My worst nightmare nearly happened this morning 😞

[purrswhileheeats]

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.

My neighbours and I usually drive straight onto our drives, I don't understand why this would be a strange thing to do. I reverse slowly and check mirrors, but if a young child ran behind my car I would only know by my reversing sensors beeping.

This has happened in car parks and I am surprised how many young children run around them. I made mine hold my hands until they were 8 in these situations as they are too short to be visible in car windows.

@earringsandlipstick

It's not a case of disagreeing. It's a fact. Plenty of parents have experienced it. Not necessarily with known runners either, sometimes just a one off event.

So how exactly does that supervision stop unpredictable events? It can't, can it. It can only reduce the risk, not prevent it.

@DishingOutDone

But surely if the OP reverses into her drive she’s being incredibly reckless in case she hits someone? After all she’s driving on the pavement. With all the reversing in and out she’s asking for trouble.

I don't understand this, but in any case OP has explained there's no pavement where she is.

It could of been horrific , it didn’t happen. The boy should of been supervised better and if you need to change how you come out of your drive then do . That’s the only good that can come from this ; also now you know to double check and double check again before leaving which is no bad thing. It’s one of those hideous moments where the colour drains from who. Take it easy and take something from it . Do not destroy yourself over it . Being extra cautious is what you take from this.

That’s a real fright and understandable you are shaken with what could have been.

I assumed reversing cameras and sensors were standard these days? I’ve not had a car in well over a decade that hasn’t had them as standard and prior to that I used to order it as an extra when getting a car. Worth their weight in gold (particularly for neighbours dog the other week who I avoided reversing over on my drive- no way I could have seen that with rear/side mirrors).

[quote DojoWojo]@earringsandlipstick

It's not a case of disagreeing. It's a fact. Plenty of parents have experienced it. Not necessarily with known runners either, sometimes just a one off event.

So how exactly does that supervision stop unpredictable events? It can't, can it. It can only reduce the risk, not prevent it. [/quote]
In fairness DoJo it's a fact for you! But not me - I maintain that if you are holding a child's hand hard enough, then they can't bolt.

BUT I have had plenty of moments when my child has done something unexpected. I couldn't have anticipated it, but in theory, if I was supervising correctly, I'd have prevented it.

Overall my point is broadly the same as yours though - it isn't possible to supervise 100% of the time, and that's why accidents, sadly do happen.

All we can all do is do our best to prevent them, this includes the driver & the parent, in this instance.

@ButterflyCat2028

The people telling you to reverse in to your own drive are utterly pathetic. It's your drive, you shouldn't have to change the way you park in your drive because parents are useless.

So sorry OP. You did nothing wrong whatsoever.

Those parents should actually be parents.

Yes, advising the OP to follow the highway code is "pathetic". Of course it is.

This is a direct quote from the highway code:

"When using a driveway, reverse in and drive out if you can."

@Enough4me

My neighbours and I usually drive straight onto our drives, I don't understand why this would be a strange thing to do. I reverse slowly and check mirrors, but if a young child ran behind my car I would only know by my reversing sensors beeping.

This has happened in car parks and I am surprised how many young children run around them. I made mine hold my hands until they were 8 in these situations as they are too short to be visible in car windows.

It may not be a strange thing to do, but it's contrary to the highway code, and it's proven to be less safe than reversing on.

FFS - why are people so unwilling to take responsibility for driving safely?

I'm with you OP, child should have been supervised.
Sometimes the layout make reversing into a driveway a non-option.

@Nanny0gg

I’d love to see where you all live, as where I live I rarely see a car reversed onto a drive

Just because it's considered socially acceptable to drive forwards on to drives where you live, doesn't make it ok. It is literally in the highway code that you should reverse on to your drive if possible (i.e. in almost all cases).

It's less safe, and every driver has a responsibility to drive as safely as possible, because they are in control of a ton of moving metal. It's as simple as that.

^to clarify, I mean reversing out is less safe.

I'm so sorry you've had this awful experience OP.

I have a backup/reversing camera in my car and I love it. It can also stop the car if I'm about to hit something as I reverse. They've been required on new cars in the US for several years.

That’s piss poor parenting on behalf of your neighbors, definitely chat to them. Some parents just don’t seem to understand what they should be doing to ensure their kids are safe from danger, and the dad concerned here sounds like one of those examples where the link is missing and he’s not made the connection.

Of course you as the driver don’t want to hit them. But cars have to reverse, and will reverse, ffs they have reverse gear and they reverse. Unless you have a reversing camera you will never see a small child when you are reversing, they are too short.

It is totally the parents job to keep their kid safe and thy need to understand what could have happened.

Some drivers just don’t seem to understand what they should be doing to ensure pedestrians are safer, and the OP and several posters here sound like one of those examples where the link is missing and they've not made the connection.

Of course you as the driver don’t want to hit them. But cars have to reverse, and will reverse, ffs they have reverse gear and they reverse. Unless you have a reversing camera you will never see a small child when you are reversing, they are too short.

Which is why following the highway code is a good idea. It's a start at least, if you're aiming to avoid hitting people as far as possible.

I’ve found this thread fascinating. Do some of you treat driveways like side road me? Like stop peep round make sure no car moving then proceed? I have to admit I don’t, it would take me forever to get up our road. I think the emphasis is on the cars to make absolutely sure nothing is in their way before proceeding - in other words treating it like turning right off a main road, they need to wait until it’s clear with no expectation that the traffic they’re crossing should stop for them.

@zaffa

I understand OP. We live on a busy road with foot traffic and parents give no thought to letting their kids run or scoot ahead across people's entrance to their drives without checking. We all have six foot fences out front due to traffic noise and I have had to stop sharply more than once as a child suddenly shoots out in front of me on a scooter.

The worst are primary school children cycling to / from school who use the pavement (not a cycle path) and don't check who is coming out.

Sorry, are you complaining about children being on the pavement!?

@CarlottaValdez

I’ve found this thread fascinating. Do some of you treat driveways like side road me? Like stop peep round make sure no car moving then proceed? I have to admit I don’t, it would take me forever to get up our road. I think the emphasis is on the cars to make absolutely sure nothing is in their way before proceeding - in other words treating it like turning right off a main road, they need to wait until it’s clear with no expectation that the traffic they’re crossing should stop for them.

Legally, this is 100% correct. The car has no right of way on the pavement, and it is the driver's responsibility to make sure it's clear before proceeding. Pedestrians do not have to check every driveway before walking past - regardless what some of the posters are claiming upthread!

Sorry, are you complaining about children being on the pavement!?

I think Zaffa may have been commenting on children (and their parents) failing to check for cars, and moving at speed making it more risky for drivers.

In relation to cycling, no, children should not cycle on pavements. Unless very young. If they are cycling properly, at speed, they should be on the road.

think Zaffa may have been commenting on children (and their parents) failing to check for cars, and moving at speed making it more risky for drivers.

This is the sort of post I mean - I don’t think I should have to check for cars when moving along a pavement.

Pedestrians do not have to check every driveway before walking past

I agree - if walking. If running, scooting etc, then they should.

It's about common-sense.

If you are moving quickly, an emerging car may not see you. For your safety, exercise caution.

When walking there should ample time for a conscientious driver to see you.

Except children have every right to walk/scoot etc. down the pavement without checking every drive. They have right of way. As do all the other pedestrians.

failing to check for cars, and moving at speed making it more risky for drivers

Drivers reversing out of their drives makes it more risky for pedestrians. Pedestrians on the pavement are not a risk to the driver in any way, unless you are worried they might leave a dent in the car?

@CarlottaValdez

think Zaffa may have been commenting on children (and their parents) failing to check for cars, and moving at speed making it more risky for drivers.

This is the sort of post I mean - I don’t think I should have to check for cars when moving along a pavement.

Well, if moving at speed, you do. 🤷🏻‍♀️

A driver hasn't got sixth sense - they can be as cautious as they want, but someone running / scooting / cycling behind or in front of them, is dangerous. However slowly they are going, it may necessitate slamming on the brakes, or a collision.

I taught my children early on to be aware of reverse lights, and to stop & wait.

It's common sense.

@CarlottaValdez

think Zaffa may have been commenting on children (and their parents) failing to check for cars, and moving at speed making it more risky for drivers.

This is the sort of post I mean - I don’t think I should have to check for cars when moving along a pavement.

I agree. When I'm out running, I maintain a general awareness of what's going on around me, but I do not check every drive. Because I'm normal!

The people saying this are looking to excuse the OP of responsibility, probably because they park the same way. I dont believe they do check every drive.

"When using a driveway, reverse in and drive out if you can."

I've read this thread with interest so sorry for the derailment but if anyone knows what I can do about this I'd appreciate it. We have a problem reversing onto our drive as everyone on our street has found. It's a main road leading to 2 A roads and the m25. Virtually everyone who drives past is on 'get somewhere else' mode. Its a 20mph but most people are doing 60 as in their mind they are already on the faster road and out of the residential area. When we indicate and slow down and drive just past the drive ready to reverse in, the car behind zooms right up our arse and then there are 20 cars behind them doing the same. When we first moved here I used to have to keep driving round the block then just give up and drive forwards onto the drive. We've got a new neighbour who knocked and asked what to do as she was having the same problem and everyone told her you have to drive on forwards. The police even drive on forwards when they've been round (I was a witness to a crime - they aren't called on us!).