Advice about driveway obstructions

stevetuk

Thought I'd ask about this ole nutshell.
I have a driveway with lowered kerb on to road. I have had people park over the lowered kerb preventing me from driving my car out of the driveway, and also getting it back in when I return home.
I had the Council paint a white h-bar across the drive entrance/exit.

So far so good. However, now a relative of a neighbour (the neighbour is fine, no problems there) keeps parking on the very edge of the white line on the left side which makes it impossible for me to pull out of the driveway to go left, and also to reverse my car back in afterwards. It's a very very busy main road, my drive is down a dip, so I can't pull out on to the wrong side of the road to go around her vehicle because it's impossible to see what's coming except I know that there is traffic with it being that busy.

At the moment I'm turning out right, driving about a half a mile to the nearest turn, and then I turn my vehicle around and drive back. It's obviously adding to petrol costs but safer than going on wrong side of road with obscured vision.

Sometimes the neighbour parks on the other side of the white line right up against it, at the same time that she is on the left hand side, so I can't get my car out or back in the drive.

Any tips on sorting this? I might have a word with the neighbour but they'd be right in saying tough because the while line stops right where they're parking. Problem is the knock on effect with lack of vision, safety etc.

Ironically it was that neighbour that suggested I get the line painted. Can't help but feel they're being p***y over it deliberately.

neilmcl

If they're not actually causing an obstruction then I don't think there's much you can do about it. If you can actually drive out I don't see how it's impossible to reverse in!

notanewuser

stevetuk wrote: »

Thought I'd ask about this ole nutshell.
I have a driveway with lowered kerb on to road. I have had people park over the lowered kerb preventing me from driving my car out of the driveway, and also getting it back in when I return home.
I had the Council paint a white h-bar across the drive entrance/exit.

So far so good. However, now a relative of a neighbour (the neighbour is fine, no problems there) keeps parking on the very edge of the white line on the left side which makes it impossible for me to pull out of the driveway to go left, and also to reverse my car back in afterwards. It's a very very busy main road, my drive is down a dip, so I can't pull out on to the wrong side of the road to go around her vehicle because it's impossible to see what's coming except I know that there is traffic with it being that busy.

At the moment I'm turning out right, driving about a half a mile to the nearest turn, and then I turn my vehicle around and drive back. It's obviously adding to petrol costs but safer than going on wrong side of road with obscured vision.

Sometimes the neighbour parks on the other side of the white line right up against it, at the same time that she is on the left hand side, so I can't get my car out or back in the drive.

Any tips on sorting this? I might have a word with the neighbour but they'd be right in saying tough because the while line stops right where they're parking. Problem is the knock on effect with lack of vision, safety etc.

Ironically it was that neighbour that suggested I get the line painted. Can't help but feel they're being p***y over it deliberately.

Why wouldn't this be the first thing you do?!

Is there space for the relative to park in such a way that you aren't inconvenienced? The only offence is preventing you from getting off the drive. If you can get off it but only turn in one direction then there's no offence. Likewise not being able to get onto your drive is not covered by any offence.

forgotmyname

Is the parking limited? Park on the road until its quiet enough to reverse into the driveway?

They are not on/over the lines so if you need to approach from one side or the other then thats what you will have to do.

Im guessing the line is 8 - 10 ft. Not sure why you cannot get in and out?

Bollotom

Following recent changes to the law, civil enforcement officers (parking attendants) can now issue a penalty charge notice (parking ticket) if a vehicle is parked across a dropped kerb, even if an access protection marking hasn't been painted on the road. Nothing said about restrictions on turning left or right. (from Surrey Council so check your region is covered by the same law.)

TrickyWicky

Get yourself come cones off ebay and then dump them either side of the white line. One thing you can guarantee about most motorists is that they're lazy and don't want the hassle getting out of the car (esp in the middle of the road), moving something, getting back in and finishing their manouvere.

As long as it isn't the yellow no waiting cones you'll be ok (they indicate a temporary legal restriction and you could get in trouble for that). The normal bright orange ones have no real status legally, anyone can put them out and they don't imply any temporary legal restrictions that could wind you up in court.

forgotmyname

Buy 2 cheap cars and park them each side of the driveway but further out to give you more room

DaveF327

...or a sack of bricks.

Nodding_Donkey

TrickyWicky wrote: »

The normal bright orange ones

Squash very nicely when people leave them in the road

stevetuk

Ah that was a funny idea about buying two cheap cars I did laugh about doing that myself as it would definitely solve the problem just not a practical solution! No offence taken

There's a street lamppost on the right hand side, the neighbour parks on the right hand side up to my line, and their relative parks on the left hand side up to the line. With the lamppost, and their cars either side, I can't get my vehicle out without driving straight ahead, on to the other side of the road, and I'd then need to do a three pointer to actually get properly into the right lane. All this going uphill, without being able to see what's coming either side.

When I come back, I do leave my car on the road until they've gone and I can get it back onto the drive. I've learned to live with that. It's getting out that's the issue now.

I'll probably go with the "go and knock and ask them to move" approach repeatedly until it gets boring for them. My worry is what I'd do or say if they just refused. Guess it would ignite war with the neighbour!

I started using the drive, and was told the same neighbour to get the line painted, after my vehicle was sideswiped by another car while it was parked outside. Took all the paint off the side and cost me £400 for a respray.

Can't really win!

I heard that putting cones out was causing an obstruction and that I could get done by the Police?

stevetuk

notanewuser wrote: »

Why wouldn't this be the first thing you do?!

Is there space for the relative to park in such a way that you aren't inconvenienced?

Yes, there is space outside the neighbours house for two or three cars. Why they don't use it I have no idea!
The neighbours relative used to park over my drive even when my car was clearly parked on huge drive, until I had the line painted on, so now I think it's a case of being as awkward as possible since they can't anymore.