Parking Opposite a Driveway

I

iceblue

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What's the rules regarding parking opposite a driveway? I can't see anything making it illegal unless there are signs stating you cannot park there.

I honestly don't like parking opposite peoples driveways, but my girlfriends house is located on a corner and the only place I can park is on the pavement or in the road directly in front of the opposite neighbours driveway. If someone is already parked on the pavement, that leaves only the road to park in. Now the A--hole over the road keeps coming to knock and tell me to move because "if I knock your car while pulling out, is your insurance going to cover it?". The house next to this neighbour has its driveway directly next to his and I actually have to park opposite both driveways, but so far the other house has never come to complain. Also, he can get out in one maneuver by reversing to the right, but I think he prefers reversing to the left.

So bottom line is, if I refuse to move, am I within my rights? I don't want to cause conflict with their neighbours, but he is pissing me off because of the fact that he obviously can't drive properly and is now making it our problem.
 
Going need you to make a quick MS paint drawing or take a pic.
 
Are you parking in the road? Are there designated parking bays on the side of the road?

By the sounds of things you are obstructing traffic.
 
He wants your girlfriend. That's why he's complaining :D

Will need a photo to get a proper understanding. How wide is the road? Have you explained to him that there's No other place to park?
 
Something I found out a little while ago....

I have been told that apparently you mat not park on/near a road facing the oncoming traffic. Apparently is is some law or restriction and as a result your insurance won't cover you if you are facing the wrong way...

Not sure if true.
 
Not sure he is facing the wrong way.

OP, it is a nuisance but I doubt there are any bylaws regarding this. If it is in a complex however, there might be strict rules regarding this. Check with the body corporate...
 
If its a public road (not in a complex) then you are well within your rights to park on the opposite side of a road from a driveway. The owner who keeps asking if "your insurance will pay" if he knocks your car has it all wrong. Your insurance will pay nothing, his will pay everything.

Hell unless there is yellow or red lines across the drive way, I'm not even sure its illegal to park across the driveway.
 
why cant you park in the driveway? becuase that would inconvenience you and your gf's parents?

The cnut that lives across from me continually parks opposite our driveway like 2-3 cars although they have more than enough space in their driveway, but it would mean inconvenience to themselves.

AFAIK there is a law that you may not park in a road less than 9m wide.
 
Some idiot opposite my chicks place does the same thing, and its on a straight road. Parks there as it is inconvenience for him to park in the driveway, so every day I take my bakkie out its an issue to get out due to width of road, pavements etc from my side. 1 day I'm gonna put a bull bar on my cab, reverse into driveway and wait till he does it, then I will ram the **** out of him and put his car back into his own chick's driveway.....flippen pisses me off (wishful thinking over......sigh).
 
Well if you are obstructing his driving then you may be at fault. But if you can maybe post a pic or make a drawing it would be easier to see exactly where you are parking? But yes, if he can prove that you are actually obstructing his way then you will have to move. Obviously the dude has got no decency or leniency in him if he can get out without effort and this is why he is complaining. I suggest putting anger management pamphlets in his mailbox.
 
Road Traffic Act

Parking of vehicles

1) No person shall park a vehicle on a public road –

(a) in contravention of any road traffic sign;

(b) in any place referred to in "stopping of vehicles";

(c) on the same side as a fire hydrant within an area bounded by the centre-line of the roadway and lines at right angles to such centre-line one and a half metres on either side of the hydrant, if such hydrant is clearly visible to and recognizable as such by drivers of moving vehicles, or if it is indicated by an appropriate road traffic sign;

(d) in any place where the vehicle would obscure any road traffic sign;

(e) in such manner as to encroach upon the sidewalk, if any; or

(f) in such manner as to obstruct any private or public vehicular entrance to such road.

2) These provisions shall not apply to any vehicle, other than a motor vehicle, while it is being used in carrying on the business of street vendor, pedlar or hawker, unless it exceeds such maximum weight, height, length or mass as may be prescribed in these regulations.

3) No person shall park a vehicle on any portion of the roadway (excluding the shoulders) of a public road outside an urban area or with any part of such vehicle within one metre of the edge of such roadway except in a parking place demarcated by an appropriate road traffic sign.

4) No person shall park a vehicle on the roadway of a public road within an urban area -

(a) within nine metres of the side from which he or she approaches a pedestrian crossing demarcated by appropriate road traffic signs, unless such parking is permitted by appropriate road traffic signs;

(b) within five metres of any intersection unless such parking is permitted by a road traffic sign;

(c) upon or over the actuating mechanism of a traffic signal;

(d) (i) with the outside of any left-hand wheel thereof more than 450 millimetres within the roadway; or

(ii) where the public road concerned is restricted to vehicles moving in one direction and the vehicle is parked on the side of the roadway, with the outside of any right hand wheel thereof more than 450 millimetres within the roadway, unless such parking is permitted by an appropriate road traffic sign;
or

(e) which is less than five and a half metres wide unless the public road concerned is restricted to vehicles moving in one direction and such parking is permitted by appropriate road traffic signs.

5) No person shall park a motor vehicle on a traffic island or in a pedestrian mall or pedestrian lane.

6) Whenever a vehicle has been parked in contravention of any provision of the Act or any by-law made under the Act, or in contravention of or in disregard of the directions of any road traffic sign or notice board as prescribed in these regulations, such vehicle may be removed or caused to be removed and impounded by a traffic officer, and unless the vehicle has been so parked in the course of a theft thereof, the owner shall bear the costs of such removal and impoundment.

Source: http://www.arrivealive.co.za/pages.aspx?nc=Educational#part1_11
 
We have the same problem at our house. Often the neighbours across the road park their car right opposite our driveway and to pull into the driveway you need to take a wide turn and sometimes the same pulling out of the driveway. Now the problem is when the neighbour parks in the road opposite the driveway as there is a chance both cars can get bumped trying to pull in or out but if they park close to on on what could be called a pavement then it is not that bad. Many years ago I read that it was illegal to park opposite someone's driveway.

The traffic rules are such a joke, there are bus stops that block the view of on coming traffic, there are trees that block the view of on coming traffic, there are road markings that are so far back from a corner that you cannot even see oncoming traffic, there are cars park on kerbs everywhere all the time but nothing happens.
 
There is an estate agent that used to park opposite our house. Its an inconvenience for my wife as she then has to take a short left when pulling into our driveway. One day I seen him sitting in the car on a call and when I pulled out of my driveway I back up until a few centimeters from his car. He now parks across the neighbour's house.
 
etwylite said:
Road Traffic Act

Parking of vehicles
(f) in such manner as to obstruct any private or public vehicular entrance to such road.
Click to expand...

That seems to refer to obstructing a road, not a driveway, which are distinctly different. Also, obstructing means he is unable to get into it, which is not the case here.

The reason I don't park in their driveway is because there isn't always place, and most of the time when I do park opposite the neighbours driveway its only for a short period of time, like to pick up my GF when we are going out - which is what happened on Sunday. In fact, 10 minutes after I moved for him, when we left he was still parked in the same spot in his driveway and had not gone anywhere.

I will try to draw a quick picture and post it. I know it's not ideal to park there but there really isn't any choice sometimes.
 
Untitled-1.jpg

Not the greatest piece of artwork, but there you go.

EDIT: Ok the image isn't showing. Can somebody fix it please?

Note the road is wider than it looks in the picture. Miserable neighbour can reverse to the right and get out in one manoeuvre (and I also believe he can do so reversing to the left). Calm neighbour has never complained and he can get out in one manoeuvre reversing to the left.
I sometimes park in front of the next door neighbours house when there is no car there. Also, I can't park closer to the corner for obvious reasons.
 
Last edited:
If you are parking on the opposite side of the road to his driveway, then you are perfectly legal, and if he crashes into your car whilst leaving his property, his insurance will have to fork out to fix.
 
etwylite said:
Road Traffic Act

Parking of vehicles

1) No person shall park a vehicle on a public road –

(e) in such manner as to encroach upon the sidewalk, if any; or

(f) in such manner as to obstruct any private or public vehicular entrance to such road.

4) No person shall park a vehicle on the roadway of a public road within an urban area -

(b) within five metres of any intersection unless such parking is permitted by a road traffic sign;

(e) which is less than five and a half metres wide unless the public road concerned is restricted to vehicles moving in one direction and such parking is permitted by appropriate road traffic signs.

Source: http://www.arrivealive.co.za/pages.aspx?nc=Educational#part1_11
Click to expand...

not allowed to park on sidewalk (paved pavement). non-paved is legal.
obstruct does not mean impede
can't park nearer the intersection
CAN park in street as it seems wider than 5.5m

no problem

waynegohl said:
Many years ago I read that it was illegal to park opposite someone's driveway.
Click to expand...

always check the source. no provision for this is the national road traffic regulations act

D3x! said:
AFAIK there is a law that you may not park in a road less than 9m wide.
Click to expand...

5.5m (see above)

ChilliGirl said:
I have been told that apparently you mat not park on/near a road facing the oncoming traffic. Apparently is is some law or restriction and as a result your insurance won't cover you if you are facing the wrong way...

Not sure if true.
Click to expand...

not in the law
 
droplet said:
not allowed to park on sidewalk (paved pavement). non-paved is legal.
obstruct does not mean impede
can't park nearer the intersection
CAN park in street as it seems wider than 5.5m

no problem



always check the source. no provision for this is the national road traffic regulations act



5.5m (see above)



not in the law
Click to expand...

sorry dunno where i got 9 m from, gonna measure my road tonight :p lol
 
As legal as it may be, it can be really infuriating having someone half-block your vehicle by parking like that...
 
DJ... said:
As legal as it may be, it can be really infuriating having someone half-block your vehicle by parking like that...
Click to expand...

tell me about it, one day I will be in the wrong frame of mind and beat him or his car to cr@p
 
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