Using my driveway

[LCHIEN]

Unfortunately I can't park in front of my own home. The "natural" spot to park is the space more or less framed by the two entrances to the circle drive in front of my house. Unfortunately my neighbors house's entrance to his driveway is directly opposite that space. Now my neighbor has an extra wide lot-and-a-half plot and a large home because he has 8 kids. At almost any given time in the last 20 years we've been here he has always had teen-drivers/teen driving guests and his circle drive is always full of cars. So the problem is that at three different times people at his home have backed out of the driveway and into cars visiting my house. They just don't look. And If I know the people coming to visit me I tell them not to park in that space but park in my U-drive.

The first incident was a teen driver guest backed into my friends car. The second incident was the neighbor's wife backed into my car; I parked there because the painters needed access to my drive. She backed into it $1500 worth and drove away but I had 4 witnesses who were painting my house. After that I would always direct guests to park to either side or in my U-drive. Many years went by without further incident. About 5 years ago a roofing contractor parked in front of my house. He was only there for a few minutes and already walking to the house and I didn't say anything figuring he'd be gone in a few minutes. Then my neighbors son backed his 4x4 pickup into his left door.

So I have no control over the space in front of my house and am scared to park there even though its public.

Funny thing is, for 20 years I've been very careful and taught my children to be very careful when backing out my driveway because I was always afraid of hitting one of his kids playing in the street. BTW 5 of them were his and the other three he adopted when his sister died.

[All Thumbs]

Have you spoken to them, nicely? Just tell them the truth, that cars going through your circle drive in the middle of the night freaks you out.

I had a new neighbor that was placing his trash in front of my house on Sunday evenings (for Monday pickup).

I told him I needed him to keep his trash on his side, because sometimes the lawn service does my lawn early Monday morning, and his huge trash pile causes a problem.

He said he was doing this because he thought the collectors wouldn't notice it with his big tree. The truth was, he was doing it because he didn't like the site of all the trash in front of his house.

But he stopped after I spoke to him.

You can get pretty far with a cold beer and a nice talk. With a little effort, you should be able to make them understand they are driving you nuts, without offending them.

Sometimes you have to talk to people 2-3 times, but eventually they get the message.

[Skaning]

Lorings problem (I apologize fo mis-spelling in a prior post) is that the neighbors kid is the only one of many that he can identify. That's why the camera discussion. keeps popping up. The only real permanent solution, that doesn't require constant monitoring, is an automatic barrier of some sort which he doesn't want because it would be out of character in the neighborhood.

That leaves time, patience, and probably some cash to get the message across and hopefully retrain some inconsiderate folks.

Could take to keeping a car parked in the driveway for a few weeks as a retraining exercise

[phrog]

Have you noticed the number of hits this thread has gotten - over 3600 at this time. WOW!

[TB Roye]

Loring

Do you have a picture of your driveway that you could post. I think it might give us a better idea of the issue. I think parking a vehicle in you driveway might become a deterrent. Have you posted sign saying private drive or no trespassing? better go back reread this probably all ready covered. it

Tom

[LCHIEN]

sure, parking a car in the front 24/7 would stop the traffic, but Its sort of tacky looking, I prefer to keep the area in front of my house clear except when I have a visitor they are welcome to use it. Its a matter of looks. Of course, my across the street neighbor, with the 8 kids, his U-drive has usually got at least two cars in it. And having an extra wide lot his drive is a lot wider, too.

I'll look for a picture.

Actually, putting up the sawhorse and sign in the middle for a period of 2-3 weeks has seemed to put quite a dent in the traffic even after it was taken down, I think it got the message across to the habitual users. My wife does not want a permanent sign, it does look a bit out of place although I had planned a discreet sign.

[cabinetman]

It seems normal and natural to have cars parked in front of a house. Many homeowners do it. Much more normal and natural than a sawhorse with a sign.

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[chopnhack]

If the sign was discreet, would it work?

[cabinetman]

If the sign was discreet, would it work?

Discreet?? I never thought of signs being discreet. Especially mounted on a sawhorse. Maybe if it read..."PLEASE NO DRIVE THROUGH".

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[chopnhack]

Discreet?? I never thought of signs being discreet. Especially mounted on a sawhorse. Maybe if it read..."PLEASE NO DRIVE THROUGH".

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Not the sawhorse sign, Loring made mention of ordering a sign. If it was posted discreetly it might have no effect.

[Skaning]

Sounds like you got through step one and got some positive results. You may have to redo it again in a month or so.

I understand the not wanting to park a vehicle in the driveway particularly when you have the garage space and it is Texas after all. The sun in Houston is a killer on vehicle finishes.

But, if you do it randomly, particularly if late night pass-throughs are a problem, it's an easy solution. Good luck with this Loring. It's never easy living near a family with a long progression of teen-agers.

[phrog]

HF sells a driveway alert. Wonder if you could wire the receiver to turn on a really bright spot llight pointed in the direction of the "offender" to dissuade him from pulling through? (Already mentioned) Add a secondary light shining on your sign, "Private Property - Please No Drive-Thru !"

[LCHIEN]

'round about post 14 I mentioned having this sign. It was attached to the sawhorse.

[cabinetman]

HF sells a driveway alert. Wonder if you could wire the receiver to turn on a really bright spot llight pointed in the direction of the "offender" to dissuade him from pulling through? (Already mentioned) Add a secondary light shining on your sign, "Private Property - Please No Drive-Thru !"

I went through two of those from HF (Bunker Hill brand) neither worked properly.

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[cabinetman]

'round about post 14 I mentioned having this sign. It was attached to the sawhorse.

I guess that could be considered "discreet", but it might depend on the sawhorse. Was it a bright yellow and black, or dayglo orange? Or, was it a custom one of QSWO with an nice oiled finish?

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