Fire engines and parking

[sherrardk]

Wasn't too sure where to put this. Usually people in our street all park on the same side of the road leaving one side empty. However, recently some new neighbours have taken to parking their two cars on the opposite side of the road from everyone else. Someone must have complained as the fire service has been round to make sure that they can get their engines down the street. What can the fire service actually do if they can't get their engine down the street when there isn't an incident (I am led to believe that they can knock cars aside in the case of a real fire, etc.)? Thanks

[Ethel]

They can and do knock cars out of the way when they are responding to an emergecy.

[homerthegrea]

Just because people have parked on 1 side of the road for years does not mean that the new neighbours have to, if they want to park outside their own house on their side of the street they are more than entitled to do this, it's small minded people like this that get on my t*ts never mind the fire engine, if the person is paying road tax and not parked on the kerb or obstructing a lowered pavement then good on him for parking where he wants. If others are that bothered why dont they park on the same side of the street as the new neighbours then the engine would get down.

[heathfield]

If I see someone parking on a street and leaving only a narrow gap, I'll ask them, "Could you get a fire engine through there?" Most people will think about it, and move. Others deserve to have their car snowploughed.
And Homer - such a person could be charged by the police with obstruction, and serve them right. Hope your home never catches fire.

[redcrx]

as ethel said, they can and will move any vehicle out of their way if on way to an emergency. Point this out to your neighbour

[sherrardk]

Redcrx - we have told them about the huge amount of damage done to our car when we tried to buck the trend and park on the opposite side of the road but they weren't bothered. (It was done by a hit run driver rather than a fire engine!)

[homerthegrea]

Heathfield if they charged 1 for obstructing they would have to charge everybody in the street as i point out he pays road tax he's not obstructing a droped path (i take it there are no lines on the street) therefore he can park where he likes as the law would see it the other car parked on the other side of the street could be blocking the road (the law will not be bothered which was there 1st). Just because something has been done a certain way for years does not mean it has to continue for ever otherwise would still be in the dark ages.

[spinchimp]

You can be fined for causing an obstruction regardless of road markings, if you are causing an obstruction. If by parking on the other side, when others have parked opposite, you obstruct other road users (vehicles or pedestrians) you are commiting an offence. And Homer, you are wrong - the law would take into account who parked there first - if that could be established.

[sherrardk]

Hello all - people don't park on our side of the road as nearly every one has a drive of some sort, I thought it was done out of consideration for those houses with a drive. They have all parked on the other side of the street since we have lived here (8 years!). It would be much better for us to park on our side of the road as we have got small children but we haven't (apart from the time when my husband was trying to make a point and got his car knocked down the road!).

[sense4all]

I think their family have had kids start at our school this year! ( this is not a serious suggestion ) I have been collecting from here for years - now one or two people who won't get with the programe for the greater good of all - park opposite the zig zags and cause a bottle neck for other parents driving and bad visibility for pedestrians. Now they get on my last nipple end Homie. I don't care if they have got car tax it is plain RUDE and selfish . Let alone the planks who park so badly you could get another twenty cars parked!

My Dad drove a Fire Engine - if it's in the way they have 'removal' powers!

[redcrx]

Have you thought about speaking to your local council and asking if they can do anything to prevent parking on one side of the street?

[mata hati]

Just out of interest (we live in France) we have parking on one side of the road for the first two weeks of the month and on the other side for the remaining weeks! Seems to work!