Driveway/pavement parking obstructions. Anything we can do?

notanewuser

There's a house on the road leading to ours that is on a steep bend, and it's also on a hill. They've a double drive which meets the road on the lower part of the hill on the straight. However, they've always had more vehicles than they can fit on the drive, so at least one car, but more often 2, have been parked half on-half off the pavement right on the bend. Most of the time it's been small cars, but occasionally they've put their 4x4 there. People generally drive slowly on the estate, but this is still something of a hazard, as cars either side of the corner can't see past them to see whether anything is coming the other way.

In the last 2 weeks 2 of the vehicles have been replaced with big grey transit vans. They're being parked on the drive and on the pavement, and wherever they are they are preventing anyone from seeing around the corner until they're past the house. It's seriously dangerous - I've had 2 near misses. Kids play on the grass to the side of the road, so there's a potential issue if there were a collision.

The people who live in the house are teachers. :eek:

Just wondered whether there was anything other than just "we can't see past them" that I can use when I pop round later to speak to them. Is this sort of obstruction contrary to the highway code?

(There is a covenant preventing works vehicles being parked on the estate, but everyone seems to ignore that!)

notanewuser

4743hudsonj

A quick google and you can find the below.




242

You MUST NOT leave your vehicle or trailer in a dangerous position or where it causes any unnecessary obstruction of the road.
Laws RTA 1988, sect 22 & CUR reg 103


243

DO NOT stop or park:

• near a school entrance
• anywhere you would prevent access for Emergency Services
• at or near a bus or tram stop or taxi rank
• on the approach to a level crossing/tramway crossing
• opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space
• near the brow of a hill or hump bridge
• opposite a traffic island or (if this would cause an obstruction) another parked vehicle
• where you would force other traffic to enter a tram lane
• where the kerb has been lowered to help wheelchair users and powered mobility vehicles
• in front of an entrance to a property
• on a bend (emphasis mine)
• where you would obstruct cyclists’ use of cycle facilities except when forced to do so by stationary traffic.

244

You MUST NOT park partially or wholly on the pavement in London, and should not do so elsewhere unless signs permit it. Parking on the pavement can obstruct and seriously inconvenience pedestrians, people in wheelchairs or with visual impairments and people with prams or pushchairs.
Law GL(GP)A sect 15




248

You MUST NOT park on a road at night facing against the direction of the traffic flow unless in a recognised parking space. Laws CUR reg 101 & RVLR reg 24

notanewuser

Thanks. That's really useful.

Nowhere near London, so the pavement thing isn't relevant - pretty much everyone parks on the pavement round here!

4743hudsonj

Its worth noting 'MUST NOT' is backed by law; 'DO NOT' is best practice but not directly covered by law.

notanewuser

Ironically a police officer lives 3 or 4 doors away from them!

4743hudsonj

notanewuser wrote: »

Thanks. That's really useful.

Nowhere near London, so the pavement thing isn't relevant - pretty much everyone parks on the pavement round here!

244

You MUST NOT park partially or wholly on the pavement in London, and should not do so elsewhere unless signs permit it. Parking on the pavement can obstruct and seriously inconvenience pedestrians, people in wheelchairs or with visual impairments and people with prams or pushchairs.
Law GL(GP)A sect 15

notanewuser wrote: »

Ironically a police officer lives 3 or 4 doors away from them!

And unless they are personally affected by the obstruction i very much doubt they will care. They have far better things to do in their professional and personal time.

A quite, polite word with your concerns is the best route, i wouldn't even mention the highway code unless they were completely ignorant still.

Johno100

I don't think you can do anything about the vehicle parked on the drive, it would be just the same as a tall hedge. Are the transits actually obstructing the pavement?

notanewuser

Johno100 wrote: »

I don't think you can do anything about the vehicle parked on the drive, it would be just the same as a tall hedge. Are the transits actually obstructing the pavement?

If the transit is parked on the right (as you look at it) of their drive it causes an obstruction of the view around the corner, yes. It's worse if they park on the pavement, and worse still if both are.

Tall hedges and fences/walls are restricted by covenant too.

notanewuser

4743hudsonj wrote: »

244

You MUST NOT park partially or wholly on the pavement in London, and should not do so elsewhere unless signs permit it. Parking on the pavement can obstruct and seriously inconvenience pedestrians, people in wheelchairs or with visual impairments and people with prams or pushchairs.
Law GL(GP)A sect 15



And unless they are personally affected by the obstruction i very much doubt they will care. They have far better things to do in their professional and personal time.

A quite, polite word with your concerns is the best route, i wouldn't even mention the highway code unless they were completely ignorant still.

They would be affected every time they leave home, as it's the only way out of the estate.

There's little regard to the Highway Code on the estate. People park on junctions, alongside mini roundabouts and about 30% of the cars on the estate are parked with 2 (or often 4) wheels on the pavement as the roads are too narrow for them to park with 4 wheels on the road.

facade

Same thing happens here, cars are all over the pavements, parked on corners etc.

I could solve all the problems with a tin of yellow road paint and a double brush