and park my own car there.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 27/05/2025 07:27

Schoolchoicesucks · 25/05/2025 09:48

I agree with PP that she was rude to roll her eyes and walk away.

She isn't blocking your dropped kerb and preventing you access, but is causing you minor inconvenience. There could be a reason she parks like that - to leave room for another car behind her without making it difficult for your neighbour to leave for instance. But you don't know that as she didn't communicate.

If she continues to park there, you could start to park there yourself - however that risks escalating with her and will also inconvenience any other neighbours with visitors who usually park there as well.

Leaving your drive in one direction and turning round within a small cul-de-sac does not sound the most inconvenient thing, OP. The council recently changed my road to one way for cars. So now every time I leave my house I have to go one way and drive around the block if I wanted to go the other way. You get used to it.

If it's anything like my cul de sac, people have started using the turning bay as parking! There was 12 cars down there yesterday. If I'd turned out of my drive the "wrong" way then I'd have got stuck at the bottom and had to reverse all the way out.

I park either over or above my drive mostly now as I can guarantee I can get out and I'm pointing the right way. Ido get moaned at when I park over my drive as apparently that was the only space to turn around.

All that to say.. Not necessarily just a small inconvenience 😊

WallaceinAnderland · 29/05/2025 17:03

How's it been going this week OP?

ThatFlakyHam · 21/02/2026 21:13

We had this. Just parked our car there instead of on our drive a few times. Told a few other neighbors it was because we cant risk being blocked in/out of our drive again because of that car and it soon got sorted

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