More helpful hints and tips for after you have passed your Driving Test in Newcastle.

Would you park on a stranger’s drive?

When it comes to neighbour disputes over parking, blocked driveways are the biggest gripe.

Parking outside a neighbour’s house or using their space without asking came a close second!

But some drivers take even more extreme measures if they can’t park quickly when they’re out.

‘We found strangers parked on our drive’

A couple who live near a hospital have often come out of their house to find complete strangers parked in their driveway.

“At its worst we found people parked there about once a week!

“If I caught them I’d ask them to move but they shrugged it off claiming the hospital car park was full. They were often abusive too.”

The couple contacted the local police but found their only long-term solution was putting lockable parking posts across their drive.

Parking enforcement

Parking enforcement may once have been under police control.

But following the Road Traffic Act 1991 it’s now largely the responsibility of local authorities, which can issue penalty charge notices for parking offences on the roads.

“If it’s on the public highway, it’s a local authority or police matter,” says Paul Watters of the AA.

“But on private land like a driveway, it’s a civil matter which means it’s often a low priority for the police.”

Parking on driveways & the law

This is private land so parking on someone’s driveway counts, as trespass and the local authority should be the first port of call, according to the AA.

The police can get involved if the driver is threatening or intimidating, but if this is an ongoing problem, you may need to protect your land by putting up gates or parking posts.

“Frustrating though this may be, what you can’t do is pop a line of cones on the road outside!

To do so, will mean, “you’re then committing a criminal offence because this could cause an accident.”

If your driveway is blocked by vehicles parked on the road outside speak to the local authority.

“This counts as obstruction and a penalty charge could be issued!

This can be up to £130 in London and £70 elsewhere.

If vehicles are deemed to be causing a major obstruction, the police do have powers to remove them.

Allocated parking

If you don’t have a garage or live a flat you may have allocated parking, but what happens if your neighbour uses it?

This is private land and even if it’s a designated space and listed on the property title deeds, it’s difficult for the police or local authorities to intervene so you may need to consider putting up posts or gates.

Parking on pavements

It’s a common sight in some residential areas but pavement-parkers make life difficult for pedestrians.

In London it’s an offence to park on the pavement unless the roads are extremely narrow, in which case there may be signs showing how to park partially on the pavement.

Beyond London it can be a grey area.

Some local authorities ban parking on grass verges but seem to turn a blind eye to vehicles parked partially on the pavement in residential roads.

However if vehicles are causing an obstruction or parked across any yellow lines then they can get a penalty charge so call the local authority if you’re concerned.

Parking in front of dropped kerbs.

Under the Traffic Management Act 2004 drivers shouldn’t park in front of dropped kerbs as they’re there for access reasons.

Local authorities can issue penalty charge notices for this but in reality many of them don’t always have the facilities to actively enforce this on a regular basis.

What do you think?

Would you park on stranger’s drive?

Have you had a stranger park on your drive? If so, how did you deal with the situation?

More helpful hints and tips for after you have passed your Driving Test in Newcastle.

Should parking on pavements be banned?

The law on pavement parking

The current legislation is hazy at best!

Driving on a pavement has been an offence since the Highways Act of 1835.

But while parking on a pavement is against the law in London, it’s not elsewhere.

That’s why The Highway Code states, in rule 244, that motorists “must not” park partially or wholly on the pavement in London but says that motorists “should not do so elsewhere unless signs permit it”.

Should Councils act?

Councils do have powers under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to restrict or ban parking on individual streets by the making of a Traffic Regulation Order.

And a few councils, including Exeter and Worcester, have banned parking on pavements through private Acts of Parliament.

But these processes can be time-consuming.

This has led to Guide Dogs for the Blind is calling for a ban that operates throughout the UK, with councils being able to specifically permit it on certain roads.

Justice for pedestrians!

It is an excellent idea, as it would give flexibility for councils to allow pavement parking in some specific locations – such as very narrow streets – and freedom from pavement parking for the rest of us.

The charity Living Streets, which champions the rights of pedestrians, also campaigns against pavement parking.

It has information on the legal issues, posters that can be downloaded for display in local shop windows or libraries and template letters you can send to your local council or police.

So if it’s an issue that infuriates you as well, then get in touch with them.

What do you think?

Should parking on pavements be banned?

Or maybe you think that roads are so narrow and parking in such short supply that pavement parking should be permissible?

When on driving lessons in newcastle upon tyne you will be encouraged to obey the amber light and stop safely where you can!

Whether through impatience or ignorance many drivers are seemingly unaware an amber traffic light means STOP. Are you an amber-gambler?

At traffic lights red means stop, red and amber together mean stop, and amber alone means stop, as explained on page 119 of the Department for Transport Know Your Traffic Signs booklet.

A TS10 conviction – Is failing to comply with a traffic signal, what’s more, it could lead to a 24% increase in your car insurance premium.

What do you think?

Are you an amber-gambler? Do you know traffic light law?

At Experience Driving we want to hear from you!

With all the rain we have had over the last few weeks I thought I should include how to drive through deep water.

Drive slow, use the biting point to slip the clutch to prevent speed up whilst in the deep water.

DO NOT create a splash, this not only splashes outwards, but also inwards under the bonnet where your electrics are “water and electrics together = BAD.

It is an offence to splash someone on the footpath.

This can also get into the air filter, which stops the engine breathing in so in turn making it stall.

Keep engine revs high to prevent water entering the exhaust, and stopping the engine breathing out, so in turn making it stall,maybe in the middle of the deep water.

Test your brakes when at the other side, this also has a squeegee effect taking the water from the brakes.

In general, cars aquaplane at speeds above 53 mph (72 km/h), where water ponds to a depth of at least 1/10 of an inch (2.5 mm) over a distance of 30 feet (9 meters) or more.

Do you check your lights regularly? How often?

Are they correctly adjusted? If your not sure go to your local garage to have them checked.

Make sure you have a stronger solution to normal weather or risk your water bottle freezing.

Make sure your tyres have the correct pressures, as this can have quite an effect of fuel economy, too little pressure, and it will take longer to stop.