AIBU to not know the actual rules on parking next to a dropped kerb?

[Kerbie678]

I'm not sure what's allowed and what's not regarding parking over a dropped kerb, as different websites have conflicting advice.

There's a dropped kerb outside my house specifically for my driveway, and there is a wooded area across the road with no footpath, so it's not as if anyone needs to access the dropped kerb in order to cross the road.
I'm unable to use the driveway presently as it's too steep, but I do use the dropped kerb to turn my car around, because otherwise I'd have to drive down the road to turn it as my road isn't the widest.

I tend to park along my dropped kerb, but lately my neighbour has taken to parking his car directly over it if he arrives home before me and there's little car parking space elsewhere for him. When he does this, it means I have to park further down the road and am unable to see my car out the window to check on it. What's more, this leaves me unable to turn my car round easily, as mentioned.

My neighbour has two vehicles for his property, and often parks leaving a large space between them, and even though I've politely asked if he wouldn't mind parking a few metres further along so that I can park outside my own drive, he usually ignores this,

Do I have any rights to park outside my own dropped kerb, as, like I said, some websites say yes, but others say I'm not able to.
Btw, I know I don't own the road, but would just like advice on this, thanks.

The answer to this is obvious.

Because if her car is on her drive then he can't park there. So it makes no difference to him whether her car is parked on her drive or blocking her drive.

Besides which, as I pointed out above, it's not legal for him to block her drive.

You have a driveway
Such a bonus
sort the tarmac

but even if you can’t be arsed to sort the tarmac… it is unacceptable for anyone to block access to your driveway

How long have you lived there?

And when she arrives knock on his door and tell him he’s blocking your drive and to move it!

I've got to go to work soon myself, but I'm sure I'll be parking down the road again

get your ass in gear and sort the tarmac issue so you can park on your driveway then

Knock on his door/post a note through telling him to move his car as you need to use your driveway tonight. Wether he’s right or wrong he probably can’t read minds

Exactly. Note on windscreen and/or through door. Hi Bob, I have a visitor coming at [time] who needs to park on my drive. Please can you move your car before then?

No one has rights to park across a dropped kerb.

But why make it about a visitor

this is access to the OP’s driveway. The note should say “please can you stop blocking access to my driveway”

You CAN park across an empty driveway.in the UK. You are not blocking anyone from access to the highway.

Yes, you don't need reasons why they shouldn't do something illegal. Since OP's neighbour has been so rude to her, just ignoring her when she asks him not to, I would have no compunction about reporting him so he gets a fine. It's about time, he is taking the piss massively.

Re the tarmac, I'd get that done to be able to use a facility that I've paid for, and if OP's planning to sell in the future it would be a bonus to have a recently done drive...

So when you get home tell him you have a visitor coming and needs to use your drive?

You can park across your own driveway but your neighbour can't unless you give permission.

This is based on the Traffic Management Act 2004 which says you mustn't park "adjacent to a footway, cycle track or verge where—
(a)the footway, cycle track or verge has been lowered to meet the level of the carriageway for the purpose of [...]
(iii)assisting vehicles entering or leaving the carriageway across the footway, cycle track or verge"

There are exceptions, and one of them is "where the vehicle is parked outside residential premises by or with the consent (but not consent given for reward) of the occupier of the premises" (this doesn't apply to shared driveways).

This all applies in "special enforcement areas", but these cover most local authorities in England and Wales. Not sure about Scotland. If you say where you are then someone may be able to give specific information.

You can't. It's in the Highway code. You are blocking access to the property.

Where we live traffic enforcement regularly check roads and ticket anyone on dropped curves.
So will depend on your council. We are some of the closest roads to the station and town centre without restrictions so get a lot of commuter parking.

It does mean we have to warn visitors not to park over our drive as they don't check with homeowners before slapping on the ticket

You CAN’T park across someone’s else’s driveway! It’s in the Highway Code. Why do you think it’s ok to park across someone’s driveway and block access?

OP - get tough. Knock on the door when he does it and say you need access to your driveway.

Wrong

Just report him to parking enforcement get him ticketed and off you go.

Phone parking enforcement and get clarity re parking across your own dropped kerb

Not really causing anyone else a problem though is it.
OP parks over there dropped kerb. If they parked in their driveway, no one else could park over the dropped kerb as they would block her in

So her Parking in her driveway doesn’t free up a space for anyone

Tell him stop blocking your drive way!

YABU to not know the Highway Code. Any driver not knowing the rules is a liability. You can buy it for very little money or even read it free. There is no excuse. https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/download-pdf.html

I have it on good authority this is ‘ obstruction of the highway’. You shouldn’t have to seek permission, for instance, to ask them not to block your drive if you want a skip or furniture delivered.

Parking across any dropped curbs should NEVER happen. It allows wheelchair users to be able to cross the road. I cant believe that there has been no consideration to that in any of the responses. It can happen to anybody!. My daughter is 19 and a FT wheelchair user and has to go up furher up the road to find a suitable crossing. It is beyond inconsiderate.

Not true. My council won't issue fines unless one of their parking officers sees the car on the pavement in person.

He’s blocking access to your driveway so is basically being an a*sehole … what’s it got to do with him whether you use it or not. You can park there as it’s your driveway and access you are blocking, and obviously moving the vehicle is in your control. Sadly I don’t think legally you can do anything but I would tell him to refrain from blocking your driveway.