AIBU for pulling into a private drive after my car failed?

[1hatchling1fledgling]

WWYD? AIBU. In a big traffic jam on an urban dual carriageway for ages. Suddenly my entire dashboard lights up like a Christmas tree, lose power steering, brakes etc. hazards on and get my car somehow into the left hand lane and then into the huge drive of a large house. Knock and explain. Call RAC who have arrived when the husband gets home. I instantly apologise and he says “yes my wife told me that you had abandoned your car in my drive” (I’d waited in the car). “Get it moved now”. So should I have (a) blocked one lane of the road in a heatwave, (b) blocked the pavement and cycleway or (c) done what I did. Fault transpired to be alternator malfunction at low speeds. I was quite upset, but the professional and kind RAC operative was brilliant. He needed to follow me home since I had his battery. So I gave him a bottle of lemonade and a couple of ice lollies, as wearing those fluorescents on a hot day he was really suffering with the heat. Note driveway/front garden large enough to accommodate 8 cars comfortably

Probably not as it would cost £1000’s also it wouldn’t be safe as you’d ether have to wait on dual carriageway for them to open if they were electric or get out of your car to open them

That's helpful to know - ie call 999

OP you had seconds to make a decision, I think what you did was fine, you didn't abandon your vehicle, you didn't block the drive and you spoke to the wife who seemed fine about it. I wouldn't have minded at all (I have a drive for several cars) and I would have offered you a drink in the heat. Obviously the wife thought it was okay and just her husband was a massive cunt. I do think sometimes the wealthier people get the less charitable they become in alot of cases.

Hope it gets fixed soon and the bill isn't too high. Take care OP and don't give that rude twat a second thought.

YANBU! I'm sorry you encountered one of life's misery guts at a very trying and scary time for you. There really are some prize arseholes out there. Let's hope that prick never needs help from a stranger in his life eh?

Going against the grain but I don’t think it’s right to park in someone’s drive.

Maybe wife was put out but didn’t feel like she could challenge you.

I wouldn’t be happy if some random person parked on my drive, thats why hazards exist.

Yeah it’s rude to involuntarily breakdown! Really rude! 🤦‍♀️

Bizarrely it seems like there are a lot of miserable people reading this thread!

Id have offered a drink and sympathy myself! I’d rather be me than a misery!

i dont think it is right but he was very rude

i broke down in the rain and the woman in the house came over and her and her 7 year old son helped push my car into their drive,
welcomed me and my young dc into their house, made me tea while we waited for my dm, who had rung the RAC,
a lorry driver had stopped while i was broken down and offered me his mobile
this was in 1997, and they were lovely

Without knowing the area I can’t say which option I would have considered best Yes I read the post and yes OP posted options. The whole premise of the post was AIBU to have pulled into private driveway.

That man is an indicator of so much that's wrong with our society - lack of empathy, grace and good manners. We live in an old farm house with a large yard, and over the twenty years we've been here we've helped people out of floods, given refuge when they've broken down and offered tea and sympathy even when they've been idiots and crashed their car on one of the hellish bends close to us.

I'd have offered you a cold drink OP, and had no problem letting you park on my drive while you waited for help.

What a weird power trip to do anything otherwise!

I think YANBU to park in the drive, we all
play our part in society and they should have understood that parking in the drive was the best of a bad situation.

But why do you keep repeating that you gave the RAC driver ice lollies? That’s also the bare minimum of human behaviour.

What an arsehole, I’m sorry you had to experience that. My dd had a minor bump the other day and was visibly upset. Thankfully, a lovely man came out and told her to park up on his drive and leave the car there overnight as the tyre company couldn’t come out that day. His wife even gave her a lift home. I am so grateful that my lovely dd was looked after and most importantly, felt safe and reassured.

Perhaps all those who have voted YABU should stop and wonder how they would feel if one day one of their children finds themselves in your situation, no matter how old you always want them to feel safe.

this has reminded me actually of a lovely family who broke down outside our house during the heat wave last year and I went out to them with cold drinks and told them they could use our loo. We also once had a Sainsbury’s delivery driver involved in an accident outside our house and we went out with drink and food because he was there for hours.

it costs absolutely nothing to be kind and understanding and I’m sorry there are so many wankers out there that aren’t.

Would never went into someone’s private driveway. I’d have been pissed too. . Coukd have been left on the road or pavement which u wouldn’t have had to do if there was no private driveway .
I always keep my gates shut

I’m just amazed that the RAC were able to get to you so quickly! And that you managed to get an undriveable vehicle across 2 lanes of a gridlocked dual carriageway then up some random persons huge driveway with enough space for 8/10 cars.

it does sound a bit wild

He could have just been having a bad day or had ocd or neurodivergent , maybe not just a rude cunt everyone seems to think he is . U don’t know his circumstances , his life or what type of day he is having . Don’t need to be a dick to him . She was in the wrong . Maybe he regrets it now, maybe not. Some people don’t like surprises or privacy invaded

100% and if OP would block the road etc instead he will complaining about that as well. Sound like an angry idiot who wanted to make whatever point.

You shouldn't park on someone elses drive but he didn't need to be quite so brusque, but maybe he has his own issues going on.

Why don't you pop back with a thank you card and some ice lollies for them.

MIL broke down recently when the weather was bad. She was pulled over on the side of the road. Luckily a resident helped her get her car on his land whilst she waited for the AA. It was a very long wait. The family invited her in for tea and toast while she waited. I’d like to think I’d do the same.
He was being an arse op.

No, hazard warning lights do not exist because you're precious about someone parking on your drive. Flashing orange lights on an obstacle are no substitute for the obstacle not being there in the first place. Road maintenance vehicles are festooned with flashing lights, but drivers still hit them, which is why they're now equipped with crash attenuators.

Just be thankful you don’t live with the twat. Any kind person would ask if you’re ok and offer you a drink, not berate you.

When you first parked there, why didn’t you knock on the door and explain why you were there?

First time I'm ever said this on MN - you're lovely!