Just been abused on the school run.. parking!

[Notthedreadedschoolrunagain]

My three children attend two separate schools on the same road. I always make sure I park somewhere that isn’t blocking someone’s drive etc. DH parked in the usual spot today and I waited in the car today (I have a disability and get flare ups in the colder weather). She pulled up to the window effing and blinding then she got out the car and started recording me swearing in front of all the school kids. DH returned back and she started to recording DH and the kids. It was her dad’s property and she had accused us of blocking him in. We left more than enough space for him to get out I even offered to move the car.

I have attached a pic (the silver car wasn’t in front so if her dad needed to get out he had more than enough space. We parked on the white mark and there are other parents parked behind us.

I am trying to move my kids to a nearer school so I can walk and finally put the parking drama to bed. However currently going through the appeals process as the local school has stated that they have no space.

Were we unreasonable? I’m at the stage where I don’t even want to take them to school now because of lack of parking and the dirty stares and arguments being caused by this. I can appreciate it’s frustrating living near a school!

She was out of order and reacted badly. However she’s probably at her wits end. If you was there and the silver car then no way could he get out safely at school pick up time with lots of people and cars around. I think the issue is with school parking is everyone’s in a rush and people park selfishly thinking that people can wait for ten minutes. If you were sat in the car then surely she could have asked for you to move?

Where the white mark is, is dropped though. It's not really relevant whether you think they still had enough room or not, you shouldn't park on a dropped kerb. And no one should abuse anyone, of course, but having seen and heard so many 'but it's only a little bit over', 'but I'll only be a minute' etc etc outside DCs primary, I imagine she was at the end of her tether. And presumably the red barriers are because others have parked on his drive, many times before.

Not the point of the thread, but if you and DH both do the school run, can you drive round the block a few times while he gets the kids? Not particularly environmentally friendly or good for your fuel consumption, but solves the parking problem?

It's a dropped kerb. The white line is showing where she parked, but the whole thing is on a dropped kerb, so she shouldn't park there.

How you know it's not an actively used drive, I'm not clear.

The abuse is wrong but living near a school at drop off times is pure hell.

because more often than not no cars are meant to stop on the road. So much erratic pulling in and pulling out. Darting in front of cars. Massive congestion because no one can get past because of all the dangerous parking.

it’s infuriating, when if you parked just off the main thoroughfare it would be easier and safer for everyone involved. Everyone says just 5 minutes But it’s that times 100 all at the same time!!!!!

she was probably being unreasonable and just snapped. No excuse but it’s over now and no lasting damage.

they just need to double yellow and anpr outside schools, the first few rounds of fines tends to change behaviour.

"...finally put the parking drama to bed."

Does this mean this is not the first time your parking has resulted in drama OP?

I understand people don’t like getting their driveways blocked by parents, but there really is no excuse for abuse.

my mum used to live opposite a primary school and parents used to park in her driveway (actually fully in her driveway) and if she used to go out to tell them they shouldn’t be doing that, they used to say it’s only five minutes. She never once shouted at them and certainly never abused them.

I know school pick ups and drop offs can get stressful but all you can do is try and avoid parking near that house or close to driveways near the school as some residents take photos so they can send evidence to the school

I was told this by a highways officer that I used to work with. (I don't know if he was winding me up, of course)

A householders driveway "ends" at the outer curve of the edge stone. I'll attach a picture, hopefully showing what I mean. If your car's front/back is over this line, then you are not blocking a driveway, but you are classed as obstructing it.

Quite what anyone could do about it, I don't know. But as someone who has to put up with diabolical parental parking on a daily basis, I can understand the frustration of the person who approached you.

I don't condone her behaviour. But I can understand it.

Shes not the silver car!

How much can one person get wrong from one post? 😳

The photo is an old one from Google.
The only white line/mark is the one OP drew on herself to show where she parked.
There absolutely isn't plenty of room to get out as OP was parked over a dropped kerb.

No not me I’ve always parked there or behind if someone else is parked there I haven’t met her before. There are always parking dramas here but I do sit and witness people park in peoples parking spaces or blocking there access so I get it. If anything my car was the teeniest bit over but I did say I wouldn’t park there again anyway. So now to find another spot.

Don't think you were blocking the drive but you were on the dropped kerb. No excuse for her behaviour but you were in the wrong with your parking.

So you were blocking her drive.

No wonder she got pissed off.

I agree with the poster upthread then - if you're both there, why not drive around while he picks up the children?

I think you need to re-read the OP's post.

Her car is NOT the silver car in the picture, which I would agree is encroaching onto the dropped kerb area. Her car is NOT in the picture. It was parked back from the white marked area, so not encroaching at all and probably fine.

I assume she went back after the event to take the picture in case needed.

Looks like you’re infront of a garden gate not a driveway. That looks like an electrical substation.

Even if you think a car can get out, you are not allowed to park any bit of your car over a dropped kerb, including the slopping edges of the blocked kerb.

No, she says she parked on the white mark. Go read it again.

I would guess the woman is on her last nerve and you got the fall out from that.

Literally why I am absurdly careful when I park anywhere not to accidentally piss anyone off, as I think lots of people are so stressed out at the moment. Just park further away in the future.

Just park a bit further away and walk? Next street or something, nowhere near a driveway.
I would HATE to live on a road by a school. People are so inconsiderate

I read that as she parked on the white mark that looked to have been added on the right of the driveway. It’s a little confusing.

No. OP parked on the white mark.

The photo is an old one from Google.

Was your engine running OP? That was what used to really wind me up about school parking outside my kids primary school and near our house, I’d have got (unreasonably maybe) cross if so!

Sorry op, as soon as you mentioned "parking" and "school" I have deduced that you are unreasonable and you deserved a talking to.

Yes, it's the white mark, over the dropped kerb on the right-hand side. She's drawn on a google maps picture, hasn't she?