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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to continue turning in the school gate?

488 replies

NortonBuns · 19/03/2025 14:18

I drive my dd to school everyday and once I drop her off I turn around and drive home. I approach the back gate of the school and use this entrance to turn my car round so I can head back home.
The school have now put up a sign saying keep our children safe, no stopping, dropping off or turning in the entrance.
So where am I supposed to turn around? If I carry on I reach the front gate which is busier and has the busses. If I turn before I reach the back entrance I am doing a three point turn in busy school run traffic with lots of children walking and cycling.
So AIBU to say I am safest turning in the large double gate and ignoring the new sign?

OP posts:
SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 19/03/2025 18:40

NortonBuns · 19/03/2025 17:58

I would say 90% of the children use the main front gate, this is where the chevrons are. I genuinely think it is better for those approaching from the back to turn and go back rather than entering the main gate fray.

Show quote history

I assume this means that the other 10% use the back gate, @NortonBuns - they deserve to be safe too.

The children’s safety matters more than your convenience or any other driver’s convenience.

Stop using the back drive to turn in. Or ignore the school’s request, and show yourself up.

OreganoFlow · 19/03/2025 18:37

It actually doesn't matter all the myriad reasons why you are completely unable to change your actions.

You will need to because what you're doing is dangerous and compromising the safety of school children, which the school have obviously recognised is a problem, hence asking you all to stop it.

You clearly know the local conditions better than all of us, so you think of an alternative. What you can't do is carry on as you were.

You probably won't be the only one to think it doesn't apply to you, so hopefully the school will invest in some retractable bollards or something to protect your child and all their classmates.

BlueMum16 · 19/03/2025 18:34

NortonBuns · 19/03/2025 18:26

I have had a go at a drawing but obviously not to scale as the school is about 2 miles from the a road. There are houses all along the road to the school but no side roads.
The arrows show my route in.

If you continue driving past the school is it a dead end? If so, can you not turn further up the road. It it's not a dead end use that road to get back home?

What do the buses do?

Alternatively ask the school where they expect parents to drop off.

wordler · 19/03/2025 18:34

That diagram doesn't help very much because it doesn't show where you drop your daughter or what's past the school main gate.

Sirzy · 19/03/2025 18:32

Find somewhere safe to pull up on the a road and let them walk from there.

Createausername1970 · 19/03/2025 18:30

NortonBuns · 19/03/2025 18:24

Again, I would still need to turn round. I actually don’t drop her very near.

Show quote history

But you turn in the school gate?

We need a diagram.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 19/03/2025 18:26

NortonBuns · 19/03/2025 18:24

Again, I would still need to turn round. I actually don’t drop her very near.

Show quote history

You wouldn’t, there are other routes back to your house, you just can’t be arsed driving further

Original poster
NortonBuns · 19/03/2025 18:26

I have had a go at a drawing but obviously not to scale as the school is about 2 miles from the a road. There are houses all along the road to the school but no side roads.
The arrows show my route in.

AIBU to continue turning in the school gate?
OP posts:
Original poster
NortonBuns · 19/03/2025 18:24

OreganoFlow · 19/03/2025 18:20

Make your child walk from further away. I absolutely refuse to believe that you couldn't do this unless you're about to drip feed that she has a disability.

Again, I would still need to turn round. I actually don’t drop her very near.

OP posts:
OreganoFlow · 19/03/2025 18:20

Make your child walk from further away. I absolutely refuse to believe that you couldn't do this unless you're about to drip feed that she has a disability.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 19/03/2025 18:17

0ohLarLar · 19/03/2025 18:14

why can't your child use the bus

Op refuses to answer, probably knows full well she is in the wrong and does not need to drive right up to the school gate.

She said there is no bus from their location

ToKittyornottoKitty · 19/03/2025 18:16

Whaleandsnail6 · 19/03/2025 18:13

Why can you not just stop where you currently let your child out of the car.

Then carry on without turning round to get to the busy crossroad. Then turn left or right at the crossroads until you find an acceptable place to turn around safely and go back the way you came?

School are clearly concerned about the children's welfare and the amount of people turning on the gates so you need to come up with another solution

Show quote history

She would still be ignoring the sign…

0ohLarLar · 19/03/2025 18:14

why can't your child use the bus

Op refuses to answer, probably knows full well she is in the wrong and does not need to drive right up to the school gate.

Whaleandsnail6 · 19/03/2025 18:13

NortonBuns · 19/03/2025 17:10

@LadyBracknellsHandbagg well none of the solutions people have come up with are safer.
Then end of the 2 miles away road is a very busy crossroad where it would not be safe to stop.
I can’t carry on to do a loop as I would then hit the full front of school traffic and children walking and cycling to school.
This is a high school by the way and we live very rurally so I am not unusual for having to drive.
There is literally a long queue of other parents waiting to turn at this point. The children have a fenced off walk way which leads to a zebra crossing so are not in danger.

Why can you not just stop where you currently let your child out of the car.

Then carry on without turning round to get to the busy crossroad. Then turn left or right at the crossroads until you find an acceptable place to turn around safely and go back the way you came?

School are clearly concerned about the children's welfare and the amount of people turning on the gates so you need to come up with another solution

wordler · 19/03/2025 18:11

Ah - I think I might understand what you are saying - when you say 'enter the main gate fray' do you mean you don't want to have to try to stop and drop your child off there?

What PP were suggesting I think was to continue dropping your daughter off near the back entrance and then you alone drive on past the school and either find a side road to turn or do some kind of big loop (once you are way past the school) to head towards home.

Sunnysideupthanks · 19/03/2025 18:10

Yeah you definitely should carry on O.P

I wonder why I sit in class and discover the rules apply to most pupils but not a few?? Oh yes, cause they have a parent like you 🤦‍♀️

TeaIsNice · 19/03/2025 18:08

seriously. do you fancy running over a child?!

Glittertwins · 19/03/2025 18:07

Of course you can carry on driving, you say it yourself, you just don’t want to because you end up being included in the problem of school traffic which you’ve helped cause.
I can’t believe there is nowhere whatsoever to stop earlier and your DD can walk the rest of the way.

wordler · 19/03/2025 18:07

NortonBuns · 19/03/2025 17:58

I would say 90% of the children use the main front gate, this is where the chevrons are. I genuinely think it is better for those approaching from the back to turn and go back rather than entering the main gate fray.

Show quote history

You are going to have to do a diagram as I can't envision what you are talking about at the front end of the school. Why can't you just drive past the school and do a loop further on?

Is it a cul de sac?

JSMill · 19/03/2025 18:06

So the school has asked the parents to do something for the safety of the children and you are considering to keep doing it? That’s completely self centred.

maw1681 · 19/03/2025 18:02

Our school sends out an email every few months reminding parents not to turn in the school carpark because the same entitled parents keep doing it - this isn’t the school’s policy it’s the council’s. Children have been knocked down and even killed in similar circumstances.
Perhaps you could park your car a bit further away and walk to school so you don’t get stuck in traffic?

Sirzy · 19/03/2025 18:02

So basically school are saying there is an issue but you know better?

ToKittyornottoKitty · 19/03/2025 18:01

NortonBuns · 19/03/2025 17:58

I would say 90% of the children use the main front gate, this is where the chevrons are. I genuinely think it is better for those approaching from the back to turn and go back rather than entering the main gate fray.

Show quote history

Because it suits you to think that. Stop being so entitled and change your route

Createausername1970 · 19/03/2025 17:58

NortonBuns · 19/03/2025 14:18

I drive my dd to school everyday and once I drop her off I turn around and drive home. I approach the back gate of the school and use this entrance to turn my car round so I can head back home.
The school have now put up a sign saying keep our children safe, no stopping, dropping off or turning in the entrance.
So where am I supposed to turn around? If I carry on I reach the front gate which is busier and has the busses. If I turn before I reach the back entrance I am doing a three point turn in busy school run traffic with lots of children walking and cycling.
So AIBU to say I am safest turning in the large double gate and ignoring the new sign?

I haven't read the thread, I can't be arsed.

Park further away and walk down.

Kiwi83 · 19/03/2025 17:58

Entitled parents like you drive me fucking mad, we have a school at the end of our road and the amount of near misses we have with kids is unbelievable. As long as your kid is alright fuck the rest OP? Try parking further away and walking your kids in like grown ups do.