Many conflicts between neighbours arise as the result of disputes over parked cars. Of course, if you have a separate driveway then there isn’t a problem, but issues do arise when people park their cars on the road upon which they live.
The Highway Code tells you all the rules and regulations surrounding what you can and cannot do when it comes to parking. Drivers should all be aware that you cannot park on double yellow lines but there are other rules you might not be aware of so you should familiarise yourself with what is and isn’t permissible by law, before taking any further action.
The Big Issue – Parking Directly In Front Of A Person’s Driveway
This is, by far, the single most frequent cause of annoyance and arguments between neighbours and, unfortunately, the law does not help in this regard. It's common courtesy not to park directly in front of the driveway of another person’s property. After all, they may need to get in or out of the driveway with their vehicle. If you’ve blocked the access by parking directly in front of it, this will cause the vast majority, if not everybody, to become annoyed and to try to locate the owner of the vehicle to get them to move it. Therefore, most neighbourly people will never park directly in front of someone’s driveway. However, it's not illegal to do so!The Highway Code, paragraph 207, asks that people DO NOT park their vehicle where it might cause an obstruction to other pedestrians or road users, and cites the example of not parking in front of another person’s driveway. However, this is where the law gets ‘cloudy’. It does not legally state that a person MUST NOT park in front of another driveway.
Therefore, while mutual respect between road users tends to dictate a policy of not doing this so as to avoid unnecessary conflict, it’s not backed up by law, so if you experience problems with this and your neighbour digs their heels in and refuses to co-operate, all you can do, if you need guaranteed access and exit, is to park your car elsewhere and not on your driveway.
In essence, while there are certain rules and regulations under the Highway Code relating to parking on public highways, mostly it’s a matter of common decency and courtesy. Speaking calmly to neighbours and explaining reasons why you might need to park here or there, if practical, will usually result in you getting what you want. Just remember, however, that unless they are breaking the law, people are entitled to park anywhere they want to on a public highway providing they aren’t in breach of the Highway Code. If they are, then you can report that matter to the police if further action needs to be taken.
http://www.problemneighbours.co.uk/parking-disputes.html
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