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Accident waiting to happen, how can I stop it?

47 replies

AnneNotEmily · 23/05/2024 09:40

For the 3rd time in 3 months now I’ve nearly had an accident with the same little boy on his bike. My house is set back off a corner and to get to the road I cross a pavement, part of which is cobbled, I assume to mark where cars might be travelling. The neighbours have a hedge around their house, it isn’t particularly tall or overgrown but it does block the view of the pavement slightly. I go very slowly out of here and if people are walking they can see the nose of my car and as it’s only a blind spot for a split second I can see them too, it’s never a problem.

Fairly recently a little boy (I’d guess about 8) has started using this route to cycle to school. He goes very fast, head down, not looking and he comes flying over the dropped cobbled area. I’ve seen him do this while I’ve been in the house and a couple of times now we’ve had very near misses when he’s nearly gone into my car. I sometimes see his mother cycling with him with a baby seat on the back and she seems to take a similar approach. I know that technically it’s his right of way but I can’t go out of there any slower and short of getting someone to stand on the pavement and wave me forwards I can’t make it any safer. It happened today and I rolled down my window to check he was ok (he hadn’t fallen off his bike or anything) and nicely told him he should go a bit slower over that bit. He nodded but seeing as it keeps happening I don’t think much will change. His mother was no where to be seen so I couldn’t speak to her.

Should I say something next time I see her? I have attached a diagram to show the layout.

Accident waiting to happen, how can I stop it?
OP posts:
Mrburnshound · 23/05/2024 09:42

Can you install mirrors? I have had these on a drive before and they are slightly convex/angled to give you a view of the pavement

SoupDragon · 23/05/2024 09:44

I was going to suggest a mirror too.

FOJN · 23/05/2024 09:45

Yes mirrors on a post in the grass area opposite your drive.

AnneNotEmily · 23/05/2024 09:46

Sadly there is no where I could install a mirror as it’s just road or pavement in front of me.

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 23/05/2024 09:49

Ask your neighbours to shave off the corner of their hedge to improve sight lines?

JellyBeanToes · 23/05/2024 09:50

Could you contact the local school to explain the situation? They could possibly use assembly time to discuss road safety or even get a message to his parents. I live in an almost identical situation so I understand your worry.

Geneticsbunny · 23/05/2024 09:51

Isn't there a rule about the height of hedges when they are straight onto the pavement?
I assume if the hedge was lower you would be able to see them?

Octavia64 · 23/05/2024 09:52

Things you could do:

Work out if they always come past at the same time

Go and check the pavement (how far can you see?) before getting into the car

If someone is going with you get them to stand on the pavement and wave you out

You can talk to them. But they have right of way, and even if the mum wants to stop him there, getting a pre-teen to always sit at a particular place is challenging. (I cycled with mine to school for a few years)

Mrburnshound · 23/05/2024 09:52

Put a mirror on a post assume it's your property?

FOJN · 23/05/2024 09:53

AnneNotEmily · 23/05/2024 09:46

Sadly there is no where I could install a mirror as it’s just road or pavement in front of me.

Maybe your diagram can't reflects the reality on the ground but wouldn't a mirror on the grass pointing towards to area concealed by the hedge be visible to you in your car? You have to clear it with the landowner first but if it would work it's worth asking.

PuttingDownRoots · 23/05/2024 09:54

You need to stop at the boundary, window down so you can hear, and inch forward.

Had a similar issue a few years ago.

Talipesmum · 23/05/2024 09:55

SoupDragon · 23/05/2024 09:49

Ask your neighbours to shave off the corner of their hedge to improve sight lines?

Yes, this. And speak to the mum next time you see her.

AnneNotEmily · 23/05/2024 09:55

I don’t think the hedge is breaking any rules, it’s only about a meter high and well kept. If he was going at a normal speed it wouldn’t be a problem as we would all see each other in time. I think the issue is really his riding but I don’t want to approach his mother and sound as though I’m having a go at her.

OP posts:
Talipesmum · 23/05/2024 09:57

AnneNotEmily · 23/05/2024 09:55

I don’t think the hedge is breaking any rules, it’s only about a meter high and well kept. If he was going at a normal speed it wouldn’t be a problem as we would all see each other in time. I think the issue is really his riding but I don’t want to approach his mother and sound as though I’m having a go at her.

It’s not about it breaking rules - it could be totally fine but still blocking the view a bit. If you think it would help a little, I’d ask them.

AtomicBlondeRose · 23/05/2024 09:59

I live on a circular road with only one way in and out, so I used to let my son ride around the circle on his bike alone. One day a man who lived nearby knocked on my door and asked if “the blond boy on the bike” lived there - basically DS had been riding round at warp speed and the man was shaken at having nearly hit him when pulling slowly out of his drive. He was adamant that I shouldn’t tell DS off but was worried about his safety! I was grateful (and did tell DS off), so hopefully the mum would feel the same?

blackcherryconserve · 23/05/2024 09:59

If you know the time he is cycling to school could you leave home earlier?

Talipesmum · 23/05/2024 10:00

Is the boy cycling on the pavement? If he is, then I think that’s unsafe. It would presumably be ok if he was on the road, as you’d be able to nose out over the pavement/cobbles and get a better view of the road.

If he’s cycling at speed on the pavement that’s not ok and you should probably talk with his mum.

Mrburnshound · 23/05/2024 10:02

The issue is even if the boy stops there could still be a random child/dog/whatever. You need to either have the windows down and creep forward or sort the hedge/mirrors

Solidlump · 23/05/2024 10:03

JellyBeanToes · 23/05/2024 09:50

Could you contact the local school to explain the situation? They could possibly use assembly time to discuss road safety or even get a message to his parents. I live in an almost identical situation so I understand your worry.

I think contacting the local school is a good idea.
Apart from the particular issue you have where you are concerned you are going to hurt the boy there is a general issue about cycling without giving attention to what is going round about.
A cyclist should be aware of other traffic and pedestrians, for their own and everyone's safety. If this boy is cycling on the pavement in the manner you describe then at some point he might injure a pedestrian. I know schools used to do cycling proficiency - i have no idea if this is still a thing but teaching children road safetyshould be something the school must do.
You say the mother also uses a bike with a baby seat. Is she cycling on the pavement as well? I certainly think if she is cycling on the pavement past your entrance in the manner you describe then i think you should try and say something to her for everyone's safety.

AnneNotEmily · 23/05/2024 10:03

I leave at the time I leave to take my own DC to school (different school to the boy) so I’m not really able to change my routine, nor do I think I should have to. To those who have asked, yes he is cycling on the pavement. The view of the road is absolutely fine. Both him and his mother (when I see her) cycle on the pavement and to be honest I do think it’s safer for children not to be on the road so I don’t really begrudge that, I just wish he’d slow down and learn from past near misses!

OP posts:
UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 23/05/2024 10:07

Honk your horn before you pull out to alert him that there's a car?

EmilyDickinson · 23/05/2024 10:16

If your DC are in the car with you are any of them old enough to stand on the pavement and let you know if anyone is coming?

If not then I would drive your car to the edge of your property, where the cobbles start, nip out of the car to take a look along the pavement to see if anyone is coming and then get back in and drive slowly out. You really can’t risk hitting a small child on a bike or anyone else who is on the bit of pavement
you are driving over.

EmilyDickinson · 23/05/2024 10:17

Also, is it feasible to park your car on the road?

Talipesmum · 23/05/2024 10:20

AnneNotEmily · 23/05/2024 10:03

I leave at the time I leave to take my own DC to school (different school to the boy) so I’m not really able to change my routine, nor do I think I should have to. To those who have asked, yes he is cycling on the pavement. The view of the road is absolutely fine. Both him and his mother (when I see her) cycle on the pavement and to be honest I do think it’s safer for children not to be on the road so I don’t really begrudge that, I just wish he’d slow down and learn from past near misses!

I really don’t think it’s ok for them to cycle on the pavement, especially the mother. It’s ok if it’s a little child tootling along on a small bike at more or less walking pace, but it’s really really not ok to be cycling at speed on the pavement. For this exact reason.

AnneNotEmily · 23/05/2024 10:21

To be honest, I think I’m just going to have a polite word with his mother when I see her. If it was my DC doing it I would want to know. I don’t see why I should park away from my house, disturb the street with a honk of the horn or make my children stand in the rain just because of one person who is a little bit in the wrong anyway. I’ve lived here for 8 years and never had a problem before now and it’s only this one person so I don’t really think my driving or the neighbours hedge that is the issue.

OP posts:
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