Parking Alongside Dropped Kerbs

[Arrods]

I'd like to think I'm a considerate parker. I'd never do above. But if I'm in the car waiting for someone and there was no alternative, I would stay temporarily alongside a dropped kerb on the basis that I'd be happy to move to allow access or egress. (In the absence of other restrictions, I believe it is the case that you 'must' move to allow egress, but you don't 'have to' to allow access.)

Having looked into this further, it appears that, if the local authority has designated the area a Special Enforcement Area (SEA) under the Traffic Management Act 2004, you can get a parking ticket for parking or even waiting alongside a dropped kerb. This applies even if there are no yellow lines and no other signage indicating an SEA.

This all started because I was 'waiting' outside a dropped kerb and an irate resident threatened me saying I couldn't 'park' there.

For my own satisfaction, I have contacted the Council to find out if an SEA applied to where I was waiting.

Just wanted to know whether ABers have had any experience of this sort of thing and perhaps to serve as a warning for those unaware.

[wendilla]

Very interesting question .interested in your replies .

[SlackAlice]

Our local council has listed most of our residential areas as SEA. You will get a ticket if you park/wait/loiter beside a 'dropped' kerb. Enforceable by traffic warden or parking camera car in our area.

You only get notification of an SEA by a restriction sign on entry.

[TWR]

At the time I paid £300 to get my dropped kerb put in place, it indicates to motorist that there is a drive there, it makes no difference If the car was in or out of the drive, how would you react if someone obstructed your drive?

[sunny-dave]

Get a grip TWR - if someone is sat in the driver's seat and will obviously move if you need to go in/out what is the problem?

People do seem to get there knickers in a twist about trying to 'own' the road outside their property.

[sunny-dave]

'their'

[TWR]

It's NOT "own" the road, as you put it, It's the case of Ignorance, I would not & never have done that.

[sunny-dave]

A supplementary question - if it's an SEA, can you get a ticket if you park by your own dropped kerb?

People in my nearby city (hello Coventry) have a habit of leaving their drive empty during the day and parking by their own dropped kerb - then shuffling around when the second car gets home.

[sunny-dave]

I'd never PARK by a dropped kerb - but are you telling me you'd never just pause there to pick-up or drop-off a passenger? That's bonkers.

[sunny-dave]

What about if Tesco were delivering to your neighbour - could they unload by your sacred kerb?

[TWR]

Dave, I would not, I would get the passengers to walk, but that's my view.

[sunny-dave]

Happens here all the time - people move within a couple of seconds if need be. Life doesn't have to be that confrontational.

[TWR]

Here we go!!!!!!!

[ummmm]

Gosh TWR...lighten up. I'd stop by a drop kerb if I wasn't getting out of the vehicle.

[sunny-dave]

Nooo - I'm off to put some cones on my bit of road :)

[Svejk]

Can't see it's a big deal.

[Retrochic]

Well the other side of the story. A while back I parked in someones drive to take them for a hospital appointment. She's an old lady and got her times mixed up and should have been 11am not the 11.30 am so we were in a bit of a rush. Got the lady into the car and a delivery van was parked right across her drive-I asked the driver to move a fraction so I could get out -the rest of the road was clear behind him and he was delivering groceries to the terrace house to the right of her property. I got a mouthful! 'can't you *** wait 5 minutes' and when I pointed out he could move back 6 ft to let me out he started on again about did I know how many bags he had to carry in. So I agree with TWR it is a big deal and can cause problems and if I lived on a road with access to my drive I would cone it off.

[ummmm]

I don't agree. That man was just rude. A decent person would not have hesitated to move.

[Svejk]

I don't think you own the road when you drop your kerb.

[Sipowicz]

.....you don't, the person blocking your drive doesn't either!

[Retrochic]

I'm sure a decent person would have moved, but its still a problem and I've had quite a few problems in the past picking people up or dropping off disabled elderly people whose drives have been parked in front of. One excuse was 'well they don't have a car whats your problem' ?