Driveway Etiquette???!?!?!? Hmmmmmm...

[rbuzzotta]

I think I have been in violation of 'driveway etiquette' for a while!!!

My DD had quite a few friends over and at pick up time, a few people did not use the driveway to park and get their children. I live on a rather busy street and my driveway is large mainly due to not really street parking and how busy the street is!!

When I asked why they didn't park in the driveway, I got a response of "that would be rude!!"

UGH!! I guess I am rude when it comes to 'driveway etiquette' as I have parked in people's driveways while I get my kids from their houses!!

Opinions please!!!

 

[KerriSue]

I remember when growing up the daycare provider we went to would freak out if anyone parked in her drive to pick up their kids. She was certain everyones car would leave an oil mark.

 

[JVL1018]

Nope never, I always park on the street.
I had one person park in my driveway to pick up her DD once and I thought it was odd-mostly because we live on a side street, room for 4 cars in front of our house, no one was aprked there AND our driveway is around the side so it's actually more of a pain to walk from the driveway to the door than it is to walk from out front.
But I wouldn't think it was rude, or care if someone did it.

*I* don't even park in my driveway when I am running errands and coming back and forth because of where the driveway is situated.

Oh wait, I lied, I shouldn;t have said never.. I have a girlfriend who lives on a busy main road, with no parking on her side of the street, so I always park in her driveway.

 

[NMAmy]

I would think it kind of depends on where you live. I also have a large driveway because I live on a fairly busy street that doesn't have space for parking. To park in front of my house, you'd have to park on the grass. Most of my friends have the same situation so we park in each other's driveways all the time.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yes, I do not park in the driveway. However the car I am driving does leak right now...

 

[PghLybrt]

When friends come over they use my driveway even if parking is available out front. I have no problem with that at all! What does irk me is when people use my driveway or block my driveway to goto other house!

 

[Anewman]

I only pull in if the driveway belongs to a close friend or family member, never just a casual acquaintances. But I would not go as far as calling you rude, I have noticed other parents pulling in when picking up their kids and I have never considered it rude.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I never park in someone else's driveway.

I've noticed that in my neighborhood people without driveways - park in other people's driveways and those that have driveways do not park in others driveways.

To me, a driveway is an extension of your living space. At least it is for us. Our drive way goes to the back yard with an unattached garage.
And when it the driveway part gets to the house, - it gets really wide and it patio'd as well. NO ONE DRIVE BACK THERE, not even DH. Only I park in the 2.5 car garage. 2/3 of it is "party space" so there's no room for him

 

[mommasita]

No, I never do. I park on the street. I don't know why, I just never did it. However, I would not be insulted if someone parked in mine

 

[MareQ]

I live in the country - we park in driveways.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

It depends. On the road you described, I'd park in the driveway, but if I knew that there were other people who would be picking their kids up, I'd be quick about getting my child. And I wouldn't be happy about someone parking behind me and sticking around to chitchat. But, I think parking in the driveway in and of itself is fine.

At my house, we have the opposite problem. There really IS no parking on the street. We live on a narrow country road and if two cars are going in the opposite direction from each other, one has to pull over to let the other past. And yet, people will still park in the road (because people hate to back out of our driveway...narrow road and a drop into a pond on the other side), and if anything bigger than a regular car comes along, we have to tell the person to hurry up and move the car. We normally just tell people to park on our lawn if we've got a bunch of people coming at around the same time.

 

[lulugirl]

I expect my guests to park in my driveway. Isn't that the purpose of a driveway, to park cars there?

 

[Hannathy]

I always pull in the driveway to pick up or drop off kids, checks for Girl Scouts etc. Everyone who has dropped off their kids here always pulls in our driveway and have for yrs I have a 15 yr old DD. When I ran the Girl Scout sleep over with 150 girls every leader who brought their check to my house pulled in, same for Soccer fundraisers and Boy Scouts- just showing a wide range of different people. I never heard of not pulling in the driveway, thats what it is there for.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I never really thought about it. If I'm just picking someone up and I'll be in and out in 5 minutes or less, I use the driveway. But if I'm visiting, I park in the street, unless I'm told to use the driveway. Like when my hairdresser worked out of her house, I parked in the street, and both she and her husband said to park in the driveway, it's not problem.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

I would never park in someone elses driveway unless they told me beforehand that it was ok. Around here there is always street parking and most driveways only hold 2 cars. Heck, even if they tell me its ok I usually park in the street because I feel my car doesn't belong in their driveway.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

If there is space out front, then I won't. I would worry about taking someone elses spot or blocking them from getting in or out of the garage. If it's just to pick up or drop off though and I'm not getting out of the car, then I think it's more convenient and polite to pull in the driveway.

 

[helenabear]

Dropping off/picking up children (I only do this for friends, I don't have any of my own) we all park in each others driveways. If they are close friends/family we park in driveways. There are a few family and friends that I have as well where parking is not allowed in he street so we do not park on the street there, and always go for the driveway.

It depends, but I see nothing wrong with it for dropping off/picking up. I would feel safer with kids to do it that way.

If we are going to a big gathering, we do always park on the street where we can.

 

[rbuzzotta]

Thanks for the replies. I had never really thought about it before, since I live on a busy street and just assumed people would park in the driveway for pick up and drop offs where it is much safer for the kids!!

I know no whose driveway I can park in and whose I can not when I pick up DD!! LOL!!

If anyone is coming to visit me..................please feel free to park in the driveway!!! LOL!! i don't mind and it is much safer!!!

 

[aprilgail2]

Nope, never park in someone elses driveway when I am picking up or dropping off my daughter. I actually do get annoyed when someone parks in mine too, I just think if there is room in the street then that is where you park, not in someones dirveway.

 

[MushyMushy]

I can't imagine it being rude if the person is coming to your house. Wow. Most of the people I've known with driveways, though, have no street parking.

I've got a driveway vent, though. We have a parking area beside our house and the neighbor's house that will fit 4 cars. New neighbors just moved in last week and they've been pulling in so only 3 will fit, which leaves DH to have to park in front of our house. That's not really a parking spot, though, because we live in an alley. People have to slow down to a crawl to get past his car.

I hate starting off on the wrong foot with these people, but I guess we're going to have to say something.