Parking on a bend.

[brenda]

On a road on an estate where I live a van is parked on a left hand bend everyday from late afternoon to around 8 am the next morning everyday Mon to Sat , and all day on Sunday .The road is wide eough in normal circumstances for 2 vehicles to pass each other safely.

The road runs down a steep slope and has 2 or 3 bends on it.

The parked van on the left hand bend means the which ever way you are travelling , up or down the road , as you approach this bend because of the van you cannot see oncoming traffic.
The road is well used by visitors and ambulances going to the residential home which lies at the bottom of the road.
The van is a Post Office van and the driver is a postman who lives in a house near to the bend.
There have been a number of times in the last few weeks where vehicles have end up almost nose to nose because they their view of the road is restricted.
How do you go about reporting this van and to whom -- please.

[carmalee]

put a polite note on the windscreen explaining the problem.

[brenda]

Thanks carmalee -- am led to believe this may already have been tried-- I am not resident in the area of the van , but do use the road each day.

[gingejbee]

Or, contact the local Royal Mail office, giving them the reg. number of the van.

[sherrardk]

I suppose it depends on how far you want to take it - presumably you could contact the post office with the vans number and explain the problem (don't know what the outcome for the driver of the van would be though - could be a friendly word or worse if he/she is in trouble for other things).

[brenda]

Thank you both -- certainly would not like the driver to get into trouble big time -- knowing how hard jobs are to get, However it is only a matter of time before there is a serious accident .

[sherrardk]

It's a tricky one - I nearly complained about the recycling lorry driver this week but I like getting my rubbish taken away so decided to bite my tongue.

[brenda]

Thanks sherrardk--good point ,know what you mean.

[cassa333]

Find someone with a smaller car to park there.

[brenda]

Thanks -cassa333.

[R1Geezer]

Report it for what? Assuming it is legally parked there is nothing that can be done.

[milly143]

Afraid I have to agree with R1Geezer. If there are no parking restrictions on that part of the road then there is probably nothing you can do about it. The problem is that most estates are simply not able to cope with the amount of cars/vans we have these days and people are forced to use main roads as car parks.

[Hopkirk]

If it's a Royal Mail van, then what on earth is he doing taking it home?

[R1Geezer]

What The Funicular has that got to do with anything hopkirk?

[brenda]

Thank you for all youranswers .I thought that it was not allowed to park directly on a bend , so that vehicles approaching that point are doing so blind as it were, because they cannot see any on -coming traffic.Thanks again.

[alexanderd]

It is illegal to park too close to a main road, not sure of the distance though

[modeller]

We had a similar problem with a police car and someone wrote to the Chief Constable and almost immediately the car was parked elsewhere.

[compie]

highway code rule 217. DO NOT park your vehicle or trailer on the road where it would endanger, inconvenience or obstruct pedestrians or other road users. For example, do not stop

• near a school entrance
• anywhere you would prevent access for Emergency Services
• at or near a bus stop or taxi rank
• on the approach to a level crossing
• opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space
• near the brow of a hill or hump bridge
• opposite a traffic island or (if this would cause an obstruction) another parked vehicle
• where you would force other traffic to enter a tram lane
• where the kerb has been lowered to help wheelchair users
• in front of an entrance to a property
• on a bend.

[brenda]

Thanks again everyone , and to compie especially for a comprehensive answer.

[hc4361]

A rule in the Highway Code is not the law, though. It is just recommended good practice.

[compie]

here you go then the word must in bold letters means law
242

You MUST NOT leave your vehicle or trailer in a dangerous position or where it causes any unnecessary obstruction of the road