Neighbour complained about DD’s parking

[soupofthedays]

We live in a cul de sac. Our driveway (red) can fit 2 cars, but since DD just got her driving licence, we now have 3 cars. Every house, except for the 2 at the end, has its own driveway. Our neighbour (green) parks her car on the pavement in front of her house. The neighbour across the street doesn’t own a car, so DD (pink) has started parking there. Our other neighbour (yellow) has asked if DD could park somewhere else, presumably on the road across from the cul de sac, because it’s causing her some trouble. She mentioned that she can still get in and out of her driveway, but she has to pull out, reverse, and then drive through. She can’t just swing around DD’s car as the neighbour (green) parks on the opposite side. She won’t ask the other neighbour to move as she’s always parked there. DD is reluctant to park on the other road because she wouldn’t be able to see her car from our house. I can see both sides really. Are we being unreasonable by saying no as she’s not actually blocking the driveway, or should we have DD park somewhere else?

Sorry about the terrible diagram!

Cars parked on both sides of your average residential street will usually make access tricky for people. I think your daughter should block your drive if bring able to see her car is so important but let's be honest it's more likely that she doesn't want to walk the extra distance because she's obviously not watching it at night and cannot keep it in line of sight whenever she parks when she goes out.

Sounds like there should only be parking allowed on one side of the street.

DD shouldn’t park on opposite side of someone else - what if a fire engine needed to get to the bottom of the cul-de-sac?

Either way DD should ensure the neighbour has enough space to exit her driveway driving forwards and turning left to exit the cul-de-sac. Neighbour needs to reverse onto their driveway so they are facing forwards to exit.

There should not be two cars parked like your daughter and neighbour (green and pink) opposite each other on a small road like this. That is basic common sense. First one there parks and other one finds somewhere else.

I'm assuming neighbour already does reverse on, and in order to get off, she now has to drive forwards and reverse into the cul de sac before turning left, as her turning circle means she can't get around the daughter's car any other way.

If she was going in forwards, the daughter's car being there wouldn't change her manouevre to get off. She'd reverse out towards the OP's drive, then pass between the two cars. Simples.

So that's a suggestion I suppose. Tell the neighbour that if she stopped reverse parking on her own drive, she could get out in the same number of moves? I mean, if you wanted to be arsey about it.

Some people seem to think that the neighbour is driving into their driveway and reversing off but my understanding is that the neighbour IS reversing onto their driveway but has to pull forward, then reverse back a bit before driving between the two cars because the angle is so tight. Perhaps the OP can clarify.

I can see the neighbours issues as we have similar issues. Our neighbour has a son who has just moved back in with his car and work van it has affected everyone in our cul de sac where parking is limited and we all rubbed along nicely..all we get is well he lives here now get used to it...it is a stressful nightmare for all of us due to their entitlement attitude.

Wanting to see your car from the house is precious. Whining about having to reverse for three seconds is precious.

On balance your daughter is being more precious so I'd do it for good neighbour relations.

Six of one, half a dozen of the other.

Ultimately, it boils down to whether you want to fall out with your neighbour or your daughter. I’d be inclined to tell the neighbour that you can’t tell a grown adult not to park her car in a perfectly legal spot where it’s not causing an obstruction. And it’s not causing an obstruction to Yellow’s drive or anyone on the road. And then tell DD that if she’s insistent on being able to see her car, then she can explain to the neighbours why she’s not willing to do something to make their life a bit easier. She doesn’t need to see her car. If she’s worried about it being stolen then they still sell those locks you put over the steering wheel, or handbrake.

Why can’t she park just over your driveway? I know you’ve got the dropped kerb, but if you’re in a cul de sac, you’re not likely to have any traffic wardens wandering in.

Is it a WHAT??

What would house prices or people's earnings have to do with needing to keep an eye on the car? Do please explain.

Why does your daughter need to see her car?

If OPs DD starts parking on adjourning Road, and then a resident of that road starts parking there instead, what would the neighbour do then?
Or car less neighbour gets a car?

Agree with the others. We have three cars but we turned some of our garden into additional parking so nobody is inconvenienced by us. I would suggest you do similar OP if possible or find somewhere else for your daughter to park because if not, you might find that the neighbour (in yellow) starts parking her car there instead. Your daughter will then have no choice but to find somewhere else to park.

We had this problem. Our neighbour had a fire get out of hand in their garden and the fire brigade really struggled to get down the road due to cars parking on both sides. I assume they complained, because not long after double yellow lines appeared down one side of the close.

I would try to find a compromise where DD still parks her car in the road she actually lives in. It is a public highway and she is not over their drive. Maybe get you, DD, the neighbour in the street working out a solution but at the end of the day this is what happens when everyone's drive isn't big enough for all the cars.

These days with children living at home for longer because they can't afford to move out can mean more cars. Parking on a neighbouring street could see her confronted by one of the occupiers of those houses asking why she is parking there and not where she lives.

Our last house could only fit 2 cars on the drive and it was like ski Sunday with everyone slalom weaving between cars on the road. We moved to an area that has more parking.

People do know you are allowed to park ANYWHERE if you pay roadtax

just because yellow can’t just drive out and has to go forward then reverse back before driving off . Wow
If she can’t do that, then she shouldn’t really be driving it’s basic stuff

we have a drive, and now cars/van are parked either side of our gates, YES it’s bloody hard to see to get out(especially as we’re near the end,and car just come round fast of the main road) we have to edge out slowllllyyy

I personally NOW from my own experience park there , if she doesn’t someone else will sooner or later without a doubt

YABU, or rather your DD is, because unless you live in the Wild West she really doesn't need to be able to see her car from the house.

It really depends on the width of the road.

If the road is thin then your daughter should not be making opposite the green car that has parked on the pavement. If that means she needs to park outside of the cul de sac then that's what she needs to do.

You are not being unreasonable. Neighbour can get out, it's just slightly more effort.

Terrible when people park so it’s difficult for others to get off their drive, she has no need to stare at her car all the time just move it, not worth falling out with your neighbours over something she can easily sort.

I'm confused why green neighbour won't/can't park on their driveway. That way DD can still park where she is parking.

I think if there’s the option not to park opposite another parked car that is always preferable, when two cars are parked opposite each other it narrows the highway and makes it more difficult for road users. I don’t feel like being able to see your car from your house is a good reason to park in a position which makes the road less accessible to other drivers. I would always avoid parking opposite another parked car if there are other options to park on the road even if it means parking a few steps further from my house or with my car out of sight; what is the reason for her wanting to be able to see her car?

Because the green neighbour doesn't have a driveway

Can the driveway opposite yellow get out of theirs ok? Presumably they have the same issue.

I think as long as you’re not blocking driveway, no double yellows and it’s not in the junction it’s fine.

does yellow normally reverse out? If your D is too close to their drive then could she shift down a bit?

I understand people saying too many cars. But it’s life!! Families have cars! Each parent plus each adult child.

One of you should park across your driveway.

I used to live next door to a CF couple. One parked on their drive, one parked in front of our house (no drive) so they could pull in and out without inconveniencing themselves. Yes it was legal, but boy did I hate them for it.

Hard to tell from a picture and not sure you have said but is there actually space for two cars in a small cul de sac to actually park opposite like this anyway?
Usually the only way to really do this is for at least one driver to park half on the pavement (which is also annoying).
I like the logic of saying whoever is back last parks elsewhere too.
Is there a particular reason green doesn't park on their driveway?