Van parked on the road

[Doing my best]

As far as I know, from the Man (who used to train people to drive trucks, and so is very well versed in road law, even if he doesn't always follow it.... ), you are not allowed to reverse out of your driveway, as visibility up and down the footpath for pedestrians is much less than if you were driving out forwards, as well as the visibility of the road. So, yes, you are supposed to reverse into your driveway, and drive out on to the road forwards.

Getting further technical on reversing into a driveway, you are not supposed to reverse off your left side (ie, turning towards the passenger side of the vehicle). So this means, that you are supposed to pull up to the kerb on the wrong side of the road, and reverse into the driveway off the driver's side. I get to do this at my place, because our street is quiet, but somewhat impossible on major roads.... This rule is why you will see trucks pull out wide across a road to reverse in off the driver's side. The reversing off your left side rule isn't enforced in cars, but important in trucks where visibility is so much more limited (so next time you see a truck trying to pull out across the road to reverse into a loading bay or driveway, please stop and let them go ).

I wouldn't want to try the "I'm not liable because I reversed out of my driveway into your vehicle" trick though.

Wow, thanks for that. Learn something new everyday.

[Yael]

As far as I know, from the Man (who used to train people to drive trucks, and so is very well versed in road law, even if he doesn't always follow it.... ), you are not allowed to reverse out of your driveway, as visibility up and down the footpath for pedestrians is much less than if you were driving out forwards, as well as the visibility of the road. So, yes, you are supposed to reverse into your driveway, and drive out on to the road forwards.

Getting further technical on reversing into a driveway, you are not supposed to reverse off your left side (ie, turning towards the passenger side of the vehicle). So this means, that you are supposed to pull up to the kerb on the wrong side of the road, and reverse into the driveway off the driver's side. I get to do this at my place, because our street is quiet, but somewhat impossible on major roads.... This rule is why you will see trucks pull out wide across a road to reverse in off the driver's side. The reversing off your left side rule isn't enforced in cars, but important in trucks where visibility is so much more limited (so next time you see a truck trying to pull out across the road to reverse into a loading bay or driveway, please stop and let them go ).

I wouldn't want to try the "I'm not liable because I reversed out of my driveway into your vehicle" trick though.

I'm not sure this is true, or at the very least it is not true in Victoria, as I just looked up the Road Safety (Drivers) Regulations 2009 act on the vicroads website. At no place does it state that you cannot enter the road in reverse (as in reversing out of a driveway). It does not indicate whether you must reverse turning to a particular way. This may be different for commercial vechiles, but does not apply to cars. There is no law that people cannot park opposite your driveway. It would be nice, as it is annoying but it doesn't make it law.

The only laws I can see in regards to this are:

Driving a vehicle in reverse
(1) The driver of a vehicle must not reverse the vehicle unless the driver can do so safely.
Penalty: 3 penalty units.

(2) The driver of a vehicle must not reverse the vehicle further than is reasonable in the circumstances.
Penalty: 3 penalty units.

and:

Obstructing access to and from a footpath, driveway etc.
(1) A driver must not stop on a road in a position that obstructs access by vehicles or pedestrians to or
from a footpath ramp or a similar way of access to a footpath, or a bicycle path or passageway
unless—

(a) the driver is driving a public bus that is dropping off, or picking up, passengers; or
(b) the driver stops in a parking bay and the driver is permitted to stop in the parking bay
under these Rules.
Penalty: 3 penalty units.

(2) A driver must not stop on or across a driveway or other way of access for vehicles travelling to or
from adjacent land unless—

(a) the driver—
(i) is dropping off, or picking up,
passengers; and
(ii) does not leave the vehicle unattended; and
(iii) completes the dropping off, or picking up, of the passengers, and drives on, as
soon as possible and, in any case, within 2 minutes after stopping; or
(b) the driver stops in a parking bay and the driver is permitted to stop in the parking bay
under these Rules.
Penalty: 3 penalty units


You might be able to get them under parts 6, 7 or 8 if there is a continuous white line, or there is less than 3m wide on the road.

208 Parallel parking on a road (except in a median strip
parking area)
(1) A driver who parks on a road (except in a median strip parking area) must position the driver's vehicle in accordance with subrules (2) to (8).
Penalty: 3 penalty units.

(2) The driver must position the vehicle to face—
(a) in the direction of travel of vehicles in the marked lane or line of traffic on, or next to, the part of the road where the driver parks; or
(b) if there is no traffic on, or next to, that part of the road—in the direction in which vehicles could lawfully travel on that part of the road.

(3) If the road is a two-way road, the driver must position the vehicle parallel, and as near as practicable, to the far left side of the road.

(4) If the road is a one-way road, the driver must position the vehicle parallel, and as near as practicable, to the far left or far right side of the road, unless otherwise indicated by information on or with a parking control sign.

(5) If the driver does not park in a parking bay, the driver must position the vehicle at least 1 metre from the closest point of any vehicle in front of it and any vehicle behind it.

(6) If the road has a continuous dividing line or a dividing strip, the driver must position the vehicle at least 3 metres from the continuous dividing line or dividing strip, unless otherwise indicated by information on or with a parking control sign.

(7) If the road does not have a continuous dividing line or a dividing strip, the driver must position the vehicle so there is at least 3 metres of the road alongside the vehicle that is clear for other vehicles to pass, unless otherwise indicated by information on or with a parking control sign.

(8) The driver must position the vehicle so the vehicle does not unreasonably obstruct the path of other vehicles or pedestrians.

Otherwise, if you back into them you are at fault

[Astrid]

(7) If the road does not have a continuous dividing line or a dividing strip, the driver must position the vehicle so there is at least 3 metres of the road alongside the vehicle that is clear for other vehicles to pass, unless otherwise indicated by information on or with a parking control sign.

(8) The driver must position the vehicle so the vehicle does not unreasonably obstruct the path of other vehicles or pedestrians.

Now if I only my neighbours at my old house knew that one. It was so bad that I almost photocopied that section of the road rules and did a letter box drop. We lived in a dead end street, so if we could not drive up it then could not get to our house. Councils only solution was for us to apply to have parking banned on one side of the road, which would have disadvantaged the whole street. I wanted them to book the repeat offenders, but they can only book if they know which was the car to cause the blockage (ie the second car to park).

[Pandora]

I'm in Victoria and my driving instructor told me it was illegal to reverse out of a driveway

We asked our across the road neighbors to move the 4 cars regularly parked out the front as we couldn't get in or out of our driveway easily and they threatened us and made living there a nightmare, to the point we had to move

[Yael]

I'm in Victoria and my driving instructor told me it was illegal to reverse out of a driveway

I'm very happy to be proved wrong, I looked up the acts and couldn't find anything to verify this. I have heard others say it before, but unless people can give a source in legislation then it appears to be an unsubstantiated rumour.

Interestingly, it says in the act that you don't have to wear a seatbelt when reversing your car... Didn't know that one.