Parents park across my driveway. Is it mean to block them in?

A British mother has sparked debate online after revealing she is considering blocking in cars who park by her drive while on the school run.

Taking to parenting forum Mumsnet, the anonymous woman explained that there was a primary school at the end of her road and whenever her drive was empty, parents would park across it to collect their children.

The unnamed mother said things had reached breaking point earlier this week when she confronted one of the parents – who tried to tell her they ‘needed’ to be there to pick up their child. 

She then asked if she was being unreasonable to block in the cars, wondering if it was ‘too petty.’

Other users said it only took a few moments to collect children and that blocking them in would be aggressive.

In her original post, the woman wrote that she herself parked in a visitor’s space over the road from her house, so that her drive was empty for her partner.

But she explained that around the school rush, people had started parking across her driveway.

She wrote: ‘I work from home and usually park in the visitor pay outside my house so my partner can park on the driveway he gets home 3.30-4pm.’

She said: ‘However recently, people have been parking on my driveway. Last week, I caught someone pulling in. I knocked on their window and they argued with my, saying they needed to pick up their child.

‘Eventually they did move, but moved to where they blocked half my driveway and half my neighbour so no one could access it.’

She wrote: ‘I didn’t bother confront them again but in future I’m thinking I’ll block them in. Is that too petty?’

Revealing a little more of her plan, she said: ‘If I did block anyone in, it would only be for 30 minutes to cause a bit of stress and a lesson learned.’  

She added: ‘I have reported it to the school, but all they’ve said is they’ve already asked parents not to block residents in, so I’m not sure what else to do.’

Taking to parenting forum Mumsnet , the anonymous woman explained that there was a primary school at the end of her road and whenever her drive was empty, parents would park across it to collect their children

Many other users said it was an appropriate move for the parents who were parking their cars over the drive. 

One wrote:  ‘I would without a doubt.’

Another wrote: ‘Block them in and go for a nice long walk,’ while a third wrote: ‘Absolutely do this, they’ll soon stop.’ 

‘I would,’ a fourth added. ‘What a nerve. Or put a chain over your driveway.’ 

‘Yes! So what if they get aggressive? Go in the house and call the police,’ another wrote. 

‘I’d suggest a large plant pot with some spiky in on the bottom of the drive, your dear partner can move it when he gets home.’ 

Many of those who replied were supportive of the woman and said she should block in the school-run cars 

Another commented: ‘I’d tell them first quite clearly and not aggressively that it’s an offence to block a drive, and how would they like it done to them?

‘Then if they still do it, take a picture of the car and report it. If they won’t listen to you, then they might listen to authorities.’  

But some said she was being unreasonable.

One warned: ‘Blocking someone in could lead to a very aggressive situation, so I wouldn’t.’ 

A third wrote: ‘But by blocking, can you be fined? Is it not technically breaking a road rule?’ 

Others said they would take different action.

One wrote: ‘Surely a big traffic cone would be your friend here.’

Another said she should invoice for the space and leave a note on the offending car. 

Others disagreed, and said she was responding in a ‘very aggressive’ way to the situation (pictured)