View Full Version : OMO: Parking opposite someones driveway
Brettus
27-03-13, 07:24 PM
Evening Org,
Just a quick one and I'm not mentioning which side of the particular point I am on to try and keep impartial advice off the bat.
Is it OK to park opposite a person's drive way? i.e. on the other side of the road meaning the person might need to take a little extra care to get in to the driveway but it is still technically passable.
Supporting proof would be ideal if it is a black and white issue.
Thanks org!
Beetrootkiller
27-03-13, 07:30 PM
It's not illegal, but it would generally be courteous not to!
Obviously if there are restrictions such as double yellows, parking times, dropped kerb ect. Then it would be illegal.
HTH
Personally i wouldn't and don't. Simply because it makes it a pain to get in/out of the drive. Many of the neighbours inconsiderate visitors to this, as well as parking right next to the drive. Many a time i have left notes, had words, beeped horns and blocked them in when they've been out.
DarrenSV650S
27-03-13, 07:35 PM
My old neighbour used to moan about it when I parked opposite his drive. He could easily get out, just couldn't be arsed putting the extra effort in. "Look, I can't physically get out!" ... yes you can just turn the wheel a bit more and learn to drive :rolleyes:
He started leaving his car opposite his house until I was home.
On a busy street I don't see anything wrong with it. You've got to park somewhere
Specialone
27-03-13, 07:44 PM
Does depend on the location i think, my neighbour is a piano teacher and her pupils' parents block my drive regular even when my neighbours part of the road is clear, it does annoy me a bit tbh but they are good people and its not worth getting too stressed about, it is funny sometimes though when i get home in my van and start reversing as normal on to my drive, you wouldnt believe how quickly they more lol
Spank86
27-03-13, 07:50 PM
Definitely depends on the location. I would look for a spot that's not in preference but some roads round here there wouldn't be one for miles and so it's fine.
If the roads wide enough then I say go for it.
Brettus
27-03-13, 07:50 PM
Cool, thanks for all the replies guys. Wanted a bit of reassurance.
My parents recently moved into a bungalow (effectively sheltered housing) and "have"* to park outside the bungalow really. The guy opposite is kicking up a fuss and even started when I was there tonight shouting across the street (whilst he had his frontera happily parked in his driveway) that we were obstructing his driveway.
There are no lines on the road and it is a pretty wide road too, its not like it is a narrow section they are parking in. I'm sure if he wasn't a bull headed idiot they'd happily move when needed but he's just being an oafish bully citing that "its illegal, check the highway code" I'd just like to prove him wrong and try to settle it down so that when there is a real problem he can just come and ask rather than complaining EVERY time.
thanks for the quick responses guys, set my mind at ease a little, I had a horrible feeling that my thoughts were wrong.
*have to in that there are 3 off road spaces for 5 bungalows but even when one is free they can't park in it as the door won't open enough for Mum to get out.
Spank86
27-03-13, 07:53 PM
Tell him you checked and its not illegal.
https://www.gov.uk/waiting-and-parking/parking-239-to-247
Note: in front of, NOT opposite.
punyXpress
27-03-13, 08:20 PM
Does he reverse the Frontera in?
If not, tell him it's a hell of a lot easier to get out.
Is he a big bloke?
If so, keep quiet.
It's not illegal .But after my other half poked our X Trails tow bar in the chaps car opposite he doesn't do it any more....
fizzwheel
27-03-13, 08:23 PM
If the road was narrow and I thought I would be restricting their access to their driveway then no I wouldn't do it.
Our road is narrow and I make sure I don't park opposite my neighbours driveway as he has a Long Wheel base VW Van and I have seen him struggling to get the van off his drive when people park opposite it.
Teejayexc
27-03-13, 08:47 PM
It's not illegal .But after my other half poked our X Trails tow bar in the chaps car opposite he doesn't do it any more....
Along similar lines, my other half regularly goes on house calls, parked opposite a downhill facing drive, (wideish road, two and a half cars at least). Old gent backed out of his drive straight across the road and broadsided wife's motor.
Big insurance claim!, his excuse on his claim? "I reversed out of my drive as I normally do and hit a car parked opposite that definitely wasn't there when I entered my drive"
You couldn't make it up. Needless to say, claim went fully my wife's way.
So even though you are within your rights to park there, be aware, be very aware.
Littlepeahead
27-03-13, 08:54 PM
Can you get the council to mark out a disabled bay for your mum?
Brettus
27-03-13, 09:30 PM
Can you get the council to mark out a disabled bay for your mum?
Update: the obstreperous guy opposite had actually called the police, they turned up and said mum is fine parking there (I expected him to give caveats like "but be considerate" and such but nope. And to lodge an intimidation complaint if he does it again. They had already called the local police line to check they weren't doing any wrong and had been told just what LPH had suggested, get the council to put a bay in, so that is going to get done.
Thanks for the advice and opinions guys, helped settle my doubts after the guy was mouthing off. I didn't want to give the impression that it was being done BECAUSE the guy was being awkward or anything like that, but neither did I want to suggest that they were justified in doing so either, just checking they were doing no wrong.
Hopefully the bay will settle it as the council can't really make the existing spaces wider as they are constrained by a gardens which is a good deal higher than the bays so would require a lot of removal and the other end is a bungalow itself.
So well done org, you all deserve pats on the back :-)
How many Org bikes could we park opposite this knobhead's drive?
Along similar lines, my other half regularly goes on house calls, parked opposite a downhill facing drive, (wideish road, two and a half cars at least). Old gent backed out of his drive straight across the road and broadsided wife's motor.
Big insurance claim!, his excuse on his claim? "I reversed out of my drive as I normally do and hit a car parked opposite that definitely wasn't there when I entered my drive"
You couldn't make it up. Needless to say, claim went fully my wife's way.
So even though you are within your rights to park there, be aware, be very aware.
Big insurance claim?? You dint large it up with whip lash did you??
Little parking scrapes are useuly below the £1000 exsses ???
Teejayexc
27-03-13, 10:27 PM
Big insurance claim?? You dint large it up with whip lash did you??
Little parking scrapes are useuly below the £1000 exsses ???
Nope, just the car damage, no one in it at the time.
Do you call a drivers side door, rear panel and sill caved on a two year old car a little scrape? Bill was over two grand after the excess.
Good greiff . Hope no one walks behind his car ever .He must have been giving some large to do that!
otaylor38
28-03-13, 08:33 AM
I go off how wide the road is. Obviously if its narrow its abit silly and makes life awkward for them + possibly asking to have your vehicle damaged. However, if its really wide i dont see a problem with it.
Parking over someones drive, now thats naughty. Haha.
otaylor38
28-03-13, 08:36 AM
Anyone got a spare artic they can conveniently park over the road then? Haha
Update: the obstreperous guy opposite had actually called the police, they turned up and said mum is fine parking there (I expected him to give caveats like "but be considerate" and such but nope. And to lodge an intimidation complaint if he does it again. They had already called the local police line to check they weren't doing any wrong and had been told just what LPH had suggested, get the council to put a bay in, so that is going to get done.
Thanks for the advice and opinions guys, helped settle my doubts after the guy was mouthing off. I didn't want to give the impression that it was being done BECAUSE the guy was being awkward or anything like that, but neither did I want to suggest that they were justified in doing so either, just checking they were doing no wrong.
Hopefully the bay will settle it as the council can't really make the existing spaces wider as they are constrained by a gardens which is a good deal higher than the bays so would require a lot of removal and the other end is a bungalow itself.
So well done org, you all deserve pats on the back :-)
Just be careful if they own the house as you have to disclose any neighborly disputes when selling.
Glad this is sorted.
One thing.....
"its illegal, check the highway code"
The Highway Code isn't a "legal" as such - it's a code of practice designed to make life easier for all. If everyone abided by it, of course!
christopher
28-03-13, 10:27 AM
The Highway Code isn't a "legal" as such - it's a code of practice designed to make life easier for all. If everyone abided by it, of course!
Nope.
"Many of the rules in The Highway Code are legal requirements, and if you disobey these rules you are committing a criminal offence. You may be fined, given penalty points on your licence or be disqualified from driving. In the most serious cases you may be sent to prison. Such rules are identified by the use of the words ‘MUST/MUST NOT’."
https://www.gov.uk/highway-code/introduction
You can get s ticket for obstructing a car if its on the drive .
Colchester council prosecuted one of my co workers for it.
Spank86
28-03-13, 12:43 PM
Nope.
"Many of the rules in The Highway Code are legal requirements, and if you disobey these rules you are committing a criminal offence. You may be fined, given penalty points on your licence or be disqualified from driving. In the most serious cases you may be sent to prison. Such rules are identified by the use of the words ‘MUST/MUST NOT’."
https://www.gov.uk/highway-code/introduction
technically the highway code just lays out the law In layman's tongue in those circumstance, it isn't actually the law itself.
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