blocking driveways - Advice

pri · 21-02-2008, 23:55

this makes me so so so mad!

people keep blocking my driveway and i can't get my car out nor can i get my car in when i'm coming back home.

is it worth buying a sign saying don't block it and if they still do it is there anything i can do?

because it's becoming a joke now, up to the point where i'm having to drive on the pavement to find a gap to get my car out.

warmo · 22-02-2008, 00:07

put traffic cones, wheelie bins in the way

browncube · 22-02-2008, 00:15

hhmmm bop ... mmmh bop

pri · 22-02-2008, 00:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by browncube

hhmmm bop ... mmmh bop

very helpful post..thank you

vicky2424 · 22-02-2008, 00:36

http://www.nfh.org.uk/resources/Arti...king/index.php

That link may be useful

Is it the same person everytime, is so ask them to move their car as they are in breech of the highway code

diablo · 22-02-2008, 00:40

Assuming you've got a dropped kerb then anyone blocking the drive is causing an obstruction.

Is it always the same car/cars? If so then try putting a (polite) note under their wiper blades.

If persistent then call the coppers.

My drive only gets blocked about once every two years, though it is annoying when it happens!

pri · 22-02-2008, 00:40

my parents own a shop you see and we live above it so people park their car so they can buy something but next to our shop is 2 hairdressers and a tanning shop so some people will park their car infront of my driveway and be up to 30mins plus long and i go to college so i obviously can't be waiting around for them to shift their car.

diablo · 22-02-2008, 00:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by pri

my parents own a shop you see and we live above it so people park their car so they can buy something but next to our shop is 2 hairdressers and a tanning shop so some people will park their car infront of my driveway and be up to 30mins plus long and i go to college so i obviously can't be waiting around for them to shift their car.

Tricky. Maybe you could ask the shops to advise people against parking there.

Though I have heard that it is sometimes possible to get the council to put road markings in such circumstances.

underworldjam · 22-02-2008, 03:18

If you have a dropped curb then it may be possible to ask your council to paint a H-bar on the road.

sketcher · 22-02-2008, 09:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by underworldjam

If you have a dropped curb then it may be possible to ask your council to paint a H-bar on the road.

My mum had one painted in front of her car park. I think she was charged £50.00

She said it was a bargain

A-Friend · 22-02-2008, 09:56

A few people have asked this but you seem to have missed it ... is it a dropped kerb?

roger ramjet · 22-02-2008, 10:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by underworldjam

If you have a dropped curb then it may be possible to ask your council to paint a H-bar on the road.

Paint your own - same effect only cheaper!!

artnada · 22-02-2008, 11:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by roger ramjet

Paint your own - same effect only cheaper!!

Also illegal. That would be vandalism to highway property.

Justabloke · 22-02-2008, 11:31

two things....

1) technically stopping at the kerb anywhere on any road is causing an obstruction
2) Bearing in mind point 1 it's not actually ilegal to block a drop kerb / driveway.

it is pretty inconsiderate though unless you are in your car and able to move the moment someone arrives.

I reckon getting the council to paint a "H" is your best bet

Paulsad · 22-02-2008, 17:44

Have you tried putting a sign up? - it may not deter all but it may remind the less observant that you need access. Worth a try; but get a professional one done should only cost a few quid from your local sign shop - nice and bold red letters on white plastic board or something. DO NOT BLOCK - NIGHTCLUB DOORMAN ON CALL should do the trick!

pickledlily · 23-02-2008, 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paulsad

Have you tried putting a sign up? - it may not deter all but it may remind the less observant that you need access. Worth a try; but get a professional one done should only cost a few quid from your local sign shop - nice and bold red letters on white plastic board or something. DO NOT BLOCK - NIGHTCLUB DOORMAN ON CALL should do the trick!

A better one is POLITE NOTICE NO PARKING, people read it quickly and think it says POLICE notice,

23-02-2008, 21:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickledlily

A better one is POLITE NOTICE NO PARKING, people read it quickly and think it says POLICE notice,

thats true i just read it and thought omg you can't pretend to be the police until i read the rest!

enigma. · 23-02-2008, 21:26

I once had this problem so I put a note on the window written as if it was from a bus driver. It said something like, if you keep parking here your car will either get bumped or reported as a obstruction.
It did the trick.

SparkleBabe · 23-02-2008, 22:18

Ive seen alot posts on this subject on DS and I can honestly say I cannot believe people do it!

How bloody rude!!

I would never block a persons drive unless I had permission to park there from the owner.

There is a shop by me which is opposite three houses, all with drives. You would not believe the ammount of people who block the drives to go to the shop, all because they are too lazy to park up the road and walk.

cold potato · 23-02-2008, 22:25

Personally I'd probably give the vehicle a nice scratch.

Yes I know it's against the law and criminal damage, so I break the law sometimes, shoot me if you catch me.

lifesabeach11 · 23-02-2008, 22:36

As the OP never came back on the thread
we will never know if he has a dropped kerb or not.
If he hasn't then anyone can park there just because he has a drive doesn't give him the right to stop people parking there.

fat controller · 23-02-2008, 23:36

I actually have a similar problem, but its not the driveway opening that gets blocked, its others parking in the drive gumming it up! As a rough description of our drive, you drive in off the road, and for the full 70yds or so on the left there is a fence belonging to the houses on the left as you drive in (they have their own drive at the front), on the right there is a parking bay 30 yards in, then my drive at a right-angle 40 yards in, another drive next to mine also on the right, then a garage.

I actually had a bit of a barney with some of the neighbours last night, because for the umpteenth time I couldn't get out of my drive.

There is a car parked right at the top of the drive (been there for a few weeks, I think it belongs to the guy 2 doors along), then the son of the woman that lives in the house at the end of the drive (on the left) parked behind it blocking me in.

He also blocked my immediate neighbour out of his drive, and to cap it off the bloke that rents the garage turned up at the back of the queue! I ended up going bananas, particularly with the son of the woman on the end of the drive, as they have their own drive, and are not one of the properties that share ours.

I ended up telling them that if I got blocked in or out again, I would go and get the wrecker from work and drag the offending vehicles out onto the road - and sod any damage that might be done. Oddly enough, by the time I came back, there had been a reshuffle, and my drive was clear - and they have all behaved so far today

pri · 23-02-2008, 23:38

hey sorry i am here lol just forgot about the thread. i do have a dropped kerb.

IWantPVR · 24-02-2008, 00:28

I agree that the polite notice sign will help and should deter 90+% of 'offenders'.

DVDfever · 07-11-2009, 19:43

I realise this is an old thread but I found it via google and I've had exactly this problem today, relating to some off-road parking that I've only had put in in the last few months, that was previously just a yard with a crappy shed and overgrown tree that just got in the way.

This time, there was a car parked across most of the gate since about 9pm yesterday and I needed to go out today, about 1pm.

It got to 11am today and I thought if it's not gone by now then it's not moving in a hurry. I asked a few of the neighbours - no-one's seen it before. So I called and reported it to the local police who'd send someone round "as soon as possible" and they can't say if that would be within the hour.

As of 1pm, it was still there. The police came about 11.50 and they put a ticket on it, then he said he was going to call someone about getting it towed as he knew I was wanting to go out. I asked him to ring the doorbell if he needed me again.

A police van came along and they had a chat, then they left, then the original policeman asked round a few other houses but no joy and then I looked outside about 12.45 and he'd gone!

I phoned the police and they've asked him to ring me back "as soon as possible" but they've said the ticket is a '7-day removal' one, but if I wanted it towed in the meantime then I've got to pay for it! I was absolutely livid that (a) this has happened, (b) the policeman's left without telling me what's going on and (c) it's not my fault but if I want it sorted then I've got to pay for it!

However, I rang them back at 1.15 and although I never got to speak to the policeman again, the lady in the control room told me that a tow van was on its way and I won't have to pay for it after all (so why was I told the opposite before?) Just as I was on the phone, the doorbell rang and it was the tow guy and about 30 mins later my car was free (it's sometimes difficult to get down my road with a big tow van due to all the cars parked either side, so most of that time seemed to be taken up with him trying to get someone else to move their car so he could get the right angle)

Earlier, I also overheard the policeman talking to a neighbour who said, "He only had that (gate) put in recently and I bet he's not got planning permission". It's none of his business and actually I don't - I didn't know if I had to, but do I need to? I bet I'll find out from the council soon anyway. I'd just emailed them last night (reminded by this car being in the way) to ask about getting a dropped kerb and the automated website said someone would look at it in the next 10 days and post a quote for the work to me, so they'll see it then anyway.

Also, about the car blocking my gate, it had a partially-opened envelope on the front passenger seat which had loads of keys in it - all labelled but you couldn't work out what the labels were indicating as it wasn't car keys, for example. The policeman took an interest in this at first, and as he went round the car he looked at one of the tyres and said "Illegal".

However, since he just left the car as it was, he clearly didn't need the paperwork hassle of dealing with mysterious keys. Also, since he didn't come and ask me whether I'd applied for planning permission (that's if it matters) for the gate, then I doubt he can be bothered with checking up with the council for that on Monday either.

And when I went out to take my car out once it was over, I saw the aforementioned neighbour but he didn't mention the planning permission thing, and he said he'd asked the policeman if it was illegal to block someone's drive but didn't actually say what the answer given was, and went on to say that as parking's sometimes bad in this area, he'll only park across my driveway if he has to, or something like that. However, there's always somewhere to park even if it's round the corner and he can't see his precious Audi(!)

Still, at least I know which car is his so if he is blocking me in and I can't get out then I know he'll be in when I knock!

21-02-2008, 23:55	#1
pri Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: UK Posts: 2,822	blocking driveways this makes me so so so mad! people keep blocking my driveway and i can't get my car out nor can i get my car in when i'm coming back home. is it worth buying a sign saying don't block it and if they still do it is there anything i can do? because it's becoming a joke now, up to the point where i'm having to drive on the pavement to find a gap to get my car out.

22-02-2008, 00:07	#2
warmo Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Liverpool Services: Blueyonder 20MB,pace pvr3/HD,1000D super, $ky, 19.2/13 e Posts: 780	put traffic cones, wheelie bins in the way

22-02-2008, 00:15	#3
browncube Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,044	hhmmm bop ... mmmh bop

22-02-2008, 00:36	#5
vicky2424 Forum Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: On a sticky wicket probably Services: Top-notch tennis match predictions Posts: 2,454	http://www.nfh.org.uk/resources/Arti...king/index.php That link may be useful Is it the same person everytime, is so ask them to move their car as they are in breech of the highway code

22-02-2008, 00:40	#6
diablo Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Fylde Coast Services: Can provide any services you wish for a certain fee . . . . Posts: 6,475	Assuming you've got a dropped kerb then anyone blocking the drive is causing an obstruction. Is it always the same car/cars? If so then try putting a (polite) note under their wiper blades. If persistent then call the coppers. My drive only gets blocked about once every two years, though it is annoying when it happens!

22-02-2008, 03:18	#9
underworldjam Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: West Midlands Services: Sky World, Freeview, Tiscali Broadband, Wii, DS lite, PS2 Posts: 1,385	If you have a dropped curb then it may be possible to ask your council to paint a H-bar on the road.

22-02-2008, 09:56	#11
A-Friend Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Services: SkyHD, Orange Broadband, PS3 Posts: 5,383	A few people have asked this but you seem to have missed it ... is it a dropped kerb?

22-02-2008, 11:31	#14
Justabloke Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: up the stairs! Posts: 2,871	two things.... 1) technically stopping at the kerb anywhere on any road is causing an obstruction 2) Bearing in mind point 1 it's not actually ilegal to block a drop kerb / driveway. it is pretty inconsiderate though unless you are in your car and able to move the moment someone arrives. I reckon getting the council to paint a "H" is your best bet

22-02-2008, 17:44	#15
Paulsad Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 112	Have you tried putting a sign up? - it may not deter all but it may remind the less observant that you need access. Worth a try; but get a professional one done should only cost a few quid from your local sign shop - nice and bold red letters on white plastic board or something. DO NOT BLOCK - NIGHTCLUB DOORMAN ON CALL should do the trick!

23-02-2008, 21:26	#18
enigma. Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Strawberry Fields Posts: 2,790	I once had this problem so I put a note on the window written as if it was from a bus driver. It said something like, if you keep parking here your car will either get bumped or reported as a obstruction. It did the trick.

23-02-2008, 22:18	#19
SparkleBabe Inactive Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: My House Services: Sky+, Top Up TV, AOL Posts: 15,938 Blog Entries: 3	Ive seen alot posts on this subject on DS and I can honestly say I cannot believe people do it! How bloody rude!! I would never block a persons drive unless I had permission to park there from the owner. There is a shop by me which is opposite three houses, all with drives. You would not believe the ammount of people who block the drives to go to the shop, all because they are too lazy to park up the road and walk.

23-02-2008, 22:25	#20
cold potato Banned User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 427	Personally I'd probably give the vehicle a nice scratch. Yes I know it's against the law and criminal damage, so I break the law sometimes, shoot me if you catch me.

23-02-2008, 22:36	#21
lifesabeach11 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Mersea Island Services: pointy sticks,goats, tatty hangers Posts: 2,358	As the OP never came back on the thread we will never know if he has a dropped kerb or not. If he hasn't then anyone can park there just because he has a drive doesn't give him the right to stop people parking there.

23-02-2008, 23:36	#22
fat controller Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Slightly round the bend Services: Running water, phone, electric and that new fangled net thingy Posts: 8,826	I actually have a similar problem, but its not the driveway opening that gets blocked, its others parking in the drive gumming it up! As a rough description of our drive, you drive in off the road, and for the full 70yds or so on the left there is a fence belonging to the houses on the left as you drive in (they have their own drive at the front), on the right there is a parking bay 30 yards in, then my drive at a right-angle 40 yards in, another drive next to mine also on the right, then a garage. I actually had a bit of a barney with some of the neighbours last night, because for the umpteenth time I couldn't get out of my drive. There is a car parked right at the top of the drive (been there for a few weeks, I think it belongs to the guy 2 doors along), then the son of the woman that lives in the house at the end of the drive (on the left) parked behind it blocking me in. He also blocked my immediate neighbour out of his drive, and to cap it off the bloke that rents the garage turned up at the back of the queue! I ended up going bananas, particularly with the son of the woman on the end of the drive, as they have their own drive, and are not one of the properties that share ours. I ended up telling them that if I got blocked in or out again, I would go and get the wrecker from work and drag the offending vehicles out onto the road - and sod any damage that might be done. Oddly enough, by the time I came back, there had been a reshuffle, and my drive was clear - and they have all behaved so far today

23-02-2008, 23:38	#23
pri Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: UK Posts: 2,822	hey sorry i am here lol just forgot about the thread. i do have a dropped kerb.

24-02-2008, 00:28	#24
IWantPVR Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: My Happy Place Services: Virgin 10Mb, Vaio, XPS M1330, TH42PX60, FVRT200, Sling, PS3, iPhone 3GS32 Posts: 4,875	I agree that the polite notice sign will help and should deter 90+% of 'offenders'.

07-11-2009, 19:43	#25
DVDfever Forum Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 4,776	I realise this is an old thread but I found it via google and I've had exactly this problem today, relating to some off-road parking that I've only had put in in the last few months, that was previously just a yard with a crappy shed and overgrown tree that just got in the way. This time, there was a car parked across most of the gate since about 9pm yesterday and I needed to go out today, about 1pm. It got to 11am today and I thought if it's not gone by now then it's not moving in a hurry. I asked a few of the neighbours - no-one's seen it before. So I called and reported it to the local police who'd send someone round "as soon as possible" and they can't say if that would be within the hour. As of 1pm, it was still there. The police came about 11.50 and they put a ticket on it, then he said he was going to call someone about getting it towed as he knew I was wanting to go out. I asked him to ring the doorbell if he needed me again. A police van came along and they had a chat, then they left, then the original policeman asked round a few other houses but no joy and then I looked outside about 12.45 and he'd gone! I phoned the police and they've asked him to ring me back "as soon as possible" but they've said the ticket is a '7-day removal' one, but if I wanted it towed in the meantime then I've got to pay for it! I was absolutely livid that (a) this has happened, (b) the policeman's left without telling me what's going on and (c) it's not my fault but if I want it sorted then I've got to pay for it! However, I rang them back at 1.15 and although I never got to speak to the policeman again, the lady in the control room told me that a tow van was on its way and I won't have to pay for it after all (so why was I told the opposite before?) Just as I was on the phone, the doorbell rang and it was the tow guy and about 30 mins later my car was free (it's sometimes difficult to get down my road with a big tow van due to all the cars parked either side, so most of that time seemed to be taken up with him trying to get someone else to move their car so he could get the right angle) Earlier, I also overheard the policeman talking to a neighbour who said, "He only had that (gate) put in recently and I bet he's not got planning permission". It's none of his business and actually I don't - I didn't know if I had to, but do I need to? I bet I'll find out from the council soon anyway. I'd just emailed them last night (reminded by this car being in the way) to ask about getting a dropped kerb and the automated website said someone would look at it in the next 10 days and post a quote for the work to me, so they'll see it then anyway. Also, about the car blocking my gate, it had a partially-opened envelope on the front passenger seat which had loads of keys in it - all labelled but you couldn't work out what the labels were indicating as it wasn't car keys, for example. The policeman took an interest in this at first, and as he went round the car he looked at one of the tyres and said "Illegal". However, since he just left the car as it was, he clearly didn't need the paperwork hassle of dealing with mysterious keys. Also, since he didn't come and ask me whether I'd applied for planning permission (that's if it matters) for the gate, then I doubt he can be bothered with checking up with the council for that on Monday either. And when I went out to take my car out once it was over, I saw the aforementioned neighbour but he didn't mention the planning permission thing, and he said he'd asked the policeman if it was illegal to block someone's drive but didn't actually say what the answer given was, and went on to say that as parking's sometimes bad in this area, he'll only park across my driveway if he has to, or something like that. However, there's always somewhere to park even if it's round the corner and he can't see his precious Audi(!) Still, at least I know which car is his so if he is blocking me in and I can't get out then I know he'll be in when I knock!