to ring the police about a woman with an unrestrained toddler in her car?

[ILoveYouToo]

Yesterday at the level crossing, the car in front had a toddler in the back, not restrained in a car seat. She was roaming across the back seat and was opening and closing the windows, which were the hinged ones which open outwards. I was a bit because she looked as if she was going to get her fingers trapped in the hinge, which she was holding. The mum looked partly over her shoulder and in her mirror several times, but didn't do anything. I was quite that she wasn't in a seat. We were at the crossing for around 5 mins, after which the woman drove off and turned immediately left (so I lost sight of her at that point).

WIBU to ring the community police office and give them her car details, so they can go round and have a word about car safety? Or would that make me a right meddling cow? She was already at the crossing when I pulled up behind her, and I did think 'Oh maybe the toddler let herself out of her seat when they stopped at the crossing and they only live round the corner so the mum thought it wasn't worth the bother of putting her back into it?'

WWYD?

The police do take it very seriously.

I was walking along when a car pulled over so the drunk man in the passenger seat could vomit into the gutter (lovely). While he had the door open, I looked in and saw the woman driving the car had a newborn on her lap.

I'd just passed a police station so I took the plate, went back and reported it to the desk sergeant - they went out looking for the car immediately.

YANBU. I saw a couple in a van and the passenger had a baby sitting on her lap. I took the number and rang the police. One came round and took the details and said they would be having a word with them.

Ring them if you have the licence plate number -they can always check if there is a car seat in the car and just maybe the stupid parents will think twice next time.
If your toddler is getting out of their cat seat by themselves there are things that either go round the straps to stop them wriggling out, or covers that go over the button to stop them opening it.

My cm drove dd 6 months in a forward facing car seat. Wish someone had reported her - I was v ignorant and didn't realise it was bad.

I think it's a good thing to do OP.

Thanks for all the replies. I did ring them this morning, but I do feel a bit odd and guilty about it.

I called the local community police office, who tackle the less serious stuff like antisocial behaviour etc - they're a team of PCs and PCSOs. I said I didn't want to get her into trouble, but could they just have a word about the importance of child safety.

feedthegoat it was a fiat punto, 3 door, so the rear windows were quite small and only opened outwards about 3-4 inches. I was as shocked about the mum not stopping her playing with that as I was about her being unrestrained, I think.

squeakytoy we were at the level crossing for about five minutes though; plenty of time for the woman to put the toddler back in a seat.