AIBU to expect my driveway to be clear of neighbours' things?

[BePinkPeer]

I need the advice of mumsnet on this one, sorry if it's a bit long.
The other day I came home and as I drove onto my driveway I heard an almighty metallic clunk. Slightly panicked I jumped out to see what I'd driven over - the neighbour's kid scooter was left abandonded on my driveway. The neighbour came up and said "Oh, it's (her) DS's scooter", picked it up and said it's ok, the scooter is actually not damaged. I was quite annoyed at this and said I was more worried about my car getting damaged to which she said, your car is fine. And she walked off. I'm not one to choose confrontation, and as the car was in fact fine I just let it go. The next day her husband approached me saying he has a little problem and went on for about 5 minutes at me saying things like "Now can we be all grown up about this. Grown ups come and apologise when they damage something". Turned out the scooter was in fact broken by the car (how was I to know that, I'm not sure). That patronising tone really annoyed me, especially as I'm at least 10 years older than him. He went on how I was only interested in my car and didn't check if the scooter was ok (is that so strange? potential £££ of damages to a vehicle over £50 toy? also, wife said the scooter was fine!) He completely didn't see my point that this is my driveway and I should be able to expect it clear of any objects and the kid simply shouldn't have left it there. I am still seething at his audacity to try and put it on me. Our driveways join up and there is no clear kerb to mark the border of one and the other, however it is clear that what's in front of my garage to the right is mine, what's in front of his and to the left is his. The scooter wasn't even by the garage, it was half way up to my front door.
He said they were in a rush to get home after the kid got a bloody lip in a park and they needed to patch it up. The thing is their front door is before the driveway, so why did it need to be left there? The kids are not tiny btw, they are 7 and 9. And also, how is this even relevant, I'm not a fortune teller and couldn't know that was what happened before I reached my driveway.
Unfortunately the way the estate is designed I don't actually have a clear view of my driveway when I get on it. It is also partly their fault because they park two cars on their side and partly obscure the view. But now I'm not sure what to do, do I need to get out of my car every time I arrive to check the driveway is clear? Would you say this is normal neighbourly thing to expect things to make their way onto my driveway? Or is it safe for me to keep driving as I was and they ABU to expect me to look out for their stuff on my driveway?

Your neighbours are utter twats. Stand your ground.

Expect parking wars inbound.

I'd look into extending your driveway sideways so you can build a wall or fence between the driveways

I’m confused. If it had of been a child or an animal lying on your driveway, you would just run over them as you can’t see things on your driveway? This seems an odd set up.

They are to blame for the scooter.

but can you install a mirror to get a proper view of your drive? You don’t want to hit a child or dog

I would go and knock on the door and say

hi xxxx. Been thinking about what you said and yes you are right grown ups do apologise when something has been broken as should children. My car has been slightly damaged so when can I expect an apology from you and your child? Please can you also ensure your child doesn’t leave anything on my drive again. I will not be stopping my car to check if the driveway is clear as there should be nothing on it

This was my first thought.

What sort of set up is it where a driver has to blindly drive onto their driveway??

If it had been a child or an animal lying on your driveway,...

Why would a child be lying on OP's driveway?

Anyway, if a child isn't capable of watching out for cars and getting out of the way, s/he shouldn't be out unsupervised.

I don't know that I would have been able to stop myself saying "there is no need for you to apologise, my car wasn't damaged by the stuff left on my drive".

I am curious how you didn't see it though, there aren't many driveways where something left on it isn't entirely visible.

Just ignore the comments, especially if this was a once off. but be extra vigilant to ensure you have a clear field to drive in and out.

You should look where you are driving

Anyone else wondering how many sleeping cats have been run over in the OP's street? 😁

They should not have left the scooter there. You are not responsible for it. However, most people don’t drive into places they can’t see.

Great advice for this time of year when it is light until late in the evening. Not quite such brillliant advice for winter when it is dark by four o clock, and even with car lights on an unexpected object on a drive is a hazard.

Regardless of the fact that your neighbour is a twat, you shouldn’t be driving (reversing even less so!) if you can’t see what you might potentially be driving over!

On the one hand, they absolutely shouldn’t have left the scooter on your driveway.

But on the other hand, I don’t quite get how you can’t see a scooter that’s halfway up to your front door when you’re pulling onto your driveway.
If you really can’t see the driveway then maybe look into getting a mirror or similar put up in case you drive into a person or animal?

Your neighbours are unreasonable to leave stuff on your driveway. If possible space-wise, I would mark the boundary with a low wall or planters or something. But you don't need to if you don't want to.

However, when at the wheel of a car you should never ever drive onto ground when you can't see if it's clear or not. You must always make sure it's safe to proceed. The scooter doesn't matter, but you do need to absolutely certain there isn't someone there lying injured or whatever. Unlikely I know! But a court would not accept your explanation of "I couldn't see if the way was clear so I just assumed it was and drove on it anyway".

You should look. Op would be the wrong side of the law at night if she hit a person because it was dark and she didn’t see them.

its dark at night for many people at this time of year btw.

The fact you can't see where you're driving is a red herring, you are absolutely NOT responsible for their scooter being damaged.

But...what the heck....you need to be able to see where you're driving. Next time it might be something of yours on the drive way.

I think this is terrible driving. You can’t just run over something regardless of whether it’s on your property or not.
What if it had been an animal or a person who’d collapsed.. literally could be anything - you were in the wrong for bad driving. They should make sure kids don’t leave stuff on your property though, of course.

Fallen over?
Sitting playing tea parties with their cuddly toys?
Drawing with chalk.

Though I guess if the driveway is a complete blind spot (boggle) OP's kids (if she has them) will have been taught not to ever be on it it is case a car comes along.

It's their error. I'd have been irritated by their tone too!

I assume op isn't reversing with her eyes closed, but that the scooter was directly behind their car in the blind spot.

For those saying it’s unlikely OP didn’t see it as the driveway setup seems odd - mine is also like this. My driveway is between mine and NDN house, theirs is in front of their house. They park 2 cars on their driveway, and my driveway raises up and then down, so you turn in past their cars, my car then noses upwards as the path is raised and then downwards toward my garage - I can totally see how OP would’ve missed the scooter if this had happened on a driveway like mine as you can’t see the drive until you are partway down it if the neighbours cars are both parked on theirs.

You need to ensure whatever you are driving onto is clear. How could you not see a scooter!

It goes without saying that they should leave shit strewn across your half of the driveway but you should also be able to spot something sitting on the driveway before hitting it…

I'd be hacked off that they had encroached into my space in the first place.
My response would be that if it shouldn't have been on my property in the first place, and why did they think this was appropriate?

They need to stay off your property so something like this doesn't happen again.