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Original poster

My worst nightmare nearly happened this morning 😞

460 replies

purrswhileheeats · 27/07/2021 17:51

I was reversing out of my driveway and almost ran over my neighbour's child, he was directly behind my car. He's no more than three years old and the only reason I saw him was he was waving his arms in the air and I saw them in my rear view mirror. He's so tiny I wouldn't have seen him otherwise as he was below the level of the back window IFYSWIM. My neighbour was loading stuff into his boot so I beeped the horn and shouted to him, he ran over, grabbed the boy and took him inside.

I was shaking and crying (sorry, that's so MN) when I got to work. They're a new family on the estate, only moved in a few months ago. The dad must've known the boy was playing outside while he was loading the car but didn't bother to check where he was.

I'm waiting for them to come home so I can go and speak to them. It's so horrible, I feel sick thinking about what could have happened.

OP posts:
Psdoff · 27/07/2021 20:41

Reverse park your car from now on

AngelDelightUk · 27/07/2021 20:42

I’m kinda shocked that the parent didn’t say anything to you when it happened. You’d have thought he would have at least acknowledged you and said sorry.

Hope you’re doing ok OP, and that neighbourly relations aren’t totally severed

BeenAsFarAsMercyAndGrand · 27/07/2021 20:43

@user1497787065

Surely the risk is there whilst reversing into one's drive in exactly the same way as reversing out.

I can't believe the number of people who walk behind a reversing vehicle in a supermarket car park.

It really isn't. I, and many others, have explained why multiple times in this thread. There are stats showing the difference in risk, and it's a big difference. And if you don't believe us, you can Google it.
MotionActivatedDog · 27/07/2021 20:43

I’ve noticed lots of new build estates are being designed without pavements. Space and money saving I’m sure but I never understood how it is allowed from a pedestrian safety perspective.

KidneyBeans · 27/07/2021 20:43

@Dillydollydingdong

Not quite sure how reversing in would help? You're still reversing, one way or the other and there could be a toddler on your driveway. Maybe CCTV?
Reversing in helps because you can more adult check the pavement/entrance is clear before driving over it. Reversing out the pavement is often obscure by hedges/walls and it's more likely a child walking past can go undetected.

It's also in the Highway Code because it's safer

Walkaround · 27/07/2021 20:43

“So even if no official pavement, that means it is one of those estates where it is shared space - in which case the child is entitled to be there too.” In a shared space, as a pedestrian, I have a healthy fear of moving vehicles and remain alert to them. I always expect the sense of caution to go both ways.

Terrazzo · 27/07/2021 20:44

3) OP pulling up past the drive is her opportunity to check for anything that is on her drive before she reverses.

YES. Basic driving sense.

lannistunut · 27/07/2021 20:45

I'm not being made to feel guilty or responsible for what could have happened Hmm not even a tiny bit responsible? You seem angry with them for putting you in this situation that we all get warned about loads of times when learning to drive?

They should have been more diligent Hmm This sounds a bit like everyone else should be perfect, but you don't have to be.

I said before, I think you need a cup of tea, and then try to see if you could consider doing anything even a tiny bit differently. The truth is we are all carelsss at times and when we have a close shave it scares us.

NonagonInfinityOpensTheDoor · 27/07/2021 20:45

@Psdoff

Reverse park your car from now on
I’d have to live in my car if I reversed on as it’s impossible to get out the drivers door when reversed on and I have mobility issues so I couldn’t just climb over the seats. 🤷🏻‍♀️
Longdistance · 27/07/2021 20:47

Who doesn’t steal their kid in, then load the car?
A few years ago I was watching a mum load up her shopping in her car with a simile aged kid as the ops, he ran into the road. I rushed out to try grab him as could see a disaster about to happen. Don’t know what she was thinking loading the car up first?
Op, he’s a lucky boy.

JoborPlay · 27/07/2021 20:49

@flapjackfairy

Well presumably you could run over them just the same when reversing onto the drive.
This happened to someone I know. They were reserving in to their drive, which they always do, believing it is safer, and ran over a dog. Thankfully not also their owner (on a lead). It had to investigated by the police and everything. All reversing is dangerous, in or out.
dalismoustache · 27/07/2021 20:49

Sending you a virtual hug. This is my worst nightmare too and the reason why I drive really slowly through suburban areas. Some parents and grandparents just don't seem too bothered about their kids running in front of cars. I see it all the time at my DC's school. They'll leave a toddler at the side of the car while they get the other child in/out or chat to other parents. The worst is when they then shout at the child for running off and nearly getting killed instead of looking after them in the first place.

BeenAsFarAsMercyAndGrand · 27/07/2021 20:51

All reversing is dangerous, in or out.

But reversing out is more dangerous.

Just like all driving can be dangerous, but some types of driving are more dangerous than others.

Clymene · 27/07/2021 20:52

@Terrazzo

3) OP pulling up past the drive is her opportunity to check for anything that is on her drive before she reverses.

YES. Basic driving sense.

And yet nothing is going to stop people who allow their toddlers to run on pavements without supervision.

If children are supervised, none of this happens.

Somarefuser · 27/07/2021 20:54

Hopefully the parent will be more aware, otherwise the next unsupervised jaunt could put the child in the road. So some good may come of it.

MotionActivatedDog · 27/07/2021 20:54

And yet nothing is going to stop people who allow their toddlers to run on pavements without supervision.

If children are supervised, none of this happens.

Do you understand that OP has no control over what parents do? Do you understand that the only thing she has control over is her own driving?

Clymene · 27/07/2021 20:55

@lannistunut - okay then, children shouldn't be playing around vehicles full stop. Because they might move.

The OP walked out of her house, got into her car, turned on the engine and then reversed her car.

It didn't just happen out of nowhere. If the child had been properly supervised, it wouldn't have happened.

lannistunut · 27/07/2021 20:56

[quote Clymene]@lannistunut - okay then, children shouldn't be playing around vehicles full stop. Because they might move.

The OP walked out of her house, got into her car, turned on the engine and then reversed her car.

It didn't just happen out of nowhere. If the child had been properly supervised, it wouldn't have happened. [/quote]
Well I think that is total bollocks, but there are many drivers like yourself.

TopBlogger · 27/07/2021 21:00

[quote Clymene]@lannistunut - okay then, children shouldn't be playing around vehicles full stop. Because they might move.

The OP walked out of her house, got into her car, turned on the engine and then reversed her car.

It didn't just happen out of nowhere. If the child had been properly supervised, it wouldn't have happened. [/quote]
100% agree - the child should have been supervised.

The fact that the OP saw the the child shows SHE was paying attention. The fact the parent didnt, shows HE wasnt

DemBonesDemBones · 27/07/2021 21:01

@LublinToDublin

Not really...you were replying to someone that said reversing into your drive would be as dangerous as reversing out weren't you? You'd be the same distance from the leading part of the car reversing in as you would reversing out no?

BFrazzled · 27/07/2021 21:03

@purrswhileheeats

This is the first time I've been ripped apart like this, I usually stick to the Litter Tray and post photos of kitties.

I accept that it would be better/safer to reverse onto my driveway and I will try this. However it is the parents' fault that their little boy was unsupervised and ran behind my car as I was reversing slowly and carefully out of my driveway. They should have been more diligent. I'm not being made to feel guilty or responsible for what could have happened but it's all gone round in my head today.

I have no gripe with my Romanian neighbours other than they need to keep a better eye on their young boy.

I'm not being made to feel guilty or responsible for what could have happened.. BiscuitBrewWink

OP, you would be the only one responsible, by law, because you are the driver of the vehicle. Seriously.

I get that it seems unfair to you, but this is just the reality. You are taking on this responsibility when you get into the driver seat.

Child running on the street is a common hazard. Remember this part of the driving test? Hazards? This is why you drive slowly on residential streets, do 6 point check etc etc

LublinToDublin · 27/07/2021 21:05

Clymene

But it isn't just unsupervised children is it?
It is precisely because unpredictable events may occur, that drivers must take the safest course of action every time. It might be a distracted parent or a 7 year old late for school or teen on their phone or an elderly person with dementia etc. All of whom have the right to be walking on the pavement.

The actions of each of those people may contribute to the accident happening but the bottom line is the driver is the only one who is in control of the vehicle. And it is the vehicle does the damage.

KormasABitch · 27/07/2021 21:07

Small children can be invisible, though, can't they? Blind spot in mirrors, etc.

DojoWojo · 27/07/2021 21:10

[quote Clymene]@lannistunut - okay then, children shouldn't be playing around vehicles full stop. Because they might move.

The OP walked out of her house, got into her car, turned on the engine and then reversed her car.

It didn't just happen out of nowhere. If the child had been properly supervised, it wouldn't have happened. [/quote]

Not true.

My children was a runner. I would hold her hand as tight as I could (actually wrist as I had a better grip) before walking across a car park/crossing roads etc. She still managed to leg it in front of a reversing van. She was 100% supervised. I watched it all in slow motion. I ended up buying her a large dog harness because toddler harnesses were too small. She was never unsupervised, and could easily have been run over.

ED81 · 27/07/2021 21:11

Ffs!! This is not OP’s fault. Saying she should reverse into her driveway!

I’m sorry this happened to you. What a fright you must have gotten. Hope you feel better very soon.

A little conversation with the parents to make them be more acutely aware perhaps?

Take care xx