Blocked in daily by same two cars

DottieDam

DoaM wrote: »

So these same 2 cars are parked "bumper-to-bumper" with your van, front and back? That's not carelessness or thoughtlessness IMO, that's deliberate. I suspect they've "taken umbrage" at someone parking in "their spaces". Speak to the school.

This is exactly how I feel! They must be putting effort into parking that close, it would be less effort to leave some room.

Car_54

DottieDam wrote: »

Next day I ended up hitting car in front because my OH had left the van in gear (which I didn't realise) so when I started it jutted forward and bumped car in front (showing how close they are parking!).

OP, did you contact the car's owner/driver to report the collision, as you're required to by law?


If you had, and he realised you were a bad driver, he would probably have left more room in future, and maybe told his friends;).

DottieDam

PasturesNew wrote: »

This is a problem that cannot be solved by moving these cars ... if they don't park there and do that somebody else will. Ad infinitum.

As you have a van, could you purchase a cheap/small/lightweight trailer and attach it to the back of your van when you park ... then detach it when you want to leave? If it's small enough (tiny) you can either pop it in the van, or chain it inside your garden if you have one. Look up camping trailers, some are just 1m long or so.

The problem isn't that I can't drive but that I have literally no room to get out. My partner half joked that I should leave cones either side of my van so that there is at least a cones worth of space. This isn't happening to others on the street and I have literally never encountered this problem at all before so I can't believe all the school staff would park like this.

DottieDam

AdrianC wrote: »

Let's see some pictures of just how close.

It's not trickier manouvering a van with no rear windows - you just need to get into the habit of using the door mirrors instead of the interior mirror. Once you've got that, you'll probably find yourself doing it even where there is an interior mirror, simply because it's often a better view, given how small modern car rear windows often are.

Thanks for the driving lesson, been driving a van for a while now if I hadn't figured out that I need to use the wing mirrors I'd have more serious issues :cool:

But in a car I would at least be able to see the car behind me, as it is when I get in the van I can't see the car behind (in my mirrors) as it is too close.

PasturesNew

motorguy wrote: »

Not everyone is an inconsiderate parker.

No, but enough are to make it a perpetual annoyance ... and fear of the annoyance recurring with new creators of the annoyance.

Bigphil1474

Polite note on the windscreen of both might work - dear sir/madam, don't know if you are aware but by parking so close to my van on the street, you are making it difficult for me to get my van out. I would be grateful if you could leave me a bit more space on a morning when you park up. Many thanks, Mr xxx xxxx

loskie

Just report it to the Police, headmaster can or will do nothing. Oh and were you never taught to wiggle your gearstick and check it is neutral before starting? Do that too so there are no mishaps, it should become habit.


http://www.safermotoring.co.uk/how-close-can-you-legally-park-next-another-car.html

almillar

Isn't there a rule in your deeds sometimes that you're not allowed to park work vehicles at your home? Does this apply here? Are you being seen as taking up too much precious parking space with a van (size unknown) as well as a car?

rach_k

Just go and speak to the head at the school. They've probably dealt with it before, and may even know who it is. The head at my kids' school is always very keen to solve parking issues and won't tolerate bad parking from parents or staff.

If it happens again, go to the school office, preferably during teaching hours, give them the car reg numbers and insist that they move the cars as you have an emergency. I doubt the school would tolerate them doing that more than once!

happybiker

DottieDam wrote: »

I live opposite a school and school staff have been blocking me in. I've only lived here for three weeks but it has literally been every school day so far.

The first day I could just about walk between my van and the back car. A neighbour helped me out but the next day there was no room to walk between either vehicle and I had to wait until they moved until I could go out.

If they are genuinely parking that close, I would wait until it happens again and as to see the head teacher, Get them to actually see the situation and how inconsiderate the parking is.


If that fails, then you have recourse to the police if you cannot move your van. When I say 'cannot' , I mean that your van has been effectively immobilised by the parked cars. This is actually a criminal act and, as such, they should enforce the law.