Blocking my Driveway - Help please

[rory32]

The Highway Code section 243 forbids a motorist to park in front of the entrance to a property:

 

243

 

DO NOT stop or park

 

• near a school entrance
  
• anywhere you would prevent access for Emergency Services
  
• at or near a bus or tram stop or taxi rank
  
• on the approach to a level crossing/tramway crossing
  
• opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space
  
• near the brow of a hill or hump bridge
  
• opposite a traffic island or (if this would cause an obstruction) another parked vehicle
  
• where you would force other traffic to enter a tram lane
  
• where the kerb has been lowered to help wheelchair users and powered mobility vehicles
  
• in front of an entrance to a property
  
• on a bend
  
• where you would obstruct cyclists’ use of cycle facilities except when forced to do so by stationary traffic
  

 

And from the Traffic Management Act 2004 Part 6:

 

86 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.

This is subject to the following exceptions.

(2) The first exception is where the vehicle is parked wholly within a designated parking place or any other part of the carriageway where parking is specifically authorised.

A “designated parking place” means a parking place designated by order under section 6, 9, 32(1)(b) or 45 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (c. 27).

(3) 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 driveway.

(4) The third exception is where the vehicle is being used for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes.

(5) The fourth exception is where—

(a) the vehicle is being used for the purposes of delivering goods to, or collecting goods from, any premises, or is being loaded from or unloaded to any premises,

(b) the delivery, collection, loading or unloading cannot reasonably be carried out in relation to those premises without the vehicle being parked as mentioned in subsection (1), and

© the vehicle is so parked for no longer than is necessary and for no more than 20 minutes.

(6) The fifth exception is where—

(a) the vehicle is being used in connection with any of the following—

(i) undertaking any building operation, demolition or excavation,

(ii) the collection of waste by a local authority,

(iii) removing an obstruction to traffic,

(iv) undertaking works in relation to a road, a traffic sign or road lighting, or

(v) undertaking works in relation to a sewer or water main or in relation to the supply of gas, electricity, water or communications services,

(b) it cannot be so used without being parked as mentioned in subsection (1), and

© it is so parked for no longer than is necessary.

(7) In this section “carriageway”, “cycle track” and “footway” have the meanings given by section 329(1) of the Highways Act 1980 (c. 66).

(8) References in this section to parking include waiting, but do not include stopping where—

(a) the driver is prevented from proceeding by circumstances beyond his control or it is necessary for him to stop to avoid an accident, or

(b) the vehicle is stopped, for no longer than is necessary, for the purpose of allowing people to board or alight from it.

(9) The prohibition in this section is enforceable as if imposed—

(a) in Greater London, by an order under section 6 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (c. 27),

(b) elsewhere in England and Wales, by an order under section 1 of that Act.

[rory32]

Highway code is not the law

No one said it was. It is however based on the various statutes that comprise the law on driving, parking, etc.

 

By parking in front of the entrance to a property you are obstructing the entrance. Obstruction is an offence under the law for which you can be prosecuted.

[rory32]

Well done

 

Glad you got the right response.