to be annoyed at parents driving their kids to school

[griffalo2]

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

This is an issue which makes my blood boil. I am surprised (though shouldn't be, I suppose) that some posters have wondered why anyone should care what other people do?
I care because of (not necessarily in this order)

1. Road safety around schools - hazards caused by parked cars, (they are invariably on the double yellows and zigzags), manoeuvring cars, children being let out into the road, children witnessing road rage incidents, etc. Some of those who drive enter the actual school grounds against the request of the school,and staff cars have been damaged by parents' cars turning round after drop-offs, also endangering cyclists leaving on the roadway (e.g. me!)

1. Children's health - I feel sorry for the overweight children being driven a few hundred yards by their overweight parents being set a bad example for life.

1. Environment - both direct pollution caused by traffic congestion around schools affecting children's health, and the general overuse of cars for short journeys which leaves a huge carbon footprint.

There is quite a high proportion of SAHM/benefit claimants at our school and they are more likely to be driving than the working mums in my experience. A lot of us walk or cycle.

Mitigating circumstances aside, I find that those who drive to school have a generally selfish attitude, where they seem to think their time and convenience is more important than anyone else's.

If this was not an issue then why would there be initiatives like 'Walk to School Week'?

There is quite a high proportion of SAHM/benefit claimants at our school and they are more likely to be driving than the working mums in my experience. A lot of us walk or cycle.

Mitigating circumstances aside, I find that those who drive to school have a generally selfish attitude, where they seem to think their time and convenience is more important than anyone else's......

Are you taking the piss? I am a mother of 2,work full time and drive to school.Why the hec would that make me have a selfish attitude ?
I really couldnt care less what you do with your time as I am really too busy getting to work and wouldnt be interested either.Your views are very strange.

Some of the workers here plainly have a flexible starting time. Many don't, and are cutting it fine as it is. Better to work and drive to school than not work because of it I think.

I have to drive my kids what would be a 6 minute walk as I have to be on shift in hospital almost immediately.

I couldn't give a shit what anyone thought - what I know is if no one is there to pick up phone when their kid has been brought in as a crisis over night then they will be really really worried and distressed - that is what I car about.

It's really nothing to do with 'what I do with my time' but more to do with the 3 issues I listed above.
There are undoubtedly those who have no real choice but to drive, but many do, and choose driving. I am not suggesting that if you have an inflexible shift start time that you should either remain unemployed or cause the death of a child by being late for your shift. I am just observing what I have seen at the two primary schools my children have attended in two quite different areas of the country.
Parking is limited and expensive in the cathedral city where we live, so mums who work locally are unlikely to drive to school then on to work. The drivers seem to be more those who are not working. Perhaps they employ some of the poor excuses I have read on this thread, or perhaps like some of you they just don't care about 1. 2. or 3!

Madame CF perhaps that could be a child knocked down outside a school? Noooo...

I drive DD2 to her school even though it's so close that it's quicker to walk there (as there's a footpath cutting across, avoiding any roads). That's because I have to take her while dropping DD1 at a different school, which starts earlier, and then drop off DD2 on the way back. I'll be passing School 2 while driving back home anyway, and she'll be late if I go home, park and then walk back.

No such rigmarole at pick up time (different times) so we walk.

I live two blocks from my kids' school. I often drive them - for two reasons. It is across a major road, and twice my daughter has nearly been run over on the crossing through the fault of the drivers not looking at the pedestrian crossing when turning left at the junction (in Virginia you can turn left at the same time the pedestrians are told it is safe to cross). Once was such a near miss I still get stressed thinking about it, the front wheels of the SUV stopped right over where she had been moments before and if I had not yanked her flying forwards that would have been it. The other reason is extreme weather. Heavy rain, bad storms, extreme heat and humidity... sometimes it is just all round better to get them to school in the safety of our car than walk.

Isnt there school buses spagetti? I lived in VA and all the kids were picjed up by yellow buses.

I walk my dd to school everyday, takes about 20 minutes each way and I have the two younger children in the buggy. Lost count of the amount of times I get told 'oh, you are good to walk' as if it's some sort of special skill!

most have to go straight on to work so i can't be arsed to judge. though i do judge really bad parking, right outside the school, on pavements so parents walking can't cross safetly and parking with their car's arses on the roads.

also school buses around here are driven very dangerously. i'm glad my older son can walk to his upper school and not rely on them.

Moomoofarm

when
We get off the bus me and dd watch people all the time strap in their kids and drive the short walk from the bus stop to he school they drive front to the from entrance so they don't have to walk all the way up the school field especially when is raining god people are so lazy

I agree with the OP. Of course there are some people who drive their children to school because they have to, for various reasons. Fair enough. There are others who drive out of pure laziness , or can't be bothered to organise themselves properly.
People care about this issue because it can cause inconvenience for other road users and local residents.

OP, I'm going to be more U than you and say that I am annoyed that kids get driven to school full stop! Unless there's a really compelling reason, I think children should walk or get public transport. I know so many overweight children and, although being driven about isn't the only thing to blame, it's certainly one factor. Also, IMO children need to learn to use public transport, manage and understand bus fares/Oyster cards/timetables etc and find their way around. And as for hot/cold/snowy/rainy weather, well, perhaps in the future people will live underground or in giant greenhouse constructions, but for now we all have to deal with the elements. Plus of course kids being driven to school adds to things like pollution and traffic chaos.

flyingspaghetti I just hope we don't end up like the US where nobdoy walks anywhere!

YABU. It's none of your business.

Yabu, so what if they live 300yards away. Are you assuming that these parents have nothing else to do after dropping their children. Unless you know their schedule and know for a fact that after driving the 300 yards to drop their children off they will be going straight back home to park the car until the next school run they you are being highly judgemental

Yes, Paper, it's none of your business if you don't care about other children's safety, inc. your own, children's health, inc. your own, and the environment in which your children grow up.

Doesn't look as though you have read much of this thread feisty.

Agree with ladyclarice. I am sick of breathing in fumes from drivers and dodging school run traffic

What have I missed then LiesIn

Don't be ridiculous LieInsAreRarerThanTigers. As a general issue take an interest, yes. But judging specific people on your own school run? Negative, busybodying and catty.

OK, let's assume for the sake of argument that no one is allowed to drive to school. How do we organise it, and still allow parents to get to work on time? Not everywhere is on any kind of public transport route, so I assume it would need several walking buses from all directions, and with more than one starting time (so that children can be safely accompanied to breakfast clubs or early music lessons).

So that's, what, 2 adults per 'bus', three or four directions, twice per morning? So 12 or 14 volunteers, police checked, I suppose. Plus at least one extra pair of hands for any 'bus' known to be taking a disabled child.

I can see the attraction, actually, but our little school struggles to find volunteers for the one walking bus it does run (one trip, mornings only).

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow '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.'

To quote ShirleyKnot: What The Actual Fuck?

lancelottie, well, I did say 'compelling reason' and in that I'd include schools that were only accessible by car. Although your suggestion sounds pretty good to me, actually.