to be annoyed at parents driving their kids to school

[griffalo2]

When they live no more than 300 yrds from school gate!

she doesnt work and shes stood around outside talking till everyone dwinddles off.

so what?

really, so bloody what?

fuzzpig, I'd be interested to know more about your school's 'contract' - how does it work?

mambombadil - I don't know about the OP, but I care because when a child is run over and badly hurt it will be too late :(

I also care about all the children with asthma who have to walk/cycle through a road choked with traffic/pollution (and indeed those without - why should they have to breathe fumes when they should be able to travel safely to school?).

Maybe we need the dog ban too,five of them kicked off other day,teeth showing and no owners around.how can they can be trusted not to turn on a child.? Im havin a proper rant day today lol

if the dogs owners weren't around, how can you ban them?

dogs can read now?

Yes, but for every parent who drives because they're on the last minute or just can't be bothered, there are probably three who drive because they need to get to work or another school in the next 20 minutes.

We walk in the mornings, but have two pickups 5 miles (and 5 minutes) apart in the afternoons, so unless I can coerce one child or other into judo club/afterschool club/detention, we have to drive.

Ironing,so what? If she got time to stand around getting daily village gossip then she/they got time to walk to school.benifiting her son, the envionment and others

The owners tie them up and leave them unatended.

YANBU. Lazy polluting bugger.

I walk my dd to primary school and the loving parents who drive their dc to school who seem to drive far to fast and dont care about other children whether they are on bike or foot
unfortunately it is only a matter of time before there is an accident
I know some ppl have to drive and I accept that but if you see how light the traffic is in school holidays then you have an idea of the school traffic
and the cars are getting bigger and quieter and there are more of them
and the pollution
also it does make wonder what is the point of all this recycling when you see the number of new massive 4x4s
whoops was that too much of a rant!

It matters because it's the same parents who drive short distances to school, for whatever reason, who want to park closest to the school because they want to do a quick drop off and are cutting it fine on time. They tend to have a disregard to any parking regulations, such as parking or stopping on zig-zag lines, or parking on corners, because that's the closest spot they can squeeze into, and are therefore parking dangerously. I love it when the traffic wardens appear close to school at around 3.15 pm.

I am more irritated with the mums who drive too fast up to the schol or when leaving (lots turn around and then drive back past the school gates) when their DCs are on board but then whinge like mad when they are out of their 4x4 and some other mum dares to do exactly the same speed!

And don't get me started on those who park on the zig zag markings rifgt outside the gates with a "oh I'll only be a minute" and then take 10!

I live less than 1/4 mile from school. I can't quite see the school from home, but only because of a bend in the road. It takes about 5-8 mins to walk to school. My neighbour is all judgypants and rolls her eyes when I get into the car, because she walks to school with the 'walking bus' that meets directly outside my house.

However, I regularly use my car because:-

• I have 3 children under 8 and the boys fight and I'm worried they will push each other into the road along a narrow pathway and busy road.

• I can't stand my neighbour. I don't want to walk to school with the walking bus as it will mean I have to walk with her.

• Mornings are manic and often just 1 phone call can throw me out of my morning routine and I don't even have 8 mins to get to school. I drive and drop the children off to ensure they are there on time.

• When it is raining 8 mins can get you totally soaked.

Pingu - your neighbour sounds like a lovely person. Bet her children don't fight on the way to school. I don't think a walking bus would put up with that behaviour.

pingu None of those are 'reasons' imo

Not that my opinion matters

Ironing are you really deluded enough to think the school run only affects that area for 10 minutes? I started a thread abouth the exact same thing the other day as I live 0.5 miles from the school and it is impossible to get anywhere between 8.30-9.15am and 3-3.45pm, these time are at best! The area is dangerous, parents double park, they park on the yellow zig-zag lines (who is supposed to police that?), the traffic goes from the beginning to the end of the road (which is a mile long) due to over zealous lollipop lady, nobody seems to watch where they are going as they are all just so desperate to get out of there.
I'm not entirely sure that pingu has reasons, more excuses for being lazy. You hate your neighbour? Don't talk to her. You're worried your boys will cause themselves some mischief? Control the situation better and educate them on the dangers of twatting about next to a road. If your phone rings whilst getting ready? Don't answer until you're sorted out, they will phone back or leave a message if important. It's raining? Buy a brolly! Kids love messing in the rain, they are not made of sugar and will not dissolve on contact with water!!
OP has valid points. Nobody is saying that every parent should walk with their children every day, life wouldn't allow that, it's the danger level that increases at certain times of the day!

the 10 mins point was purely a suggestion, no delusion here, quest

if the traffic is affecting the area for longer, it's not rocket science is it?

it's not the fact that people drive 10ft (or whatever) that causes the trouble, it's bad driving/parking/not considering other road users.

as you will know, living .5 of a mile from school..........

YANUBU fucking bone idle people! Happens here all the time.

Surely if Pingu just got up 8 minutes earlier, all problems would be solved!

Does it matter, does it really matter.

Yes of course it does

Pingu pathetic excuses, you don't have to join the walking bus, just walk on your own. What sort of example are you setting your children?

I have been tempted to leave my 2yo at home during drop offs as he has been known to bite people if left unattended.

agree with others re: Pingu's excuses. None of them are really valid reasons to drive the short journey.

So your kids fight? Well use it as an opportunity to teach them about road safety and that they must behave on the walk to school.

Don't talk to your next door neighbour. Maybe she doesn't like you either? If you get unlucky it's only 8 minutes, and in any case you can busy yourself with entertaining the kids.

Mornings are manic - yes, I get that. Don't answer the phone when you are getting ready - it can surely wait until you get back.

Yes rain can be very wet stuff. Take umbrellas, a good old fashioned cagoule and welly boots and your kids will arrive nice and dry after the 8 minute journey.

Your kids might actually enjoy the walk to school. Gives them a chance to talk to you before, and run off steam after a day in the class room. Not to mention that puddles are much more fun on foot than in the car.

I'd love to live near enough our school to walk - we're 1.7m as the crow flies, but across fields. I walked it once - 50 minutes up and down steep hills. No way could I do that with a 4yo, 3yo and then get to work!!

But, even though I drive I try to be courteous and road law abiding all the time. I never park on single yellows, never speed past the school, get there in plenty of time for DS1 to walk the short distance from where we park up the hill to play for 10 minutes before school to run off some energy etc etc.

The traffic warden came the other week and ticketed 30 cars for parking on yellow lines and zigzags.

The next day he didnt come. So all those parents parked there again. Its a nightmare!

People are just incredibly lazy. I always found it amusing/sad how people would park in the disabled and P&C parking where I used to live ... and go to the gym :o

well if you can go to the gym you can't really need a disabled parking spot can you? I never really understood there being disabled spots at the gym.

My dad has major health problems, a blue badge and gym membership through his GP. He parks and spend an hour twice a week walking through the water with support, and he gets to do a bit of gentle cycling.
Whether that's OK wit the last two posters, I really don't give a fuck.
He's got more chance of making it to his next birthday if he keeps going.