Car charging cable trip hazard and liability?

Snuggles

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Snuggles said:

The postie does indeed cut across there, although it's not a path. I can't see any way to put up even a short fence type barrier without it looking ridiculous (see pic I've now posted). I think we're going to have to try pot plants of some sort, although I used to have some there and people still squeezed past them!!

How would legitimate folk get to your door if you were able to block that gap off? Your parking area is tarmacked, and there's paving slabs seemingly acting as a directional path to your door?

What would happen if you did block that 'entrance'?

If there is another obvious route, then a low 'picket' type fence, just 3' high (higher if you want) to span the gravel area and that first paving slab (or just half-way over it) would do the job and look fine. By all means plant a lovely shrub in that corner too.

Yes, the gravel serves a purpose as you say - prevents rain-splash up yer walls.

The flags you can see in the photo aren't a path from the road to our door. The perspective in that photo is a bit off, those flags start sort of halfway across our drive, they are for us to walk from our cars. There is a flagged footpath which runs from our front door down the side of our drive to the road at the bottom of our drive. Sorry I didn't post a fuller picture for anonymity.

Thanks I thought the gravel was there for a reason, much as I hate it. It's really annoying as it slopes down towards the road at the side of house so is easily displaced.

couriervanman

As already mentioned plant something nice and prickly 

Jeepers_Creepers

Snuggles said:

The flags you can see in the photo aren't a path from the road to our door. The perspective in that photo is a bit off, those flags start sort of halfway across our drive, they are for us to walk from our cars. There is a flagged footpath which runs from our front door down the side of our drive to the road at the bottom of our drive. Sorry I didn't post a fuller picture for anonymity.

Thanks I thought the gravel was there for a reason, much as I hate it. It's really annoying as it slopes down towards the road at the side of house so is easily displaced.

So why not a short fence across it then? 'Picket' - slatted, decorative, painted any colour you like ('garden shades')?

And a pretty shrub as well if you like?

(And if you do go for this type of solution, then explain to your friendly postie the reason why - the trip hazard. They deserve an explanation - everyone else can go beep.)

Chickereeeee

If you can turn a part of the gravel into soil, how about a trellis? About 2ft wide and 6ft high, at right angles to the house wall, with a climbing rose or similar.

maxsteam

Once people get used to cutting through, it is difficult to stop them. Yes, you need some sort of barrier to stop them. Sticky oily grease or "anti-climb paint" around the areas where they cut through could help as long as you remember that it's there.

As this part of your property is open to trespass, then yes, you are responsible for keeping it safe and removing hazards. The worst case is that someone trips over the cable, damaging the charging system and themselves. Who is liable for what would be for a court to decide.

If it was me, I would happily put up a fence and park on the road until people get out of the habit of using the shortcut. Some people will happily climb over plant pots (damaging the plants) if they have already got into a certain routine. Whatever you put up, it must be something that makes it significantly easier to walk around it than climb over it.

Snuggles

Thanks for the suggestions all, we will consider a fence, or trellis. It would be interesting to know the legalities though - it does irritate me that I have to take steps to protect people who shouldn't be on my property in the first place!

I've no issue at all with the postie cutting across and it will be unlikely to affect them much, as by the time the car arrives my OH will prob be back to working in the office most days - so his car won't be there in the day and the postie can just walk across the drive.  That said, as @maxsteam mentioned, it's partly about protecting the charger too.

FreeBear

couriervanman said: As already mentioned plant something nice and prickly 

My plant of choice would be Poncirus Trifoliata - Slow growing with glossy green leaves and scented white flowers.

The US military use it in place of barbed wire in some places.

bob_a_builder

" No matter how close we try to park to the wall, people still squeeze through." 

Fix a bit of rubber bumper material on the wall and ensure the car is touching it 
They are fairly unlikely to do "Starsky & Hutch"  slide across the bonnet

MovingForwards

You can get wooden planters with built-in trellis, the small one should fit and provide enough of an obstruction. Although in your situation I would be parking my car closer to the wall and also telling people not to cut across my drive.

TELLIT01

The trip hazard sign would probably be enough to prevent the OP being used.  However my bigger concern would be one of the these people tripping over the cable and damaging either the cable or the connection to the car.

Could something like this be used to block the gap?  https://www.scottsofstow.co.uk/expanding-wooden-fence-just-under-2m-wide/