Accident waiting to happen, how can I stop it?

[AnneNotEmily]

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.

Agree - it’s not your driving, and although trimming the hedge might help, if you’ve got a clear view of the road that ought to be fine. It’s entirely because he’s cycling fast on the pavement. Totally agree that you should talk to his mother.

The boy definitely needs to learn about road safety or he shouldn't be cycling away from his mother. Although from your op it seems the mother could do with learning road safety too.

Encourage the school to do Bikeability training with pupils.

One of the techniques taught to cyclists is to be aware of side roads connecting to the "road" you are cycling on. It teaches the cyclists to slow down, look at the road and if possible make eye contact with any driver.

This technique is suitable for driveways accessing roads too.

This technique saved my son on more than one occasion! He was cycling on a bigger road and cars were coming (too fast) out of a side road without checking as he was aware of the safety techniques he was able to adjust his speed or swerve if necessary.

For those asking about bikeability I know the school and I’m pretty sure they do it but I tends to be something that is done year 5/6 and this boy doesn’t look old enough. I actually think he’s far to young to be cycling without his mother but that’s a completely different issue and not mine to get involved with

I'd try and have a word with Mum, acknowledging he's young but you're being careful knowing you don't have a clear view until you're out, but you've nearly hit him, or he's nearly hit you!

This is not a school issue. Please don't do this. It definitely is an issue for the mum though. You need to tell her that her son is at risk of being hit

That’s a good point actually @Toomuch44 he’s nearly gone into the side of me everytime. Hopefully that would mean I wasn’t at fault if he did come off his bike.

Technically no right of way as cyclists should be on the road and not the pavement.

I would have a word with the parent if possible and explain to her.

The thing is, it IS illegal for anyone, including children, to cycle on a pavement, but obviously safer, as you say for younger kids, but he does need to understand that the cobbled bit is a type of 'road' and he should stop at that bit and check if anything is coming. If he's not old enough to understand that he shouldn't be out cycling on his own.

I would speak to the Mum, tell her how often it has happened and tackle it from the point of view that he needs to see it as a 'road' and stop and check before continuing, because with the best will in the world you can't go any slower!

If she does it too, then she might check her own behaviour, if she just hasn't thought about it?

And if he runs into you, him and his bike may both suffer badly - plus the cost of repair to your car?

The Mum shouldn't be cycling on the pavement! If she were cycling next to or very close to her son, but on the road, I think that would be safer and easier to see.

I’ve just ordered a dashcam so if an accident does happen I can back up my version of events with video proof. The incident this morning was so close that it’s made me a bit nervous driving out of my driveway.

My DC didn't cycle but I know their school didn't let them cycle in unless they passed their Cycling Proficiency .

Have you got DashCam? Seeing the footage might galvanise his mother into being more aware and taking responsibility for her son.

I know there were some roads where I used to drive (rural) where if you approached a junction you had to toot the horn as a warning .

Your neighbours might not appreciate it but it might be enough (and if she says Why are you tooting at my DS you can say its a warning as you;ve had x number of near misses with him.

Mirror is the best option.

Neither of them should be riding on the pavement. Especially at breakneck speed. Supposing instead of a car it was a person on a mobility scooter or a small child on their own bicycle. Someone could be seriously hurt.

When mine were younger I used to impress upon them the importance of checking driveways for cars, whether they were walking or cycling.

I think you should take any mitigating actions that you can. I appreciate that you are not doing anything wrong, but it would be awful for all involved (including your own son in the car) if an accident did happen.

Ultimately, the only actions you have any power to change are your own.

Just checking, you are drinking forward out of your house not reversing? I tried to reread the OP but apologise if I missed that.

@WestAtlantic yup, driving forward VERY slowly. I’m pretty sure the boy and his mother are foreign and given I’ve only started seeing them recently I’m also wondering if they’ve only recently moved here from a country that is perhaps more cycle friendly.

I would have a letter written and ready in the car, so if it happens again and its just the boy, you can give him the letter and tell him he has to give it to his mum asap..include your phone number or something. If his mum is there next time, you wont need the letter and can just chat with her.

@SeaToSki i like that idea, thank you

I agree. If he’s cycling fast on the pavement he’s a risk to pedestrians as well as himself.
Cyclists of any age don’t have a right to cycle on the pavement, it’s illegal, but it’s become more common. The police acknowledge that it’s illegal but say they won’t usually do anything about it unless the cyclist causes an accident.
In this case it’s obviously a child, and nobody would blame him for an accident, but he shouldn’t be cycling fast and recklessly on the footpath.

Definitely have a word with his mum. You can't control whether she will take offence or not, so don't waste time worrying about that. You know you're coming from a place of genuinely wanting to avoid an accident and not knowing what more you can do to keep him safe. He's cycling dangerously and if he's not guided, he could well have an accident elsewhere anyway (not that that's your responsibility).