Driving Instructors Keep Blocking My Driveway to Practice Parking

I live in two ways a very quiet street where generally a lot of street parking spot available. My street could be one of the streets that RMS use for accessing the driving test. So, 10 to 15 L driving instructors let their student practise parking across my driveway every day. It has become a nuisance when 3-5 times per instructor blocking my access across my driveway. I have talked to several instructors to practise where there are empty spots, but they think they have right to park there and nothing wrong. Often, I bumped into them when I try to access my own driveway while they are practising parking. I also have talked to the council and local police but they both gave excuse that they can’t do anything unless they catch on the act. I know it is bull and lazy excuse, but I can’t get them to action. I am losing battle dealing with dense driving instructors who think 2 to 5 mins blocking is fine despite I am being annoyed when 50 times a day by multiple instructors constantly in and out.

Please suggest legal way what I can do and what are my options.

Edit: some may think I am exaggerating. here are some photos
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1psLCU4tvL1M0qa1GzoCu…

Within an hour two cars practise across my driveway and I drove out third one. 4 and 5 saw me talking so they kept going

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rjmRR4TqCdJlrILwdkAUfWkuO-7…
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cNFrSSuPJ0r9VJLFxpHXZJCfZE-…

Thanks to those who provided suggestions. I will try some of the methods to drive the pests away.**

Comments

    • +4

      Op, Do they move immediately if you sound your horn to enter or exit?
      Or are you unhappy they use your street when you are not entering/leaving?

      I would be annoyed if a driver did not move immediately if they were stopped across a driveway I was trying to access.

      • +1

        some would leave immediately but most said give me 2 mins and explaining or giving feedback to students.

        • +9

          Ok, that is annoying.
          I think I was confused because you said it is happening 20 or 30 times a day.
          They should definitely move immediately if you are trying to access the driveway.

          Have you tried just leaning on the horn till they move?

        • +2

          they are telling the students "this is why you should not park/stop in front someone's driveway" lol

          your best chance is to talk to your neighbour to park their car somewhere else

          also, maybe put up a 'do not block driveway' sign

        • +10

          I struggle to believe that if you're actively trying to access your driveway that they'd stay in place.

          • +1

            @Drakesy: you are feel free to come and stand in front of my house and see if I am exaggerating. I can only put so much of CCTV footage on here.

            • +2

              @sbargainseeker: I think the confusion is most cars would move immediately, if obstructing a driveway in use, and very few people would use their driveway 20 or 30 times a day - so the combination of these two very unusual things happening together makes people think there must be more to the story.

              • +1

                @mskeggs:

                use their driveway 20 or 30 times a day

                I feel for the starter motor in OP's car!

            • +5

              @sbargainseeker: Sorry for being pedantic
              But in none of the CCTV footage are you actually accessing or leaving your property.

              And FWIW because they're not technically leaving their car they're not parking, merely stopping.

              • +5

                @Drakesy: I wouldn't be so annoyed if they move as soon as I honk or tell them to move. Instead some difficult instructor argued with me for another 5, 10 mins. if all add up from weekly to yearly. I am not sure if anyone has that much of patience .
                it is a very quiet street and plenty of spaces in the street. why do they have to use just in front of my driveway?

                • +6

                  @sbargainseeker: Park them in,so that they can't get out. Lock your car and go inside. If they can't use their car, they can't teach, students will be upset.

              • @Drakesy: What is parking my friend? It is merely the accumulation of moments at a stop.

                • @Assburg: Well its not sitting in the car behind another car.
                  Whats the difference between say what the driving instructors are doing and pulling into the same spot to say let a few cars go past due to the road being too narrow.

    • Reading OP must be difficult

      Often, I bumped into them when I try to access my own driveway while they are practising parking.

      • +2

        I don't think op means they are crashing into them.

        • +1

          not actual bumping. just keep seeing them blocked when I am about to access my driveway.

  • +1

    what's the big deal if they momentarily block your driveway? if you want to get in/out you can use your horn

    • +23

      if you want to get in/out you can use your horn

      Next OzBargain forum topic.

      "Neighbour keeps tooting horn at Driving Instructors Practicing Parking and is waking up my baby…"

  • +1

    OP says " this morning I drove out 5" presume this means: I used driveway to leave premises 5 times (and return?) this morning.
    OP I would suggest ** if true ** adding this in bold to your opening post.

    "Please note I use my driveway more often than most, up to X times a day" at the start.

    • +3

      sorry I should have been clear. I was trying to get out this morning and someone was blocking so I started telling them off one after another

      • +1

        To be clear, though, if you aren't entering or leaving in your car via the driveway, I don't think they are doing anything inconsiderate.
        Only if they are obstructing your vehicle.

        • +1

          ……and now OP had replied- if only using driveway once or twice in a day then annoying but it's NOT the major problem that your post seems to make it………….get neighbour to shift car OR bin in driveway OR cones all as suggested above OR put a sign INSIDE your property line "driveway in use 24 hours a day"

  • +3

    Report it every time. Police will eventually show up and hand out tickets. Especially if they're doing it every day. Don't report it all in one week/day, literally make individual reports

    • +2

      Nothing to do with police.

      Parking infringements are handled by councils.

    • -2

      Fwiw It's not actually illegal as they don't park there, merely stop. Parking would require for them to leave their car.

      • So "No Standing" doesn't apply for the road in front of a driveway?

        • +1

          There's no mention of no standing zones in the OP's post though?

          • @Drakesy: I'd tend to agree with you. I don't think you are technically parking across a driveway. I think parking means leaving your car or cutting the engine.

  • +2

    stock up on some material from the jehovahs witnesses, church of satan, covid deniers or other suitably cultish organisation and make sure to hand them as much material as possible each time they turn up.

  • -1

    Two permanent bollards, dynabolt down on each side of your driveway about 1.5m out from the kerb. This will allow you to still enter and exit easily, your neighbour can still park where they already do, but there's not enough space for the instructors to back up.

    It only has to be there long enough for the instructors to look for other places to park; then you can take them down later or if council requests you to (which they might if they get picky). Get your neighbours in on it and they might also want some themselves.

    • +4

      (first sentence) stress not a driver so have no real idea, but wouldn't bolting things to the road be considered as obstructing a public carriageway and thus a nono?

    • +5

      Um you can't do that.
      It's crown land controlled by the council.

      • +2

        It's crown land

        Maybe that's a good reason to become a Republic ???

      • That's exactly what the OP said to the instructors:

        Um you can't do that

        Didn't exactly work

        • +1

          yeah but you can be almost certain that while council or police won't do anything about the parking instructors they will damn sure be doing something about someone dynabolting bollards on a road and it won't be just a nice request to remove them.

  • L driving instructors let their student practise parking across my driveway every day.

    That is illegal and would automatically be a fail in a learners test.

    Call your council about the parking problem. I'm sure they'll be happy to send a parking officer out and collect more revenue…

    • Call your council about the parking problem
      he already has.

      'I also have talked to the council and local police but they both gave excuse that they can’t do anything unless they catch on the act.'

      • unless they catch on the act.'

        Does your phone take video ???

        • They are in the links above. :)

  • +4

    Put some nails down where they obstruct your driveway.

  • -6

    I am losing battle dealing with dense driving instructors who think 2 to 5 mins blocking is fine despite I am being annoyed when 50 times a day by multiple instructors constantly in and out.

    Are you blocking the driveway when you are coming and going? If not, who cares. There are bigger things in life to worry about!

    You don't own the street!

    • +5

      You don't own the street!

      They aren't talking about the street, just access to their driveway.
      It is illegal to park and block a driveway or park on a nature strip.

        • +4

          How about you read the entire thread instead of showing everyone how dense you are? The OP isn’t being inconvenienced for just 2 minutes … he’s complaining about it happening day in day out around the clock. Maybe you’re one of these idiotic instructors?

          • -7

            @LordPanda:

            The OP isn’t being inconvenienced for just 2 minutes … he’s complaining about it happening day in day out around the clock

            So the OP is entering and leaving his driveway around the clock to be 'inconvenienced'?

            Yeah didn't think so. Get over it, its a public street, and unless its a no stopping zone, temporarily stopping isn't illegal.

          • @LordPanda: I think there is a hell of a lot of exaggeration going on here by the OP. They have posted pictures of the massive sum of 3 separate vehicles…. what happened to 1-15 a day?

            If i was a driving instructor and came across a busy body like this guy i would do it on purpose just for kicks ! Good way to teach the kids how to park while getting yelled at by random crazys in the carpark.

            • @stringbean402: Need a full day of recording so the ozb judges can pass down fair judgement.

  • +1

    If you are willing spend a little cash, buy a cheap 25 year old car - get club rego and just park it out front.

    • Then OP will get a fine for blocking a driveway

      • I think they are parking in the street but doing it across the driveway.

        • +2

          If you don't leave the old car in the place they are parking how will that stop them?

  • +1

    Look on the positive side - perhaps their presence has helped deter some burglaries or would-be thieves or something.

    • +3

      Plot twist: The driving instructors are secretly casing the joint as part of a very organised heist on OP's property.

      • +1

        Little do they know, they're likely to just find packs of eneloops!

  • blocking my access across my driveway.

    I think it is illegal to block a driveway. Did you show these photos to the council ? may be they will send a parking inspector for some days.

    • No. At least not in NSW. The are listed as a prohibited miscellaneous weapon…

    • +1

      You can use anything if you’re brave enough.

  • +3

    Is that gray Hyundai parked in front of the tree yours? i would assume they are getting the L platers to reverse park there because there is a car already there for them to practice their parallel parking. See if you can get that car moved if its not yours, and see if the driving instructors chose another place for the L platers to practice

    • +1

      Thanks for your suggestion. gray Hyundai is parked within legal mean(not blocking driveway access). so I can't really go and tell the owner to stop parking besdies it is in front of my house. if the owner doesn't park, someone would do any way. I am more annoyed on dense driving instructors refuse to correct their mistake when it is not legal to block the driveway access as mentioned by Trance N Dance in this thread.

  • +4

    Are they actually parking across your driveway when they have completed the manoeuvre? The photo seems to suggest that they are reverse parking, using the car on the left hand side of your driveway for reference, manoeuvring in front of your driveway and coming to a stop (park) parallel to the kerb on the right hand side of your driveway? Thus they aren't actually parking (stopping and leaving the vehicle) in front of your driveway or inhibiting your access in any unreasonable manner?

    • Totally correct
      Op struggles to understand this

    • +1

      That would be foolish of the instructor to have them do this, as, for NSW at least, you can only reverse a certain distance, and finish within 1 - 2m of the car in front, when reverse parallel parking for it to be acceptable in a test.

  • +3

    I dunno why but this situation is pretty funny.

    • +5

      Are you some kind of sadist??

  • Road spikes & cones! job done!.

  • Get a trailer, park it there

    Or Stress them out knock to their window til they piss off

    • +3

      Or piss on their window til they are stressed out…

  • +1

    Just get neighbour to move car, but yeah I'll be mad if they made me miss out on a bargain from blocking me

  • +1

    Get a big ass log or branch (more useful if it's heavy).
    Put some big ass nail through it.
    Leave in the middle of the driveway.
    That way it prevents cars driving across your driveway but as long as log remains in place and you have clearance you can still drive over it.

    The driving instructors won't get out to pick it up (laziness) and council/police will ignore it because it's nature.

    Your welcome. I expect upvotes.

    required asic art:
    I should nft it.

    ………………………. {}
    ………………………. {}
    =========|…………..|=======
    ………………….|…………..|

    • Yeah you could just buy a ton of firewood or something and put a few out every couple of days

    • Kind of like polarisation but for car tyres instead of light waves

    • +1

      thanks. I just create two timber stands with scrap timber and put up at each side of driveway. let's what happens.

  • No pants + Lawn chair. Take a seat. :)

  • +2

    Just sit with your hand on the horn until they move. It will freak out the learner and the teacher will tell them to move. They are unlikely to keep using it if you keep scaring all the learners.

  • +7

    I can't believe people are saying this is not a big deal so get on with it. If it happened to them that frequently they would be looking for advice too. Feel for you op.

    Like most said, it's likely the parallel park issue with the neighbours car. Maybe put up a sign on your driveway saying it's used for emergencies and need quick exit and entrance throughout the day and maybe a couple of bollards/cones too. The hose idea may also work. I think you have to go all in and be a pain otherwise they will continue.

    After a few weeks of not being able to use it they will have a new spot somewhere else. Beeping as some suggested is really not appropriate in suburbia.

    • -5

      I can't believe people are saying this is not a big deal so get on with it.

      I can't believe people are saying this is a big deal. Who cares.

      Like most said, it's likely the parallel park issue with the neighbours car.

      So you're ok with the neighbours car sitting there all day in front of your house, but GASP a learner temporarily stops over your driveway for 2 mins, and all hell must break loose?

      I am being annoyed when 50 times a day

      Does the OP really come/go 50 times a day to run into them? I think not…

      • Surely anyone who lives in burbs would mind this. The point of living there is to avoid traffic and have some peace, regardless of actually coming and going.

        • -2

          Surely anyone who lives in burbs would mind this

          I live in the burbs, and GASP there is traffic still. People come and go from houses all the time, just like the OP who comes and goes 50 times a day!?

          Anyhow, people get deliveries of all kinds from parcels to food, and GASP a van/car might park in front of my place or over both mine and neighbours driveways (they are side/by/side) while they delivery the items.

          The world goes on. Find something else to do than looking out the window all day long at your empty driveway.

          Its not like these cars are parking and blocking the OP driveway for hours on end!

          • +4

            @JimmyF: the point is they are driving instructors who should be teaching correct ways and expect to follow the road rules. second point is they are presistantly parking just across my driveway when there are plenty of spaces along the street.
            After all it's my driveway and i should have right to access my drive way at all time, hassle free. It's just sad if you can't see the logical reasoning.

            • -2

              @sbargainseeker:

              the point is they are driving instructors who should be teaching correct ways and expect to follow the road rules

              I'm sure they are not saying park in peoples driveways.

              They are most likely using a driveway for LEARNER drives as there is no curb to hit while they master parking.

              After all it's my driveway

              They are not in your driveway, they are on the public street.

              and i should have right to access my drive way at all time, hassle free.

              and how many times out of the 50 times a day you use your driveway is your access blocked?

              It's just sad if you can't see the logical reasoning.

              Its sad that you spend all day looking out the window at your driveway, but each to their own.

              • +2

                @JimmyF: sure man. you can troll all day when this is not happening to you everyday. I am not here for you sympathy so if you can't provide meaningful suggestion, you should spend your time well on another thread. Have a great day Mr Lemon.

                • @sbargainseeker:

                  I am not here for you sympathy

                  Yes you are

                  you can troll all day

                  Oh yes, I must be trolling as I don't agree with you. Boohoo. Its a PUBLIC road, GASP other people can use it.

            • +3

              @sbargainseeker: Ok, you shoudn'lt have access to your driveway all the time, its normal for peoples driveways to be occasionally blocked for short periods of time (for example when a rubbish truck is doing a pickup) or a car is geniunely parking in the spot.

              The issue you have is they are doing it all the bloody time.

              Are there different companies or various random people or just the one company?

              • @Franc-T:

                The issue you have is they are doing it all the bloody time.

                In the eyes of the OP it is happening all the time, but step back and think about it. How much time/lessons would a learner spend on parking while learning to drive?

                Now for it to be happening all the time as the OP claims, the OP must have 50+ driving places using HIS street/driveway for parking practice. As not every learner is practicing parking and not for the entire lesson.

                It is more like once or twice a day and the OP is just getting upset over someone using 'his' public road space.

                • +1

                  @JimmyF:

                  How much time/lessons would a learner spend on parking while learning to drive

                  Parking, probably a 5-10 mins possibly longer.

                  It is more like once or twice a day and the OP is just getting upset over someone using 'his' public road space.

                  I took what was said at face value. This is the internet, no one would exaggerate!

    • +1

      believe it or not. I call them up and the operator did not even aware there is a such complaint process. Sent them an email, it went into black hole. how the world would be nicer if all understand the rules are to follow.

      • If people read, understood and obeyed the road rules, this forum would be a veritable waste land, devoid of life…

      • you probably need to speak with management of the local RTA to get them to speak with their instructors

      • It's crazy… it seems like all these people your ringing and yelling at on the street really don't give a shit?

  • -6

    Can't resist.

    OP - get a life.

    • +18

      He's trying to, but can't get in and out of his driveway.

      • +1

        I'll pay that….

  • +1

    Put a yellow strip on the road and a no parking/block sign on the fence ?

    • +1

      Can't believe I found this gem buried in the comments. Just paint that 100mm wide yellow stripe, put up no parking regulatory signs and done.

Login or Join to leave a comment