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Is It an Offence to Block a Driveway?
Reading time 5 minutes
Categories Driving Law » Driving Tips »
We are hiring! Are you an experienced technician? Join our outstanding team »
Is It an Offence to Block a Driveway?
Reading time 5 minutes
Categories Driving Law » Driving Tips »
Table of Contents:
In addition to being windscreen repair and replacement specialists, at The Windscreen Company, we take pride in being experts in a whole host of areas relating to the automotive industry.
This includes having a thorough understanding and knowledge of a wide range of driving rules and regulations, including parking legislation.
For many drivers, parking is the bane of their life causing stress and anxiety. With this in mind, there may be occasions where drivers park in places they shouldn’t – particularly if the area seems like a more accessible place to park.
In this article, our team will explore the dos and don’ts of parking, looking at whether it’s an offence to block a driveway with your car as well as a number of other parking issues.
In the unlikely event that someone decides to use your driveway as a place to park their car, it can be extremely frustrating. Not only does it mean you won’t be able to park your own car there, but it can also create a conflict which has the potential to be distressing or upsetting.
Typically, this kind of contention could occur if there is a dispute about which property owns a driveway. If someone parks on your driveway without permission, it counts as trespassing on private land. However, it is classified as a civil offence and is not technically illegal – meaning the police are unlikely to get involved.
It’s also not advisable to take matters into your own hands and physically do anything to remove the vehicle. Even though it is an offence to park on your property without permission, if you do anything to the offending vehicle it could constitute a criminal offence – especially if the car is damaged in the process.
The best thing to do is to calmly and civilly talk to the owner of the vehicle and try to explain the situation in a reasonable manner.
If it becomes a persistent issue, you could consider installing a retractable parking bollard on your driveway, or if necessary pursue a claim through the civil courts.
It’s not uncommon to see vehicles parked partially or fully on pavements up and down the country. However, in most cases, this is classed as an offence.
According to The Highway Code, you shouldn’t park on the pavement unless there are specific road signs in place that allow it. In fact, the code states that “parking on the pavement can obstruct and seriously inconvenience pedestrians, people in wheelchairs, the visually impaired and people with prams or pushchairs.”
Despite these guidelines, London is the only city in the UK where parking on the pavement is illegal. But no matter where you live, it should be avoided unless you see the blue and white sign depicting a car either partially or wholly on the pavement, which means it is allowed.
Most driveways come with dropped kerbs to allow drivers easy access… Not only can it be highly irritating, but if someone is blocking your driveway by parking in front of a blocked kerb, this is also an offence.
Parking over dropped kerbs is illegal and your local council has the power to give penalty charge notices (PCNs) to any vehicle owner who breaches this rule. However, while these fines are meant to act as a deterrent, they can be difficult to enforce particularly in residential areas where traffic wardens rarely patrol.
If you’re unable to access your driveway due to it being blocked, the police will not be able to help. However, if you’re being prevented from leaving then this could be classified as an anti-social behaviour offence and law enforcement may be able to intervene.
Initially, you should try and make contact with the person who owns the car. Possibly someone is visiting a neighbour so you could pop round to ask the car owner to move it.
If it’s someone who regularly parks there you could also approach them in a polite, civil manner and ask them to park elsewhere. If you don’t know who the vehicle belongs to, writing a polite note and attaching it to their windscreen might be the way to go.
If none of the above works, you can contact the council who should be able to issue a PCN to the offending vehicle (if it’s parked on a dropped kerb). The council won’t be able to physically move the vehicle unless it’s been abandoned, is untaxed or is unroadworthy.
If your driveway is blocked by another vehicle, it can be incredibly frustrating and inconvenient. Despite this, it’s important to remain calm and not take any hasty action that could leave you at risk of legal ramifications.
For instance, you should not physically try to move the vehicle yourself due to the risk of being prosecuted for criminal damage or other related offences.
If you do not have a dropped kerb in front of your driveway, it’s important to have one installed.
It’s illegal to access a driveway if the kerb is not dropped as it counts as a footpath. Furthermore, it means that vehicles will have a legal right to park in front of your driveway with no consequences.
For more information on the range of windscreen repairs and replacements that The Windscreen Company can help with, get in touch today. We work across the West Midlands and the South East, so feel free to give us a call, send us an email or complete our online form today.
The Windscreen Company, has over 20 years of experience in windscreen repair and replacement. Since 1998, they have been at the forefront of industry innovation, leveraging the latest technology to ensure customer safety and satisfaction.
The Windscreen Company's, help-and-advice pages offer valuable tips and guidance on maintaining vehicle safety through quality windscreen care, while also featuring updated industry realted content.
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