Would you park in front of someone’s driveway if they don’t own a car?

Posted by mrpogo88@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 279 comments

I’ve recently moved into a house on a busy street. It has a dropped kerb and a small driveway. I don’t have a car. Not many other houses on the street have a dropped kerb. Most neighbours don’t block the drive, some might if stuck for space but will move it as soon as they can which I’m fine with. One recently has been parking across the drive a lot, sometimes 3-4 days at a time. I have some building work going on and could do with the access for the lads doing the work. I wasn’t sure which neighbour to speak to (still new to the area), so I left a polite note asking not to block the drive. This was ignored. I finally saw him at the car after it had been parked there a couple of days. I asked politely if he could do me a favour and not block the drive, there were plenty of other spaces at the time. He angrily said it’s not my personal parking space (seems to think it’s his though), I don’t have a car and he can park there if he likes, and he won’t get a ticket. Also said some stuff about being a bad neighbour (first time we spoke). I said you’re illegally parked and don’t complain when you get a ticket. Annoyed, I contacted the council, they sent a warden quickly (I suppose they never pass up an opportunity to make some money), but unfortunately he drove off a few minutes before they arrived. Am I being a prick about this? Even though I don’t have a car, I feel like it’s taking the piss. Sometimes friends and family visit and they can’t use the driveway when it’s blocked. If he wasn’t such a dick about it, I wouldn’t really have a problem with him parking there for a while if he was stuck for space and moved it when possible. Now I’m itching for him to try it again.

Reply to Post

Reply

279 Comments

[-]

buddy670@reddit

I live in aberdeen scotland and have the same problem, i did have a car but couldnt get peace so sold it i have all sorts of vehicles park on my dropkerb and drive way, but nothing ever gets done i report it to police and traffic wardens, and they keep stating its not against the law, well if its not against the law then why do they have it in the highway code, i go out to tell them to shift as it is a drop kerb they are parked on and i get verbal abuse from them. police do nothing, i feel the same as though i am being a prick too. no one seems to listen i am fed up with it. so i know how you feel.

Reply

[-]

NorthernSouthener@reddit

Oh my days, I've just seen this. My exact issue right now, and my exact thinking. I was also called "unneighbourly". Hope you got the dick

Reply

[-]

Pale_Height_1251@reddit

You're not being a prick, you may not own a car, but you may have a guest that does. Besides, it's your driveway, and you have a right to access it.

Reply

[-]

Apart_Visual@reddit

I have to say no, you’re not being a prick. It doesn’t matter whether you own a car or not, blocking your driveway is a) a dick move and b) illegal, as you said. Suspect you may not have an issue on the parking front going forward now he knows you’re liable to call the council… but he also sounds like a shithead who will be annoying to live near.

Reply

[-]

LuDdErS68@reddit

AFAIK it's only illegal to stop someone driving from their drive onto the road (obstruction). Rule 243 says **DO NOT** park... where the kerb has been lowered to help wheelchair users and powered mobility vehicles. in front of an entrance to a property. So those are advisories. However, parking across someone's driveway when there's a car on it *is* illegal: Rule 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

Reply

[-]

michael31415926@reddit

Yep. Oddly it wouldn't even be illegal for his neighbour to park ON his driveway. Something that crops up from time to time near airports.

Reply

[-]

MerlX2@reddit

I had a car that blocked my car on my driveway once, he parked across my dropped kerb and trapped my car on the drive for about 3 days. I called the council who told me to call the police, they did track down the owner and ask him to move the vehicle, which he did. The police told me they could only get involved if my car was blocked on the driveway. If the guy had parked across an empty driveway they would not have been able to do anything and it would have been a civil matter.

Reply

[-]

LuDdErS68@reddit

I believe it is trespass if someone parks on your driveway without permission. But you're right, the already overstretched police do have better things to to.

Reply

[-]

michael31415926@reddit

The police won't do anything if someone parks on your drive. The remit for dealing with abandoned vehicles falls to local councils. But a local council won't consider a vehicle that's taxed, mot'd etc to be abandoned. You could potentially sue the owner but that's pretty much it - the onus in on you - and most of things you imagine you're going to do (damage the car, move the car, punch the owner etc) the police will tell you that you'll risk breaking the law.

Reply

[-]

RGC658@reddit

It is illegal to park on someone driveway but it's covered by civil law so the police can't do anything.

Reply

[-]

Snapperling@reddit

It's also a civil offence to park in front of any dropped kurb, even your own. Hence the council ticket.

Reply

[-]

Askduds@reddit

Time to buy a £100 car, SORN it and leave it on the drive then.

Reply

[-]

Dingleator@reddit

OP, this may not be the worst idea.

Reply

[-]

shacke1379@reddit

I know what you mean, but if OP wants use of his drive when his guests come, he won’t achieve that with a blocked drive. I think I’d maybe get someone to key it while I was definitely not there. But then I’m an arse.

Reply

[-]

Dingleator@reddit

I agree, I wouldn’t say your an ass though. I wouldn’t leave my car in front of a drive because I would kind of expect it to be keyed? I mean, when OP described there being other spaces and they still parked there I was just thinking “yeah, that car would have its window put through.”

Reply

[-]

Steelhorse91@reddit

Not if you pay the council to paint a H bar on the road where your dropped kerb is. Then people can’t park on it whether the drives occupied or not. Pretty cheap too!

Reply

[-]

LuDdErS68@reddit

£120 to apply to my council, no guarantee that it will be agreed (although it probably will be allowed) and they're not enforceable anyway. I'm getting a sign made and there will be a car on the drive during the times that the problem occurs so hopefully it'll sort it out.

Reply

[-]

Steelhorse91@reddit

They’ll usually agree to it if you send in a few pics of people blocking your dropped kerb. It’s not a huge hassle for them to do, just a slight detour for a contractor on a line painting truck when they have some in nearby doing road markings. Takes literal seconds to paint it.

Reply

[-]

LuDdErS68@reddit

It's a backup if the (cheaper) sign doesn't work. I've only noticed two transgressors so far, I'm hoping that me now parking on the drive and a sign will be enough.

Reply

[-]

Steelhorse91@reddit

Just make the sign make you sound unhinged: ‘Owners blocking this driveway are responsible for any damages caused in the process of moving their vehicle out of the way’

Reply

[-]

Ket-Detective@reddit

H bars are meaningless: > H bar markings are not intended to resolve neighbour disputes as they have no formal status in law. The markings are often used near schools, offices and shops or any premises which attract drivers from a wider area. H bar markings are not normally considered for areas which are mainly residential. https://www.dudley.gov.uk/residents/parking-and-roads/roads-highways-and-pavements/road-markings-and-signage/h-bar-road-markings-for-dropped-kerbs/ Same applies in any other district, Dudley’s just came up first with a succinct description.

Reply

[-]

Steelhorse91@reddit

Well, I know for a fact complaints about people parking on the H bar we now have get more of a response than when it was just a dropped kerb. Regardless of the specifics of law… Fortunately the H bar has proven itself a good enough deterrent that it’s a very rare occurrence now compared to when we just had a dropped kerb.

Reply

[-]

furrycroissant@reddit

I said this and got downvoted to hell and back

Reply

[-]

LuDdErS68@reddit

That's Reddit!

Reply

[-]

furrycroissant@reddit

That's numberwang!

Reply

[-]

jonny-reddit@reddit

ja! dat ist eine numberwang!

Reply

[-]

Klumber@reddit

This is correct. We lived in a similar situation (but did have a car) and had a chat with the traffic wardens one day, we rarely got blocked in (because neighbours knew we had a car) but someone was taking the mick for a while and the wardens told us to ring them if it happened again. As we had a garage (even if there wasn't a car in it) they would issue a ticket because it wasn't possible to establish whether there was a vehicle in the garage or not by the driver blocking the drive.

Reply

[-]

Clamps55555@reddit

That’s how I understood it.

Reply

[-]

furrycroissant@reddit

It is not an offence to block an empty driveway.

Reply

[-]

bluesafre@reddit

It's an offence to park in front of a dropped curb, which is effectively a driveway. Regardless of whether it's empty or not.

Reply

[-]

SalamanderSylph@reddit

Worth noting that there is an exception in the legislation for if it is dropped for a private driveway *and* you have the owner's permission. So if OP's neighbor hadn't been a dick and asked for permission it would have been alright (after the building work when OP didn't need to use the drive)

Reply

[-]

bacon_cake@reddit

>Worth noting that there is an exception in the legislation for if it is dropped for a private driveway and you have the owner's permission. Would you mind linking this? I've been threatened by a school patrol before for blocking my own dropped kerb.

Reply

[-]

SalamanderSylph@reddit

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/18/section/86 >The second exception is where the vehicle is parked outside residential premises by or with the consent (but not consent given for reward) of the occupier of the premises.This exception does not apply in the case of a shared drivewa

Reply

[-]

RGC658@reddit

This only applies in 'Special Enforcement Areas'.

Reply

[-]

krysus@reddit

And outside of them, none of it (that section of the Act) applies.

Reply

[-]

bacon_cake@reddit

Thanks so much. I regularly block my own drive so I'm going to bookmark this.

Reply

[-]

furrycroissant@reddit

*kerb. Curb means to reduce. And no, not all dropped kerbs exist as access to driveways.

Reply

[-]

Pieboy8@reddit

So a dropped kerb could be called a Curb Kerb...seems like a missed opportunity

Reply

[-]

HospitalDue2983@reddit

But it is an offence to park across a dropped kerb "You must not park in front of a dropped kerb on the road or where the road has been raised to the same level as the pavement, regardless if yellow lines are present or in force." So the offence would not be blocking a driveway but parking adjacent to a dropped kerb. WHO CAN ISSUE A PENALTY CHARGE NOTICE FOR PARKING ALONGSIDE A DROPPED KERB Council enforcement Under the Traffic Management Act 2004, grant councils that are Special Enforcement Areas (SPA) the power to enforce contravention code 27: Parked adjacent to a dropped footway. Police Although the police generally now have less of a role for dealing with parking issues, Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) are often issued to motorists that leave their vehicle in a hazardous position, or a location that may impede wheelchair users. Alternatively, the police may find the owner of the vehicle and ask them to remove it, or possibly remove the vehicle themselves.

Reply

[-]

krysus@reddit

And how many councils have Special Enforcement Areas, and how do we find out which and where in each? I also got massively down-voted for saying the same!

Reply

[-]

furrycroissant@reddit

Precisely. A dropped kerb is the issue, not the driveway. So I am correct, despite the downvotes!

Reply

[-]

Parking-Wing-2930@reddit

Potato, tomato

Reply

[-]

Dense_Principle_408@reddit

According to the Highway Code it is an offence to block where the kerb has been dropped to allow wheelchair users and powered mobility vehicles. It doesn’t specify whether it’s in front of someone’s driveway or the corner of a street.

Reply

[-]

bacon_cake@reddit

>According to the Highway Code it is an offence to block where the kerb has been dropped to allow wheelchair users and powered mobility vehicles. Wait a sec, that needs clarifying because that can be interpreted semantically in two different ways. Is it an offence to block dropped kerbs that have been dropped *for* mobility reasons, or is it an offence to block dropped kerbs that exist *because* of mobility reasons? That is to say, for example, if a dropped kerb exists to allow access to a driveway, it could be blocked (under this rule, disregarding any others) because it was dropped for the driveway and not for mobility access. Or can it not be blocked because it could be used for mobility access despite not being dropped because of mobility access?

Reply

[-]

Dense_Principle_408@reddit

So if a wheelchair user is half-way down a street and they realise they need to cross to the other side of the street, are they not allowed to use a dropped kerb outside someones drive?

Reply

[-]

ohbroth3r@reddit

If there's a garage one end of the driveway, how do you know it's 'empty'? (I assume by empty you mean the offender can't see a car)

Reply

[-]

siriuslyharry@reddit

No, but it is to park on a dropped kerb…

Reply

[-]

michael31415926@reddit

Well check the legality. It's not actually illegal in the UK for someone to park ON your drive. Let alone in front of it. Although I suspect the highway code would have a rule giving guidance not to do it.

Reply

[-]

RGC658@reddit

It is illegal to park on someones drive but it's covered by civil law which is why the police or council can't help you.

Reply

[-]

michael31415926@reddit

No, it's a civil matter. That doesn't mean something is illegal. For something to be illegal it has to be a crime.

Reply

[-]

RedSlipperyClippers@reddit

Tbf, it's 'illegal' once the person is told not to, or if they pass a sign saying no entrance.

Reply

[-]

Succulent_Orange@reddit

Not illegal though It's legal to block access INTO a driveway but illegal to block access out and if there's no car in there then you're not doing the latter

Reply

[-]

According_Debate_334@reddit

Agree with all of this

Reply

[-]

TeaBeginning7885@reddit

No. Its rude. They have visitors with cars probably

Reply

[-]

Silver-Appointment77@reddit

I hate that. We have a drive with dropped kerb, there only us and across the road with drives, so loads of spaces to park. But theres an one who will park in front of our drive, which causes double parking as the people across the road have 2 cars, 1 on the drive, one parked on the road. Theres a whole road to park, and around the back is 2 car parks which can accomodate around 30 cars, easily. So they block the road by being cretins. I have no idea why they would do it. Im not sure whos car it is either. So soon theres going to be some screws accidentally dropped where they park. No idea who would do it lol. But it is illegal to park on dropped kerbs.

Reply

[-]

SpareUmbrella@reddit

I work in Parking Enforcement. If the guy is blocking your drive, you don't need to give him a heads up that you're planning on calling a traffic warden (Or CEO, as they're known) just ring up their enquiries line and report the contravention. An extra PCN looks good on the CEO's stats, and the council gets some money. Even if the driver appeals the PCN, you can just keep reporting it which takes 30 seconds, but as appeals must be in writing it'll take the driver a hell of a lot longer to appeal. Bear in mind that a PCN will not be issued if a vehicle or standard size could enter and leave your driveway, even if it's difficult. If it's only a tiny bit and a car could still get out, the driver likely will not be issued a PCN.

Reply

[-]

Chemical_Custard5410@reddit

> Am I being a prick about this? No. > He angrily said it’s not my personal parking space It sounds like he doesn't understand the rules around dropped kerbs and thinks you're just trying to lay claim to the road outside your house. One of the police or the local council should enforce this if you contact of them.

Reply

[-]

furrycroissant@reddit

It is not an offence to block an empty drive.

Reply

[-]

ComprehensiveDog3799@reddit

it is an offence to block a dropped curb tho

Reply

[-]

krysus@reddit

Only in "special enforcement areas", or where the dropped kerb is there for pedestrians rather than a private drive.

Reply

[-]

ComprehensiveDog3799@reddit

you can get a penalty charge notice for it here in the uk

Reply

[-]

SpareUmbrella@reddit

I work in Parking Enforcement. This is only true if the kerb in question has tactile pavement markings (as in, those little knobbly tiles for blind people) and is not true for dropped kerbs in general, absent additional signage.

Reply

[-]

krysus@reddit

Again, only in "special enforcement areas". Traffic Management Act 2004, Section 86.

Reply

[-]

AlGunner@reddit

The council sent someone out. Clearly an enforcement area. Your argument is obviously a moot point

Reply

[-]

mcr1974@reddit

but he doesn't have permission?

Reply

[-]

furrycroissant@reddit

*kern. Curb means to reduce.

Reply

[-]

ComprehensiveDog3799@reddit

bro, are you the neighbour? chill your beans life’s not that deep

Reply

[-]

Boggin_@reddit

You know you've lost an argument when you start correcting spelling...

Reply

[-]

Adventure_Tortoise@reddit

You’ve been downvoted to shit but it’s true. It’s an offence to block someone’s access to the highway, I.e while on their drive, but not vice versa. Certainly a dick moving doing it though.

Reply

[-]

Alternative_Route@reddit

Yep, there does seem to be this thing on Reddit where you get downvoted for saying things people don't like even if you are correct and posted supporting evidence. Those that appreciate it for being correct don't always upvote but those that don't like what you have to say will downvote.

Reply

[-]

MissingScore777@reddit

My favourite part is the people pointing this out like yourself get upvoted while the other person continues to get ever more downvotes.

Reply

[-]

Alternative_Route@reddit

True maybe we can turn the tide?

Reply

[-]

Childan71@reddit

Yup.. My Bro In Law is a traffic cop and he said it's a weird little rule that bizarrely only applicable when you're exiting your drive ( when it's blocked) but not when you're trying to enter your drive and it's blocked.

Reply

[-]

dinobug77@reddit

Whilst they are correct as a general rule many local authorities/councils have it as a rule that you cannot park over a dropped kerb and will issue a ticket. Most, if not all London boroughs enforce this with the rule being the wheel cannot overlap any part of the angled or dropped kerb.

Reply

[-]

furrycroissant@reddit

Thank you! People expectations of the law vs what it actually says led to my reddit death

Reply

[-]

ukdev1@reddit

Ah, the joy you must be feeling receiving 100+ downvotes for actually understanding the law correctly.

Reply

[-]

Agile_Coyote_6483@reddit

You need access to your driveway whether your car is there or not

Reply

[-]

furrycroissant@reddit

You do, but it is not an offence and the police/council cannot help if someone blocks (or even parks on) your drive while it is empty.

Reply

[-]

salladfingers@reddit

I'm not sure why you're being downvoted. It's only illegal to ###Block someone in Not ###block an empty drive That being said, it's still annoying as chips

Reply

[-]

furrycroissant@reddit

What people think the law is vs what it actually says leads to reddit deaths

Reply

[-]

Elegant-Row-2396@reddit

You can get a ticket for blocking a dropped curb though

Reply

[-]

PJP2810@reddit

>One of the police or the local council should enforce this if you contact of them. If you read the full post, OP did exactly that... The wanker drive off minutes before they arrived, but OP seems to be planning to do the same next time it happens

Reply

[-]

Bucky-Katt-Guitar@reddit

It would be a real shame if something happened to the neighborhors car.

Reply

[-]

FTB963@reddit

According to [this](https://www.reddrivingschool.com/2020/08/is-parking-across-a-driveway-illegal-the-definitive-answer/) it may not actually be illegal, but still a dick move. Out of interest, how would people feel about parking it front of someone’s driveway when there is no dropped curb? In a busy street near me, one house has knocked down their front wall and made a driveway, but it’s still a normal curb which they bump over (and then proceed to smash all the paving slabs driving over the pavement to their house). Family in question would likely kick off if someone parked outside they’re house, but really they’ve just hijacked a section of the street to themselves.

Reply

[-]

krysus@reddit

No dropped kerb = no drive.

Reply

[-]

Lily7258@reddit

If there’s no dropped kerb then it’s fair game!

Reply

[-]

romi-starqueen@reddit

I absolutely would not park in front of a driveway / dropped curb. baffling, everyone knows not to do this. doesn't matter if you don't a car! it's your driveway and you need it for visitors etc.

Reply

[-]

EvolvingEachDay@reddit

No, it’s illegal to park in front of dipped kerb.

Reply

[-]

kong_yo@reddit

Just sprinkle a bunch nails/screws in the space and wait for the bite

Reply

[-]

bikky73@reddit

If I know them and they know me and my car and where to knock to get it moved, then yes. If there's nowhere near to get parked and I really must park nearby, I leave my number in the window so someone can call me. If they ask me not to (in your case) I respect that, as it's access to your property. Had an issue a couple of years ago where someone blocked my garage. They told me I could park my motorbike on the drive (beside the garage). I told them to hand over £6k, which they'll get back if my bike isn't stolen/damaged as motorbike insurance generally won't cover you within 1/4 or 1/2 mile of your home if you declare you have a garage. At this point I parked and locked my bike 2 inches from their front bumper, grabbed the car keys from the house and said I'm bringing the car round to park behind them. Either your van is gone, or it stays until I'm ready to move a vehicle. They moved.

Reply

[-]

Joe_r1418@reddit

Nah, if the road was a nightmare to park on and I knew you I may knock on and ask if you’d mind if I did so every now and again and you can shoot me a text if you need it moving but otherwise the only time I’d stop would be if I was picking someone up and I’d keep the engine running. I used to live at a place with a drive and instead of parking on the drive I’d park in-front of it because bellends would always block my car in.

Reply

[-]

useful-idiot-23@reddit

No I think you are being reasonable. If you have a drive with a dropped kerb then it shouldn’t be obstructed at any time. You might not have a car but it’s your drive to use as you please. You can have guests at any time.

Reply

[-]

TRFKTA@reddit

I would only park there if I had asked the person whose house it was in front of first and they said they had no issues with it. If I asked and they replied ‘I have visitors coming later today’ or ‘I have work being done later and they’ll need access’ I’d be like ‘no worries’ and simply not park there.

Reply

[-]

Soup_and_death_grips@reddit

No it's rude. Family/friends/deliveries/service-people may need the driveway. It's YOUR driveway.

Reply

[-]

Thirstless@reddit

Buy a £100 piece of shit and park it in your driveway, doesn't have to run.

Reply

[-]

CThomasHowellATSM@reddit

Paint stripper is far cheaper tho...

Reply

[-]

IsUpTooLate@reddit

Doesn’t even need to be taxed or MOTd, it can be SORN if it’s just on the drive, right?

Reply

[-]

Askduds@reddit

Yep. On private land you're fine.

Reply

[-]

CyGuy6587@reddit

Correct, as your driveway is private land

Reply

[-]

FTB963@reddit

Would still need to tax and insure it though right?

Reply

[-]

HailToTheKingslayer@reddit

No. The tax is road tax, whixh you don't need if you4 car is on a private driveway. As for insurance, if you're not driving it anywhere you shouldn't need it insured.

Reply

[-]

IsUpTooLate@reddit

There is so such thing as road tax.

Reply

[-]

FTB963@reddit

I read it wrong, read it as across your driveway

Reply

[-]

McTazzy@reddit

Not if it’s SORN and on private land.

Reply

[-]

Ziphoblat@reddit

It won't be on private land if the council are sending traffic wardens over.

Reply

[-]

Mroatcake1@reddit

eh? Traffic wardens are for the car parked OVER the drive, not on.

Reply

[-]

redditupf2@reddit

Dont do this. Waste of money

Reply

[-]

Rtnscks@reddit

Or better still, make some money by renting out the parking space.

Reply

[-]

mrpogo88@reddit (OP)

Now there’s an idea

Reply

[-]

EpsonRifle@reddit

Check out Parkopedia. It’s great. I use it for parking all the time.

Reply

[-]

Thirstless@reddit

That's a much better idea! Nicely done

Reply

[-]

ExterminatorRex@reddit

Absolutely not! Regardless of if someone has a car or not, you do not block their driveway, how entitled do you have to be to use someone else's space? What happens if they were having friends over who do drive, or construction going on where the van needs to park? Big fat no, you do not get to park where you want!

Reply

[-]

katspike@reddit

Seems pretty conclusive that your neighbour is an asshole. Print off all these comments and put them under his windscreen wiper.

Reply

[-]

thefooleryoftom@reddit

No, it’s an offence.

Reply

[-]

Freefall84@reddit

Na, fuck the inconsiderate cunt, for all he knows you might have family turning up in 10 minutes or something. It's your driveway, call the traffic wardens every time you see him pulling up. At the very least if he had the manners to ask you in the first place, you might have been able to avoid this but he just assumed it was ok because he's an entitled cunt who thinks the world revolves around him.

Reply

[-]

landwomble@reddit

It's an offence to block a drop kerb driveway. What you might want to do is think creatively and rent out your drive on justpark or similar...!

Reply

[-]

ouroborosseekers@reddit

No, it's a dickhead move. I don't know if that person will ever be buying a car or will have visitors etc, and I'm not entitled to any more or less than my fellow neighbour ... so yeah, dickhead move.

Reply

[-]

AyUpItsDan@reddit

Had a parking space myself once, didn't drive but I suppose it's nice to have in case anyone's visiting and I often let friends who worked nearby use it. Until one day, someone had parked there. "Fair enough" I thought, there's no sign, so I just left out a little private parking sign. Next day, the same car parked there again and moved the fucking sign. "Be nice" I tell myself, looking down at this prick BMW (of course) a few floors below. So I put a wee pole in a bucket ON THE SPACE with yet another "private parking" sign. Sure as shit, the fucker had MOVED THE POLE off the spot abs continued to park there. Fuck me. I never saw the guy otherwise I would've had the "What are you doing?" talk but alas, the chap seemed elusive. In what I can only describe as a nigh on mental breakdown move, I poured salad cream out my window and onto the car, smothering it from six feet up. You've had two warnings my friend and besides maybe pouring salad cream out of windows and into empty parking spaces is my bag? Never parked there again to be fair so there's a moral to such a break down.

Reply

[-]

MiniSkrrt@reddit

That’s amazing. I don’t know what salad cream is but if it’s like normal cream that would’ve been hilarious to see their face when they came back to their car. They sounds like an absolute wanker though

Reply

[-]

KingofCalais@reddit

How on earth do you not know what salad cream is?

Reply

[-]

MiniSkrrt@reddit

Idk lol but I’m Australian and just realised this is a UK sub so that may be it. I’ve never had it

Reply

[-]

Askduds@reddit

Imagine mayonnaise but it hates you and everything you stand for.

Reply

[-]

michael31415926@reddit

Chav mayonnaise. In the same way dream topping was chav cream.

Reply

[-]

MiniSkrrt@reddit

Hahahah

Reply

[-]

KingofCalais@reddit

Ah fair enough that makes more sense, its like mayonnaise but with more vinegar in it.

Reply

[-]

AhFourFeckSakeLads@reddit

Milk will seriously damage paintwork unless thoroughly and quickly cleaned off.

Reply

[-]

Adventurous_Snow_592@reddit

I'd have filled the bucket with something heavy, like concrete, to make it harder to move. If he moved it again, I'd drop the bucket and sign out of the window onto the space and his car soon after he parked there, and then claim to have thought the space was empty and to be returning the sign to the middle of it.

Reply

[-]

Slight-Lie-4305@reddit

Must have thought you have massive seagulls living in the building

Reply

[-]

phatdavewithaph@reddit

This guy has made it very clear what a total dickhead he is. When friends, family, workmen come over next, just get them to park in front of his drive. If he complains, tell him it's not his personal parking space 🤷‍♂️ (Obviously be careful not to get them ticketed...just a little of his own medicine for him to see what a total arse he's being)

Reply

[-]

Steelhorse91@reddit

Keep taking pictures, request you council paint a H bar on the road where your dropped kerb is. It doesn’t cost much, and it’s usually quite an effective deterrent, if you catch people parking on your H bar it’s usually possible to get the council or police to have words with the owner of the car. The last time it happened to me the police (use the non emergency number be polite, explain the H bar/obstruction of the highway) somehow got the drivers mobile number and called them to tell them to move it, turned up looking a bit shook receiving an unexpected call from the law.

Reply

[-]

Superhands01@reddit

Sign up for one of those parking apps.. rent the space so there's cars going in and out .. could offer to rent it to him lol

Reply

[-]

honeyapplepop@reddit

We have an allocated parking space but don’t have a car and whilst I don’t mind if people like my neighbours family parks there because they ask, another house has 1 allocated spot with one car, another car in a spot of someone else’s who doesn’t have a car (I presume they’ve asked) then their visitors park in our spot…. Whilst I may seem petty, I have 2 under 2 and so if my parents do come over, to get the car seats in whilst they are having to park miles down the road is infuriating when we have a spot that’s rightly ours… Christmas Day was a perfect example….I’ve had to put a massive sign up saying it’s ours but it hasn’t stopped them…

Reply

[-]

Supernatural3456@reddit

You could try turning it into a nice little garden with potted plants etc if you don’t have a car. A flat near me was advertised as having a parking space when it actually is a little courtyard garden, but we don’t mind as it fits in the space and hasn’t caused any problems. Just a thought and then you could move them when you have people over

Reply

[-]

honeyapplepop@reddit

I’m on the verge of just buying an old banger and sticking it there I’ll be honest lol or the pushchairs we have 3 of the things 😂- but yes I could put a planter there that’s a good idea… although I have a feeling they are the kind of people that would dig up a tree if I planted it 🤦‍♀️ xx

Reply

[-]

gucciiiiiiiiiii@reddit

An Airbnb near me has no parking. One night I woke up to find a car I've never seen blocking my double driveway. I asked the neighbors who it was but no reply. I waited a few hours then called for a tow. Right after it was towed the owner asked where was his car. I saw the bloke walk pass me when I looked bewildered and bastard didn't even bother moving it. I asked why would he park there he said man we don't need to go into that. I had to post a tow sign on my house bc of this. The nerve.

Reply

[-]

furrycroissant@reddit

Not allowed to do that in the UK, it's an offence to tow or clamp a car since 2012 I think .

Reply

[-]

Andrew_Higginbottom@reddit

> Am I being a prick about this No. Its illegal to park across a drive way. He broke the law and you gave him chances that he didn't take. Your not responsible for arseholes.

Reply

[-]

Original_Golf8647@reddit

No, at least not without talking to the owner first. As the saying goes, "give an inch, and they'll take a mile."

Reply

[-]

Purple_Cookie_6814@reddit

Nope. Even if they don't have a car, there's a pretty high likelihood someone they know will. Someone disabled, or with a pram, with shopping, doing work etc. Even if it wasn't illegal only a tool would do it.

Reply

[-]

Valuable-Wallaby-167@reddit

No, the only time I'd ever stop in front of someone's driveway is if there was nowhere else to stop and I had to pull over for 2 minutes to check a map or something. I'd say, legality aside, it's a pretty widely accepted thing you don't do. He pulled away because he knew he was bang out of order, he's probably pulled this bullshit with everyone and was hoping he could get away with it because you're new.

Reply

[-]

IndiaMike1@reddit

I also don’t mind if people ask. We have more space on our drive than we need - whenever I’ve seen people in need of space (for example if they have people over) I tell them they can park or in front of my drive as long as I can still get out. Honestly OP is in the right regardless, but I do feel like many of these situations can be avoided by just having a polite conversation and asking rather than assuming. Perhaps if the driver had asked politely and explained, they might have had a shot at a better result. Alas.

Reply

[-]

mrpogo88@reddit (OP)

I wouldn’t have minded so much if he wasn’t so rude about it. If he had said do you mind if I park here for a bit when I can’t find a space… no problem. I suppose he was annoyed his convenient parking space was under threat.

Reply

[-]

1Dustin86@reddit

Fuck that guy mate. He's being a proper twat, get his car towed if you can.

Reply

[-]

Elbarto416@reddit

Some people are just egotistical maniacs that project all their frustrations on life onto you when you make a valid request.

Reply

[-]

kajata000@reddit

It’s so often exactly this; some people come across as truly spectacularly myopic. I get that everyone has their own stuff going on, but there does seem to be certain people who can’t fathom that everyone *else’s* lives don’t also revolve around them, and get genuinely offended when this is made evident.

Reply

[-]

IndiaMike1@reddit

I wouldn’t have been kind after someone was so consistently rude to me either.

Reply

[-]

autocorrect122@reddit

Next time he blocks your drive, maybe inspect his tyres ?

Reply

[-]

BppnfvbanyOnxre@reddit

If you don't nip it in the bud twatty will continue to take the piss. SO nope you're not the dick here.

Reply

[-]

Timely_Egg_6827@reddit

No. Just because they don't have a car, it doesn't mean they don't have guests, repair people, care workers or food deliveries. There are a whole lot of reasons people might access a drive in a car not belonging to the owner. You don't know their life to make that call.

Reply

[-]

Unapologetic69420@reddit

Not without permission no, they may have guests or emergency services needing that spot and blocking their driveway could be extremely problematic.

Reply

[-]

BppnfvbanyOnxre@reddit

One house I had a neighbour would do this when we were away, same guy who told me I was stupid to get a private diesel car when my company vehicle was petrol and he always ran his private car on the companies fuel. I'd move him a few time and he'd apologise, stopped doing it when we came back early from a holiday on a tow truck and I needed my broken down car in my drive we got home around 03:00 and you can bet you life I leaned on his doorbell until all the lights came on.

Reply

[-]

Miserable_Mix_6253@reddit

As far as I can tell he’s a twat but a correct twat : https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/what-can-someone-blocks-driveway-2289119.amp “A senior county council traffic officer told Devon Live that as long as the driveway was empty and the car didn’t contravene any traffic order, no offence had been committed.” Unless they’re blocking a vehicle already on the drive they can park there.

Reply

[-]

Low-Total9121@reddit

Yep, there's only an obstruction if the dropped kerb needs to be used.

Reply

[-]

spectrumero@reddit

The dropped kerb *does* need to be used, according to OP.

Reply

[-]

811545b2-4ff7-4041@reddit

Rule 243 of the Highway code - [https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/waiting-and-parking-238-to-252](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/waiting-and-parking-238-to-252) Even the highway code only says "DO NOT" which means it's not illegal, just advisory. Then again, is it illegal to scatter bird feed on and arround someone's car?

Reply

[-]

MysteriousSwitch232@reddit

The code is more what you’d call “guidelines” than actual rules.

Reply

[-]

krysus@reddit

The actual rules are in the Traffic Management Act 2004, Section 86. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/18/section/86

Reply

[-]

Bigtallanddopey@reddit

Unfortunately this is true, having a driveway or dropped curb does not give you an automatic right to that space. It’s a dick move to park over someone’s drive, but not illegal. Even if a car is on the drive it’s a civil matter not a criminal one.

Reply

[-]

furrycroissant@reddit

*kerb

Reply

[-]

liquid_profane@reddit

Nope because I'm not a cunt.

Reply

[-]

CaveJohnson82@reddit

You're not being a prick. He is. I would only park over your drive if we'd spoken and you'd given permission.

Reply

[-]

Wickedbitchoftheuk@reddit

Only with their permission.

Reply

[-]

jlsearle89@reddit

You’re not being a dick some people require more direction than others though if you know which house he’s from it might work out better if you can give him an alternative (obviously you shouldn’t have too and deserve access to your drive no matter what, but sometimes it’s just easier to approach with solutions rather than problems. we have three parking spaces with our house and are a one car household we always keep the space on the drive clear because my dad has COPD and if he wants to pop over the walk from round the back makes it much less appealing/practical for him. When we had new neighbours they moved in with 4 cars (there’s only 2 of them) but they don’t own spaces round the back in the parking area so only have one space their drive. As soon as they moved in they started to park over our drive as well as theirs and our elderly neighbours the other side. I wasn’t sure if they were all their cars at first so allowed it thinking it might be friends helping them move or something. The elderly couple the other side however were immediately upset with the new neighbours by doing the same to them because they often have ambulance attendance as the husband is prone to falling and they will only call us for help if my partner is in because as a woman I obviously couldn’t lift a frail old man 😂. I worked out where we could fit an extra car in the communal parking area us and the elderly neighbours share and after discussing with them I spoke to the new neighbours about it. In exchange for driveway access at all times we let them park one car by our back gate entrance (on the promise it will be moved if for example we have a truck delivering wood or something else that needs to come in via the back garden) and We have loaned them one of the official spaces we have round the back too. Combined with their original space on their drive it made 3 which in my mind was more than reasonable. Got some papers drawn up to confirm whilst we still owned the space we were renting it on a 6month basis and could revoke usage at any time had them pay me the princely sum of £1 to make the contract official. New neighbours were actually really grateful as they only found out that they couldn’t get a space in the communal area because they were all owned after they exchanged (the estate agent lied-what a surprise!) and were worried everyone was going to hate them causing unnecessary conflict about it because all the houses on our street work the same and have a mini car park for every 3 houses and almost no one parks on the street unless it’s deliveries or extra guests. Much of the roads appeal is that it’s a no through road and the kids play cricket and stuff at the end when it warm enough. They have been here a while now and cut back to two vehicles meaning they have one in their drive and one by my back gate. They’re only renting so I don’t know how long they will be here but I’m happy they are, they’re good neighbours who warn us when their grandkids are coming for the weekend and are considerate of everyone else. Either way my point was they were chuffed that knowing the area better I was able to come up with a solution rather than going in with conflict. I know it wasn’t my problem to solve but lots of people claim to want to live in close communities, little things like this is how you create them xxx TL;DR People tend to react better when you go with solutions rather than problems.

Reply

[-]

crunchyyyyy1234@reddit

Your house, your drive, your right of access! You’re absolutely NOT being a dick - they’re being a dick. Be persistent 💗

Reply

[-]

spectrumero@reddit

No, you're not being a prick, he is. He's parking illegally if he's parking across a dropped kerb. If he were not a prick, his response would be to apologise and move the car. The dropped kerb is there for a reason, to allow 24x7 access to your property.

Reply

[-]

max5575@reddit

No because I’m not a dick

Reply

[-]

DaveChild@reddit

> Am I being a prick about this? Not at all, your neighbour is an arsehole. Rain down that holy parking warden fire upon him, he entirely deserves it.

Reply

[-]

Quin452@reddit

My mum's road is a nightmare. Each neighbour has (at least) 2 cars each, and some have paved over really beautiful gardens when they moved in (it was once a nice street, now it's a flooded mess). The annoying thing is the majority of the time, those with driveways don't use them. One time I had to park "in front of someone's drive" (by about 3") because there was no space (people were already double parking, thus blocking the road), and when I came back to my car (5 mins later) the neighbour left a note saying don't park there (it doesn't help they're a family of shits). They knew who I was. The beautiful thing is, that driveway wasn't allowed. The pavement wasn't adjusted, and they had simply concreted over the curb. So technically, no dropped curb. It wouldn't be an issue either if the guy used his drive himself (all 3 of his cars were parked on the road). So I handed him back his note with my own. He stayed away from me then.

Reply

[-]

Supernatural3456@reddit

I don’t understand why people get driveways and don’t use them! Where I live people have a driveway, there’s 2 adults but they have 3/4 vehicles, and don’t use the driveway! This means there’s never any parking for visitors etc whilst their driveways are all clear!

Reply

[-]

Crochet-CrashHelmets@reddit

We have a not dissimilar situation where one family that owns 4 cars seems to think they can park them on anyone’s front but their own…good luck

Reply

[-]

HoraceorDoris@reddit

I was going for an interview in an area about 10 miles from home and parked my car in a side street, close to where I needed to be. A man walked up the road and informed me that my car was likely to be damaged by the arse that lived in the adjacent house. I had no choice but to leave it there, as I would have been late otherwise. On returning to my car, I could see the windscreen wipers had been ripped off and the smug bastard who owned the house was sat on his doorstep laughing at me. I confronted him but his answer was “cars left there get damaged”. I called the police, but without evidence I couldn’t prove it was him. He was rude, arrogant and a complete knob. He was right about the damage though, as 2 weeks later, someone waited for him to park up then took out his windscreen wipers and wing mirrors….🤷🏻‍♂️

Reply

[-]

Joshawott27@reddit

You’re not a prick. It’s your driveway. Even if you don’t own a car, it’s your property and you wish to use it for builders, guests, and potentially access for emergency services. You spoke to your neighbour about it and they responded by being the prick of this story. To answer your question… no, I would not be a prick.

Reply

[-]

hearnia_2k@reddit

No. Here it's illegal to block someones access to the road, and therefore it's illegal to park by a drop kerb. A car can be towed away for this, as it's considered a safety issue; since emergency access is blocked; however, unless a vehicle is parked on the drive it likely won't be taken very seriously.

Reply

[-]

jimmymay1375@reddit

Absolutely not. If they ask or let you know, then fine

Reply

[-]

kitkat-ninja78@reddit

`Would you park in front of someone’s driveway if they don’t own a car?` No, with the exception of if they agreed to it.

Reply

[-]

KieranC4@reddit

My neighbour has no car and she lets me park in her drive way if there’s no spaces on the street

Reply

[-]

6ofadozen@reddit

Next time you have family / contractor visiting and need to use your drive, call the council in advance.

Reply

[-]

LibertyIAB@reddit

He's being the nob. It would be a crying shame if yobbos came along & let his tyres down...

Reply

[-]

Sad_Reason788@reddit

Novody shoukd be parking in anyones driveway unless they have permission from.saod owners till they move out, i don't get how people are so entitled what they don't own. Plus if that driveway starts degrading from his use it's you the one having to fork out the money to oay for it

Reply

[-]

SnooBooks1701@reddit

Fairly certain it's illegal to block a driveway, even if they don't have a car, in case an emergency vehicle needs access

Reply

[-]

IsUpTooLate@reddit

What if you have somebody visit with a car? What if you need to hire a car or a van? What if you hire a skip? It’s your property and you have a right to access it.

Reply

[-]

Aerositic@reddit

No, I hate people who park over dropped kerbs, I unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) live on a side road that is connected to a high street. We've constantly come back home to find people parked with their car partially blocking the driveway, and you know they've parked to either go to the local social club, wetherspoons, or just go shopping. Last time it happened, I parked my car as close as I could to theirs whilst still allowing my neighbour to access their drive just to get the point across. Side note: the parking situation has annoyed enough of the street that 90% of us signed a petition in favour to get permit parking. And yet the council are still dragging their feet, claiming they need to "debate it"

Reply

[-]

devonbedford@reddit

I hate those really tight streets where you have to park your car on the other end of the road. But no you're aren't in the wrong Edit. You aren't

Reply

[-]

Metori@reddit

No I used to not have a car and it annoyed me too. They don’t know you don’t have a car or are having visitors etc. it’s your property. They can’t block access.

Reply

[-]

OGWayOfThePanda@reddit

NTA if you are asking him to move so that you can use your drive. If your asking him to move just because, that's different.

Reply

[-]

Slightly_underated@reddit

You could rent your driveway out aswell for a bit of extra cash. There are websites which allow you to register your drive way, for instance if you live in a city or near a train station then people would pay to park on your drive for the day whilst they go off to work, or catch their train.

Reply

[-]

Bertybassett99@reddit

If it has a dropped kerb. Then you can get it towed.

Reply

[-]

wittyhilariousname@reddit

He sounds like a cunt. I would ask the person if I'm OK to park there and also respect they might still need it for visitors etc.

Reply

[-]

AggressiveStagger@reddit

I wouldn't park on a dropped kerb, irrespective of it being across your drive.

Reply

[-]

Tezzab59@reddit

No they still may get visitors

Reply

[-]

KingofCalais@reddit

Put up a sign saying something like ‘didnt mind people parking here while waiting for spaces but due to matey boy with the ‘name car’ being a prick council will now be called immediately if car parks here’.

Reply

[-]

sillysideup@reddit

Absolutely not. That is quite presumptuous of the person doing it. Whether you have a car, or not, is irrelevant.

Reply

[-]

X0AN@reddit

If I didn't have a car and didn't have people visiting me all the time I'd happily let a nice neighbour park there. But if a random neighbour just kept parking there, and ignored the first note left. I'd 'accidentally' drop my tools onto the car when I accidentally bumped into it. And if the twat neighbour actually told me to jog on, I'd get a mate to throw a brick through his car window.

Reply

[-]

ape1982@reddit

Try and buy a really cheap car and leave it on end of drive. You don't have to insure or tax it. That normally puts people of from blocking drives, I actually saw an old clio other day for £220 and it was driveable

Reply

[-]

Crafty_Ambassador443@reddit

I had a van block my drive once. I was heavily pregnant and had to be rushed to hospital. Except the rushing was trying to find which a-hole parked there. This rude guy needs to end up on twitter or something. Don't block people's drive!

Reply

[-]

Accomplished_Fan_487@reddit

No, next time no more warnings and call the warden to ticket him. If your neighbour comes around asking, pretend you have no idea what's going on.

Reply

[-]

Quin452@reddit

In my old place I had my car on my drive. The neighbour across the street (who has her own drive) decided to park across mine blocking me in. Then she had the nerve to start yelling at me when I "banged on the door" to ask her to move so I could get out. She was a right piece of work. And her new chap wasn't any better. Glad I got out of there.

Reply

[-]

Anxious_wank@reddit

No, but I've had the experience of having the driveway, and having a car tucked away in the garage when not in use and having shit heads assume the same as the OP. Had to give up using the garage.

Reply

[-]

DesertTrux@reddit

No, I wouldn't. See if the council can put a white line there (like a capital I) as that's what we have and it definitely deters people... Though they still use my drive to turn in sometimes.

Reply

[-]

smashteapot@reddit

Sometimes you have to turn. I wouldn’t worry about that much. 🙂

Reply

[-]

DesertTrux@reddit

I don't, as long as they don't start driving down my driveway after turning (which has happened once).

Reply

[-]

skag_mcmuffin@reddit

He'll get a ticket and get his car towed if you csn get the wardens to spot it.

Reply

[-]

Lily7258@reddit

Not at all. My next door neighbour is an elderly lady with a nice wide double driveway and no car, I wouldn’t dream of parking in front of it or telling any visitors to park there, because I don’t know if she’s expecting visitors or anyone who might use her driveway, and also i try to not be a dickhead.

Reply

[-]

Fezzverbal@reddit

No, it's rude

Reply

[-]

Man-Spider1@reddit

yeah funny

Reply

[-]

turntablecheck12@reddit

No, I wouldn't - and I've even directed friends and workmen not to block the drive of a neighbour we know doesn't have a car, even though we don't get on!

Reply

[-]

redditupf2@reddit

Personally i would key his car, or if its a shit car id slice a tire or two. But thats just cause im a petty dick

Reply

[-]

goblinf@reddit

If the dropped kerb is official, he's not allowed to park there. So, check for legality (presumably you've already done that otherwise the council wouldn't send a warden around). And if it's illegal to park there, make a note of his licence plate, and the dates and times and keep reporting him to the council. They have powers to enforce illegal parking. Let them get on with it.

Reply

[-]

lazy-lambda@reddit

You're well within your rights to do what you did. The parking space is your private property that you paid for when you bought the house and no one has the right to park in it without your permission.

Reply

[-]

Individual_Rule8771@reddit

No because I'm not an arsehole

Reply

[-]

Mysterious-Glass6620@reddit

Someone did this to me once i politely asked them to move live in a coastal town, so they ignored me and left it there and went off for the day. Must note i have 2 gigantic signs saying private property no parking, and towing in operation. As they ignored me I decided to be very petty i called up a tow truck and the car was moved. They wernt too happy upon returning to see their car was gone, I raised a bottle of whisky to them with a smug grin then they stomped off in search of their car

Reply

[-]

smashteapot@reddit

No. Have the car towed, crushed, and left on his doorstep. It’s the only reasonable response.

Reply

[-]

TheDarkWeb697@reddit

No guy was being a dick, you did the right thing here

Reply

[-]

Motor-Ad5284@reddit

Ask friends and family to park him in.

Reply

[-]

Huge_Negotiation_535@reddit

Yeah if someone blocked my drive car or not, they are taking this piss. If they knew I had no car, they could ask me if they could park there, and I'd consider it.

Reply

[-]

Intruder313@reddit

He’s a prick and it’s an offence to block someone’s access to the road

Reply

[-]

DavarnianSwine@reddit

You wouldn't bum a swan...

Reply

[-]

klc81@reddit

No, i'd never do that. The only occasion I have blocked a driveway, even an empty one, was at christmas when there was no parking on the street at all (lots of visiting families), and I a) asked first, and b) made it clear that if they let me, I'd drop everything to move my car whenever they needed me to.

Reply

[-]

EniAcho@reddit

In the city where I live, it's illegal to park across any driveway, regardless of whether or not the owner of that driveway owns a car. I can't stop the neighbors from parking in front of my house, but I would definitely report them for blocking the driveway. When I have guests, they park in the driveway, and I also have service/ repair people park in the driveway. How often I use it or don't use it isn't anyone else's concern. Your neighbor's a jerk.

Reply

[-]

kingofthemullets@reddit

Gather evidence, film and photographs, times and dates. Then you can't get fobbed off and nobody gets "the benefit of the doubt"

Reply

[-]

kingofthemullets@reddit

No I wouldn't, not only is it ignorant as fuck, but it's also illegal.

Reply

[-]

Flimsy-Degree-7198@reddit

I don't have a driveway, but I absolutely HATE when people park right infront of my back gate as my they open outwards giving me like barley enough room to squeeze my bike thru. Worst thing is the cars still there when I get back so have have go thru it all over again again I get home. I'd like to leave a note but I have the handwriting of a child , I fear it wouldn't be taken seriously

Reply

[-]

tradcathman@reddit

It's your land, it's not his land. End of discussion.

Reply

[-]

Succulent_Orange@reddit

Warden can't do anything if he's not blocking you in. There's no legal grounds you have. If you get a car in your drive now you can get him a ticket. I understand your pain though, is never so that postdocs specifically in case someone else needs to access it. It's literally as dissociation as parking in your drive.

Reply

[-]

ZookeepergameOk2759@reddit

Call Robert McCall he’ll know what to do

Reply

[-]

JDBall55@reddit

Underrated comment!

Reply

[-]

CommonFlashy4333@reddit

He’s a piss taking cunt, now if you fuck his doors in you’re being a prick, but he has set a precedent so remember, you have options

Reply

[-]

CurvePuzzleheaded361@reddit

We get blocked in allll the time by friends of next door. So so annoying. Today their builders blocked us in at 8am. Stayed there til 4. Never asked. Luckily we work from home. Ignorant as hell. If we didn’t have car on the drive it wouldnt have annoyed me as much as it does, but it still ignorant. Could have visitors or anything.

Reply

[-]

yourlocallidl@reddit

Put a couple of cones there, everyone respects the cones.

Reply

[-]

Bogdania@reddit

Chuck a raw salmon on his car. Problem solved.

Reply

[-]

Enigma1984@reddit

I don't think it matters if you own a car or not really. You could need access to your own driveway for any number of reasons and to be honest it's not someone else's place to decide if those reasons are legitimate or not. In saying that, no one really wins in these kind of squabbles, and somehow even if you are in the right, if the other guy has a few friends among the neighbours then there's a chance you end up being made to feel like a prick even if you've done nothing wrong. I'm not saying you should be a pushover or anything but maybe just try and judge how far you want to take this, given that you have to actually live there and life is easier if you have a good relationship with your neighbours.

Reply

[-]

cwaig2021@reddit

Point of interest - if he parks across your driveway he’s breaking the law. If he goes the whole hog and parks ON your driveway, the police won’t lift a finger.

Reply

[-]

boshlop@reddit

no unless you have asked. then im not sure how the dropped kerb rule applied in streets, im sure there is some exception to it when its to do with drives.

Reply

[-]

HospitalDue2983@reddit

Technically you can be fined for parking on your own dropped kerb - however, what you should do is register your vehicle with your local council which should stop you being ticketed

Reply

[-]

frizzbee30@reddit

Make sure you contact them the second he parks, scumbags like this deserve all the fines they receive, and more!

Reply

[-]

100_Percent_Dark@reddit

My neighbor with 3 cars used to park in front of my house a lot. So i started parking in front of his house every opportunity I got. They got the message. I get that I don't own the spot outside my house, but equally, neither does my neighbour own his. Find out where he lives, let your visitors park there. Or borrow a car, park it there.

Reply

[-]

Coconutpieplates@reddit

How unreasonable. Whether you have a car has nothing to do with him. You need the access and people forget leaving a dropped curb clear is essential for wheelchair users, to block them off completely is just selfish.

Reply

[-]

Taucher1979@reddit

I have exactly the same situation. Dropped kerb access to a driveway and we don’t own a car. When we were having building work done in 2019 someone parked their car across our drive for days on end - thing is we had a skip coming and we said we can have the skip off the public road (cheaper and no permission needed) only when the skip turned up the stupid car was there and they couldn’t drop it off. In fact it was two days later when they could. And then when the skip was full they couldn’t take it away cos another car was blocking our drive. Also my bro and his family came to visit once and parked his car on our drive and someone blocked him in - it was Sunday and he and his children had a 200 mile drive and it took two hours to find the owner and get them to move it (and they were pretty annoyed about it cheeky bastard). After the above I’m pretty hardline about it. It’s a dropped kerb - no one should park there.

Reply

[-]

DutchOfBurdock@reddit

They're being the prick here. That's your drive way. I'd only every do something like this if you said it was OK and was in a pinch.

Reply

[-]

MarkCrystal@reddit

The borough I live in allows you to take a pic and submit a complaint on their website. I’ve done it before and I guy on a moped turns up and issued a ticket shortly after. Parking across driveways is one of the options when you submit on their website.

Reply

[-]

wardyms@reddit

A comment on the comments that are getting downvoted. It’s very funny how boringly complex parking regulations are, people posting links to the highway code and legislation, but still getting it wrong and don’t understand.

Reply

[-]

LaraH39@reddit

Not being a prick and blocking dropped curb is illegal. Next time he does it, call the council and don't tell him first. Better yet, call a tow company.

Reply

[-]

Far_Asparagus1654@reddit

Presumably you might have visitors who have cars? You sound like a very nice person, there's probably quite a few people who'd like to come and visit you. Some of them, like me, ar' not as nice as you and would take very strong offence to your driveway being blocked!

Reply

[-]

breakbeatx@reddit

You’re not being a prick, when my neighbours noticed I was without car they asked if I’d mind if they sometimes parked across partially across the dropped kerb, they now do that and if I need them to move I can knock on or text them.

Reply

[-]

UpstairsAfraid7780@reddit

No common decency says you don’t park across someone else’s drive or even in front of someone else’s house for long periods. I understand there is a difference between city parking and suburb parking

Reply

[-]

GoldKey5185@reddit

I stopped reading once I saw dropped kerb. They shouldn't park blocking it regardless of if you own a car or not.

Reply

[-]

attitudehigher@reddit

It's only illegal if he's blocking you in I think...

Reply

[-]

londonmyst@reddit

No. I wouldn't even consider it unless they told me to do so in advance.

Reply

[-]

Additional-Guard-211@reddit

Next time he does it, don’t tell him just call the council. Although you are supposed to try to see who’s it is, he has now been angry with you so i think your within you rights to refuse to do that.

Reply

[-]

divdiv23@reddit

Nah fuck him, it's your driveway and you should be allowed access. What if you were having a fridge or sofa delivered? What then?

Reply

[-]

ThatsASaabStory@reddit

Nope. Neighbour is a dickhead. Keep calling the council when they do it. It's like training a dog. DO NOT slacken on this or tell yourself it's OK if you're not using the drive. They have breached the social contract here.

Reply

[-]

tvthrowaway366@reddit

It’s not illegal to park in front of a dropped kerb in and of itself (there are lots of articles suggesting it is, but none of these cite the relevant legislation, because there isn’t any) but can be against council bylaws. OP’s neighbour is being a dick by parking outside his house, but OP is also being a dick by trying to penalise him for doing something that is annoying but legal.

Reply

[-]

krysus@reddit

Traffic Management Act 2004, Section 86. [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/18/section/86](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/18/section/86)

Reply

[-]

tvthrowaway366@reddit

The section you have quoted is: *Prohibition of parking at dropped footways etc.* *(1)In a special enforcement area a vehicle must not be parked on the carriageway adjacent to a footway, cycle track or verge where—* *(a)the footway, cycle track or verge has been lowered to meet the level of the carriageway for the purpose of—* *(i)assisting pedestrians crossing the carriageway,* *ii)assisting cyclists entering or leaving the carriageway, or* *(iii)assisting vehicles entering or leaving the carriageway across the footway, cycle track or verge; or* *(b)the carriageway has, for a purpose within paragraph (a)(i) to (iii), been raised to meet the level of the footway, cycle track or verge.* OP’s street is not a special enforcement area so 86(1) is not engaged at all, but even if it were, none of the conditions in 86(1)(i-iii) apply.

Reply

[-]

TumbleweedDeep4878@reddit

That's so rude of him. How does he know you won't have people visiting. Or you might not buy a car one day, drive home and have the audacity to want to park on your own drive. Honestly the audacity of some people

Reply

[-]

shaneo632@reddit

Just because you don’t own a car doesn’t mean you won’t have friends and family needing to access the drive all the time.

Reply

[-]

cara27hhh@reddit

No, partly because it's rude and partly because I don't pay enough attention to what my neighbours do to even realise whether they have a car or guests or whatever or not

Reply

[-]

claytons_war@reddit

No never,just because they don't have a car doesn't mean they don't deserve access to it for visitors if needed....but that's just me, even if they said it was OK I'd still feel uneasy doing it.

Reply

[-]

windol1@reddit

No, not unless it was a quick, drop something off so I don't have to walk a distance with something heavy, or if it's a "oh shit I forgot something" situation. So only if it's brief I guess.

Reply

[-]

seven-cents@reddit

I wouldn't, but dickheads do it all the time. I just used to leave polite but firm sticky notes on their driver side window: "do not block my driveway. Thanks". It's always the same person (or couple of people) At one point I printed out the images that point out the legal requirement regarding dropped curbs and driveways and stuck then under the wipers of the repeat offenders, and also registered my drive as a private driveway with the council. I added a warning to the printouts that if they continued to block my drive I'd call the parking enforcers to issue them with a fine, and believe me, they will be there in no time because it's easy money for them. Problem solved. They get the hint eventually.

Reply

[-]

whoops53@reddit

Could you put a sign up saying driveway requires 24 hrs access for emergency vehicles/trade vehicles? I don't drive so I don't know how effective this would be (the driver sounds like an arse), but you need your driveway clear at all times because its *your* driveway!

Reply

[-]

Appropriate-Divide64@reddit

I once did, but they'd converted their once parkable driveway into a rockery. It was unusable, but still had the dropped kerb. Admittedly I was illegally parked, but they put a note out letting me know it was illegal to park there. Thing is, the cheeky fuckers parked there themselves most of the time.

Reply

[-]

krysus@reddit

You're allowed to park in front of a dropped kerb with the homeowners permission, unless it's in a "special enforcement area".

Reply

[-]

furrycroissant@reddit

Blocking an empty driveway is not an offence. Blocking a driveway with a vehicle on it, is an offence.

Reply

[-]

Ronotrow2@reddit

No. Its rude. They have visitors with cars probably

Reply

[-]

MixDue5775@reddit

I suppose most times I park I have no idea if the occupant has a vehicle or not. In any case someone else may want to visit them. So no I would not park in front of a drive.

Reply

[-]

sammyglumdrops@reddit

No, it’s your driveway, not his. HE’S being a dick. If he asked, that would be different. Take a pic next time he parks there then report it to the council.

Reply

[-]

MasterJunket234@reddit

That should be illegal. Your driveway is for your use and at any moment of any day you could have a professional or personal visitor who will want to access the driveway.

Reply

[-]

blahblahscience1@reddit

No I wouldn't, unless for a very short period of time. I also find it particularly annoying because it forces people with pushchairs or wheelchairs to find an alternate way of crossing the road.

Reply

[-]

Smellytangerina@reddit

No I don’t park in front of someone’s drive, because I’m not a prick. You need the drive to have access, maybe workies need it? The guy is a douche and blocking someone’s drive is definitely not allowed

Reply

[-]

Davina33@reddit

I have never and would never park across someone's driveway. It's totally out of order and I don't think you're being a prick at all.

Reply

[-]

Phantom_Dave@reddit

Not at all, just call the council each time, you’ll catch him out often enough that he’ll get the hint

Reply

[-]

Zerocoolx1@reddit

No I would not as it annoys the hell out of me if someone parks in front of my drive. They might not own a car but they have every right to access to their driveway the same as me.

Reply

[-]

forgottenoldusername@reddit

Absolutely not. Dropped kerb = don't park there. While the occupier might not have a car, they might have countless reasons for needing access ranging from visitors to building work. I live on a dead end lane and people constantly block it because "it's a dead end". Add to the fact there is a private medical facility on another tiny lane immediately next to it, so lots of infrequent visitors can't read the signs or observe the dropped kerb. I've even had people get aggressive with me because I was driving down it (to be fair I have no qualms parking 200/300m away, but I'm not going to tolerate someone getting aggressive at me). Absolutely infuriates me, especially as I frequently have HGV deliveries that have to be rescheduled because they can't get access. Your neighbour is a dick. You are not being unreasonable.

Reply

[-]

Low-Total9121@reddit

You're being a prick by making a snide comment about a Council when they've done what you asked promptly, yes.

Reply

[-]

jimmykicking@reddit

My friend Nigel says yes. But they might be expecting visitors. I say that maybe it would polite to ask.

Reply

[-]

Rymundo88@reddit

>Am I being a prick about this? Not at all mate, had the exact same issue with my neighbour, complete with the attitude and sense of entitlement. She too suggested she was OK to park there as I wasn't using it (which was a load of bolllocks), to which I replied if that was her logic she'd have no objection to me altering my fence so it went across her garden as she wasn't using it.

Reply

[-]

Aggravating-Tower317@reddit

of course not

Reply

[-]

AutoModerator@reddit

**Update: - [Starting from 2023](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/comments/100l56v/happy_new_year_askuk_minor_sub_update/), we have updated our [subreddit rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/about/rules/)**. Specifically; - Don't be a dick to each other - Top-level responses must contain genuine efforts to answer the question - This is a strictly no-politics subreddit Please keep /r/AskUK a great subreddit by reporting posts and comments which break our rules. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskUK) if you have any questions or concerns.*

Reply