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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Young child caused accident on pavement

206 replies

Senso · 19/06/2026 19:41

AIBU to think that young children should not be allowed to be in charge of a pushchair on the pavement?

I was witness to an incident that happened on a busy street where a young child, aged around 8 was pushing a pushchair - occupied by a toddler - too fast, and collided with another pedestrian.

the injured person had been walking at a normal pace in the opposite direction but the child just charged straight into her causing her to fall and sustain quite a nasty impact injury.

The parents didn’t seem to get that the child had caused the accident, instead repeating that it was “just an accident, no-one was to blame”

i think otherwise.

OP posts:
NeedyLimeMember · 19/06/2026 20:27

SweeetFannyAdams · 19/06/2026 20:19

The parents could just as easily have done it themselves 🤷‍♀️

More than once I’ve been rammed by a pram while the parent was walking along with their head stuck in their phone.

Not really ... No one is saying it definitely wouldn't have happened if an adult was pushing. But the chances of a collision are surely far higher if it's a child with underdeveloped cognitive and motor skills!

Backedoffhackedoff · 19/06/2026 20:26

BeardySchnauzer · 19/06/2026 20:20

The whole point of the thread is that the parents should have been controlling the situation and OP asked if she was unreasonable to think that

It’s not about whether or not the woman who was hit could have or should have done something.

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The oP isn’t asking whether she’s unreasonable to think parents should control their children - she can’t possibly be that much of a sap that she thinks that’s an unreasonable thought.

its not a realistic thought though, so just meaningless. “Someone mugged me, aibu think they shouldn’t mug me?”

Original poster
Senso · 19/06/2026 20:26

Numbchill · 19/06/2026 20:23

On their phone no doubt.

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Definitely not. I saw the whole thing. Pedestrian was just walking at a normal pace on a busy street. Child with pram was charging through and clipped her which made her fall down heavily

OP posts:
CaesarAugusta · 19/06/2026 20:26

Backedoffhackedoff · 19/06/2026 19:44

I voted YABU because it’s hardly a big deal and you seem to be over dramatising it.

How do you know it's not a big deal? That sort of fall can case life-changing injuries.

GreatOffWhiteFalcon · 19/06/2026 20:26

Numbchill · 19/06/2026 20:23

On their phone no doubt.

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Eh? The pushchair veered out of control, how could the pedestrian predict that? Why blame her?

Overtheatlantic · 19/06/2026 20:26

Backedoffhackedoff · 19/06/2026 20:16

Of course. We can’t control careless people though can we? This is a really weird conversation.

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No it’s not a weird conversation. Are you quite alright?

Backedoffhackedoff · 19/06/2026 20:25

TheClocksFast · 19/06/2026 20:17

Not a big deal? Someone falling down in the street probably injuring themselves.
Have a think about it.

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Yes I’ve thought about it. I still don’t think someone having a fall is a big deal, no. It’s an everyday occurance

Numbchill · 19/06/2026 20:23

FlappyDappyDoo · 19/06/2026 20:03

I don't understand why the pedestrian did not give them a wide birth if they were walking towards them.

I agree that it's the parents fault, but you can still mitigate for iffy situations by keeping a distance.

On their phone no doubt.

Original poster
Senso · 19/06/2026 20:22

BeardySchnauzer · 19/06/2026 20:20

The whole point of the thread is that the parents should have been controlling the situation and OP asked if she was unreasonable to think that

It’s not about whether or not the woman who was hit could have or should have done something.

Show quote history

Yes

OP posts:
Original poster
Senso · 19/06/2026 20:21

Backedoffhackedoff · 19/06/2026 19:44

I voted YABU because it’s hardly a big deal and you seem to be over dramatising it.

The injured party was in a huge amount of pain with possibly a broken hip.

OP posts:
Elieza · 19/06/2026 20:20

an avoidable accident had the parents been paying proper attention to their child. They aught to be ashamed.

BeardySchnauzer · 19/06/2026 20:20

Backedoffhackedoff · 19/06/2026 20:16

Of course. We can’t control careless people though can we? This is a really weird conversation.

Show quote history

The whole point of the thread is that the parents should have been controlling the situation and OP asked if she was unreasonable to think that

It’s not about whether or not the woman who was hit could have or should have done something.

SweeetFannyAdams · 19/06/2026 20:19

The parents could just as easily have done it themselves 🤷‍♀️

More than once I’ve been rammed by a pram while the parent was walking along with their head stuck in their phone.

UserNineNine · 19/06/2026 20:19

Those electric wheelchairs are a nightmare. They should not be able to move faster than a person can walk.

TheClocksFast · 19/06/2026 20:17

Backedoffhackedoff · 19/06/2026 19:44

I voted YABU because it’s hardly a big deal and you seem to be over dramatising it.

Not a big deal? Someone falling down in the street probably injuring themselves.
Have a think about it.

Prombles · 19/06/2026 20:17

FlappyDappyDoo · 19/06/2026 20:03

I don't understand why the pedestrian did not give them a wide birth if they were walking towards them.

I agree that it's the parents fault, but you can still mitigate for iffy situations by keeping a distance.

The OP specifically described 'a busy street'. I don't know what the pavements are like where you are, but where I am, they don't normally fit more than three abreast - it isn't possible to give 'a wide berth' unless you walk into the road.

And frankly, if you're walking along minding your own business on the pavement, you shouldn't have to be dodging avoidable hazards such as child that's too young to be pushing a toddler losing control of a pram.

Backedoffhackedoff · 19/06/2026 20:16

BeardySchnauzer · 19/06/2026 20:15

Accidents happen when people are careless🙄

fine if it only impacts them but if you hurt/kill someone else in the process then ‘oh well, accidents happen’

Of course. We can’t control careless people though can we? This is a really weird conversation.

BeardySchnauzer · 19/06/2026 20:15

Accidents happen when people are careless🙄

fine if it only impacts them but if you hurt/kill someone else in the process then ‘oh well, accidents happen’

sharkstale · 19/06/2026 20:15

Yanbu, this is the exact reason I dont let my 9 year old push the toddler, she likes to run with the buggy! I'm worried it'll topple over, go into the road etc as well as people. So yes, a bit of common sense needed.

Backedoffhackedoff · 19/06/2026 20:14

Imdunfer · 19/06/2026 20:10

Really? I have 3.9 out of 5 osteoporosis of a vertebra. If someone decked me like that it would quite possibly put me in a wheelchair.

One of the commonest causes of death in older women is a broken hip from a fall.

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accidents happen, that’s just the way it goes

Floppyearedlab · 19/06/2026 20:13

Backedoffhackedoff · 19/06/2026 19:44

I voted YABU because it’s hardly a big deal and you seem to be over dramatising it.

Not a big deal? Perhaps it is to the injured party

Roseonthebalcony · 19/06/2026 20:12

YANBU - the parents are at fault here. They should have been monitoring more closely. DS, 5 insists on pushing the trolley round the supermarket, he’s pretty good at it but not perfect so I stay very close so he doesn’t hurt anyone, especially if the shop is busy the I say no.

Imdunfer · 19/06/2026 20:11

FlappyDappyDoo · 19/06/2026 20:03

I don't understand why the pedestrian did not give them a wide birth if they were walking towards them.

I agree that it's the parents fault, but you can still mitigate for iffy situations by keeping a distance.

A wide berth? Do you walk on urban pavements very often?

Imdunfer · 19/06/2026 20:10

Backedoffhackedoff · 19/06/2026 19:44

I voted YABU because it’s hardly a big deal and you seem to be over dramatising it.

Really? I have 3.9 out of 5 osteoporosis of a vertebra. If someone decked me like that it would quite possibly put me in a wheelchair.

One of the commonest causes of death in older women is a broken hip from a fall.

Pistachiocake · 19/06/2026 20:09

Imagine if you had a dog that injured someone, and said it was just an accident. If you are the adult, you should be looking after your child, or animal. No one's perfect and mistakes do happen, but it's more her attitude that worries me, because the child could get injured, or effectively kill someone next time (if an old person is knocked over and breaks a bone, this can massively affect their life and lead to an earlier death).