Introduction
We understand that, if you’ll find someone blocking your driveway then it will be a really frustrating situation for you as it will not only be a hindrance in your day-to-day life but also a reason for concern about accessing your property. If you know what steps you can take at that point in time it could get easier for you to handle the situation.
And, if you are unaware of the things you should not do, then it may worsen the situation as doing things you should not do will escalate the situation. Here, we will tell you what are the steps you can take and what are the steps you should not. We will also tell you the solution you can implement in advance so that you never have to face such a situation. So, let’s delve into this topic and learn about this in detail.
What should you do if someone blocks your driveway?
There are times when the motorists park their vehicle in such a way that it blocks the driveway which could be a cause for inconvenience for the common public as well as for all the parties involved in that matter. Here are some steps that you can take in case you encounter a situation like that:
- Whenever you find a person blocking your driveway, you have to be calm and talk to the person who has blocked your driveway and tell him calmly and tell him politely that you own this property, and ask them to move their vehicle.
- You can also leave a note on the windshield of their vehicle, highlighting that the driveway is private property and wrongly blocking it is prohibited.
- It is possible that the driver or motorist will refuse to move their vehicle. In that case, you have to maintain your calm and tell them that blocking the driveway is hindering you from accessing your home.
- If none of these things works, then try to contact your local parking officer or local parking agencies or you can also contact the non-emergency police numbers to report the vehicle that is hindering your driveway. Provide them the details which include the licence plate and the precise location where the vehicle is present.
Solutions: For Blockage of Driveway
If you don’t want to face a situation like that in the future then these are the solutions which you can adopt.
- If you Put a “No Parking” or “Do Not Block Driveway” signage at your driveway then it could prove to be quite effective as it may prevent potential unauthorised parking at your driveway. Installing notable signages can be the catalyst to notify motorists that they are not allowed to park here or they don’t have the authority to park there.
- Parking barriers like retractable bollards or chain barriers can deter the possibility of someone blocking your driveway. The parking barriers like retractable bollards will make it clear physically that the driveway is not public property but private property. Similarly, chain barriers also act as physical and visible obstacles to entry and exit. They are easily removable and are a signal to motorists that the area is not for public use and is private property. Installing such barriers is cost-effective but needs regular maintenance.
What you should not do if someone blocks your Driveway?
As there are things that you can do while you face such a situation, there are some things that you should not do that could escalate the situation. We’ve mentioned things that you should not do when you face a situation like that. The things you should not do are:
- You don’t have to lose your temper or be aggressive when someone blocks your driveway as it could really intensify the situation resulting in strict action against you.
- Do not block the vehicle that is blocking your driveway as it could create a blockage to the public street which is also unauthorised .
- Do not damage the vehicle as it would be considered as a wrong activity and there would be authorised action against you regardless of the fact who broke the law first.
The best thing you can do is to maintain your calm and try that the matter is resolved while talking to the motorist personally.
Conclusion
It requires a calm and calculated approach to deal with the situation if anyone ever blocks your driveway. It is necessary to deal with a situation like this so that the situation does not escalate. You can easily and effectively deal with a situation like that if you are politely communicating with the driver, or in necessity if you contact the local authorities.
And, if you never want to face such situations then you can also implement solutions like implementing parking barriers, putting no parking hoardings, and painting the line at your driveway. One thing is clear, if you want to handle this situation then being calm and composed is the best way.