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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that if it is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving a vehicle, it must be made illegal to push a pram?

134 replies

llizzie · 02/08/2025 19:00

I have just read this on another site which was discussing how the mobile phone is killing conversation.

  ''Saw an incident two days ago: Young mother pushing child in a pushchair was glued to her smart phone, not looking to where she was going. She was heading straight towards a fixed bollard at the side of the footpath. Last few seconds, she saw it, swerved suddenly, child rocked over to the side and hit bollard full face. Stupidity of the highest order. ''
OP posts:
Doris86 · 02/08/2025 22:18

How many people get killed by drivers using mobile phones while driving? - Lots

How many people get killed by prams bumping into them whilst the pram pusher is distracted on their phone? - Never heard of a single one.

neverwakeasleepingbaby · 02/08/2025 22:11

I don’t think we need a new law for this, no 🤣

CallMeFlo · 02/08/2025 21:58

Jeez theres been some ridiculous threads on here but this one is a winner

If a distracted mum runs into me with a pram because she was on her phone at worst ill possibly get a bruised leg

If a distracted driver runs into me with a car because they were on their phone, worst case scenario is a damn sight more than a sore leg

The 2 scenarios aren't even remotely comparable and to suggest they are is ridiculous.

And before you jump to stupid conclusions like you have with pp. I NEVER EVER drive and use my phone. My phones always in my bag when im driving

Coconutter24 · 02/08/2025 21:47

What if I don’t have a pram and just want to take a phone call whilst walking down the street? Isn’t that just as much of a distraction as taking a phone call whilst pushing a pram? Should we ban all phones when walking?

DiscoBob · 02/08/2025 21:32

A pram isn't a motor vehicle.
Someone who's not looking where they're going could bump into you with a shopping trolley, a suitcase, a pram, they could be running past and knock you over while jogging, they could be carrying a huge potted plant on their head...

But they are perambulated by human force only. So statistically much less dangerous.

So it's absolutely ridiculous to compare the two.

Ticktockwatchclock · 02/08/2025 21:31

A car is a lethal weapon that requires a persons full concentration to operate to prevent multiple loss of life, therefore it is illegal to use a mobile phone whilst driving.
A pram is not a lethal weapon and unlikely to kill or maim multiple people whilst using a mobile phone. No need for overkill on laws re mobile phones.

MeganM3 · 02/08/2025 21:30

Maybe the child should have been strapped in to the pram / buggy. In case of anything happening where they could have fallen out.

Phoen use while pram pushing cant really be compared to the dangers involved in driving while using phone. It’s a completely different level of risk and likelihood of injury. And scale of injury.

Mrsttcno1 · 02/08/2025 21:28

You truly cannot compare pushing a pram with driving a car & using a mobile. Ridiculous to try.

CarpetKnees · 02/08/2025 21:28

You obviously use your mobile driving a car and see nothing wrong with it.
From your comment, you also think nothing of pushing a pram along the pavement and talking on the phone as you do so.

Quite the imagination you have there.
Not sure how making up complete fiction helps your argument.

BertieBotts · 02/08/2025 21:26

Why does talking on the phone make it impossible to look where you are going, though? I can steer a pram perfectly fine while talking on the phone. It goes much slower than a car! I've never run any of my children into a bollard, a person, or any other obstacle.

In the anecdote you told, the parent was LOOKING at the phone screen, not talking on it.

BertieBotts · 02/08/2025 21:24

How did you get that little box to come up? <intrigued>

The question is completely nonsensical.

A car is a 2 ton metal object capable of killing people. Yes it makes sense for there to be restrictive laws around their use.

A pram is rather light and flimsy. It doesn't make sense to have laws around their use.

It's probably unfortunate/not very sensible to crash into something with your baby in the pram because you're distracted by the phone but it's unlikely to cause any permanent harm.

WunTooThree · 02/08/2025 21:20

YABU

If you lose control of a pram because you are on a phone, you do no have the potential to mow into other people and kill them.

Where are the stats on this danger you speak of?

CaptainFuture · 02/08/2025 21:19

Toottooot · 02/08/2025 19:04

Fit yi spikin’ aboot min?

Fairyboots quine? Fit like?

llizzie · 02/08/2025 21:19

CarpetKnees · 02/08/2025 20:54

You are being ridiculous.

I don't know why I bother with such inane comments.

You obviously use your mobile driving a car and see nothing wrong with it.

From your comment, you also think nothing of pushing a pram along the pavement and talking on the phone as you do so.

When I read this comment I didn't know mothers actually walked along the pavements with their phones glued to their ears and their eyes not looking at the pavement ahead.

If you saw that, what would you think? If it happened to you, that someone pushed a pram into you because their attention was elsewhere, and caused injury, how would you feel? Would you want that person to pay for your injury?

OP posts:
FinancialThyme · 02/08/2025 21:17

llizzie · 02/08/2025 21:13

Using a mobile phone while driving is illegal because it can cause accidents and endangers life.

I think if someone is pushing a pram with a child in it, not looking where they are going because they are speaking on a phone, if someone gets hurt they should be held responsible.

I saw this on another place and thought it might be a good idea to ask your opinions.

If you think it OK to push a baby in a pram and not look where you are going, fine.

I think that if the phone rings while you are out pushing a pram, you should either turn the phone off and carry on walking, or stop walking to answer the phone.

Pushing a pram while on your phone isn't really any more dangerous than just walking while on your phone. Do we ban all phones whilst in motion? Do we need to stop calling them "mobiles" because it gives the wrong impression? Will you be championing the new 'immobile phone' safety campaign?

llizzie · 02/08/2025 21:13

CallMeFlo · 02/08/2025 19:03

How on earth are the 2 even remotely compatible. Makes no sense

Using a mobile phone while driving is illegal because it can cause accidents and endangers life.

I think if someone is pushing a pram with a child in it, not looking where they are going because they are speaking on a phone, if someone gets hurt they should be held responsible.

I saw this on another place and thought it might be a good idea to ask your opinions.

If you think it OK to push a baby in a pram and not look where you are going, fine.

I think that if the phone rings while you are out pushing a pram, you should either turn the phone off and carry on walking, or stop walking to answer the phone.

OP posts:
llizzie · 02/08/2025 21:06

llizzie · 02/08/2025 19:00

I have just read this on another site which was discussing how the mobile phone is killing conversation.

  ''Saw an incident two days ago: Young mother pushing child in a pushchair was glued to her smart phone, not looking to where she was going. She was heading straight towards a fixed bollard at the side of the footpath. Last few seconds, she saw it, swerved suddenly, child rocked over to the side and hit bollard full face. Stupidity of the highest order. ''

I thought it might be clearer like this:

Saw an incident two days ago: Young mother pushing child in a pushchair was glued to her smart phone, not looking to where she was going.

She was heading straight towards a fixed bollard at the side of the footpath. Last few seconds, she saw it, swerved suddenly, child rocked over to the side and hit bollard full face.

Stupidity of the highest order.

OP posts:
BMW6 · 02/08/2025 20:57

What??????????????????

CarpetKnees · 02/08/2025 20:54

You are being ridiculous.

UsingAMansNameInAWomensWorld · 02/08/2025 20:02

I love a badly worded post

No, you shouldn't push a pram whilst driving a car

Nor should it be illegal to push a pram because prams don't self propel

FluffykinsTheFerociousFeralFelineFury · 02/08/2025 19:36

If it's made illegal to push a pram, how is the pram supposed to transport the child around? Has someone invented a self-driving pram?

HappilyUrbanTrimmer · 02/08/2025 19:09

How many deaths per year are attributable to people talking on their phone while pushing a pram?

If you mean driving a car while pushing a pram I agree with you 💯 %

steff13 · 02/08/2025 19:09

Illegal to push a pram ever or just when you're driving a car? Because I definitely agree that you shouldn't be pushing a pram while you're driving a car.

AnSolas · 02/08/2025 19:08

🤣🤣🤣

Would it be the in charge of a child or in charge of a mobile child transportation device?

CommissarySushi · 02/08/2025 19:07

As far as I know, it's not illegal to use your phone whilst driving because there was a lack of conversation during car journeys.