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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think friends DD shouldn't be driving these children around?

66 replies

Bohica · 28/10/2011 21:14

My friends daughter passed her driving test last week. She went for a job interview today at a local childrens nursery and was offered a job which she starts on Monday.

One of her duties is to do school runs in her own vehicle (she has buisness car insurance) for breakfast and after school club at the nursery.

Myy friend thinks this is perfectly acceptable as do the staff at the nursery, they are aware she only passed her test last week.

I'm that they think this is ok and if I had a child at this nursery I wouldn't want an inexperienced driver taking my children to and from school.

AIBU?

OP posts:

starfishmummy · 28/10/2011 21:17

YANBU and I am surprised that an inexperienced driver would get insurance to do this.

squeakyfreakytoy · 28/10/2011 21:17

I certainly would not be happy with it, and am amazed that the nursery are too. An inexperienced driver should not be ferrying children around and I would be very surprised if she really has got business insurance too.

rhondajean · 28/10/2011 21:17

As long as she has the right category of business insurance, which Iwould hope they have checked out, then its nothing to do with anyone except her and her employer really.

pigletmania · 28/10/2011 21:19

YANBU at all! I used to work in a day center run by the Local Authority, and a driver had to be driving for at least 2 years before they could ferry service users to activities.

ToothbrushThief · 28/10/2011 21:19

I think it's well recognised that new drivers have more accidents. She does however have a licence...

I would not be happy as a mother though

troisgarcons · 28/10/2011 21:21

Is there legislation against new drivers having pre school passengers?

Original poster

Bohica · 28/10/2011 21:45

Trois I've had a google and can't find any legislation.

OP posts:

HeresTheScaryThingBooyhoo · 28/10/2011 21:52

i'm really surprised by this. any jobs i have seen advertised that require a license usually specify that the license should have 3- 5 years clean, i suppose as proof tha they are a safe driver. not sure how it works with business insurance or what age thsi girl is but i know for fleet insurance for my dad's company anybody added to the policy has to be 25 years old.

troisgarcons · 28/10/2011 21:56

There isnt any legislation.

Now, would all the mums and dads who passed their test at 17 like to step up to the plate and announce they were too precious to drive babies round (other people excepted) until they were 20 odd?

To preculde someone with a
clean license would be discrimatory - and you all know that.

Northernlurker · 28/10/2011 21:58

I passed my test and immediately started ferrying kids around. Mostly but not exclusively my own....

SausageGoulsAndFruitSpooks · 28/10/2011 21:58

Really. What about mothers Driving their own children around?

I passed my test one day and was taking my children to nursery in the car the next. Should I not be doing this? If not what was the point in me learning to drive because I thought it was so I could take my children places.

I wouldn't have a problem with this. Newer drivers are usually far more careful until they gain experience and i'd be a bit more apprehensive at an experienced driver ferrying my children around because most people start cutting corners and being more laid back about the whole driving thing with the more experience they get.

dimplebum · 28/10/2011 22:10

It is so difficult to pass your driving test these days, so Im sure that if she has passed her test then she is a capable driver . Anyone can have an accident regardless of how long you have been driving

ivykaty44 · 28/10/2011 22:13

So when do you think a driver that has passed their test can have any passengers?

Northernlurker · 28/10/2011 22:14

Exactly - I'm sure she is being careful and appropropriate, I know I am. Earlier this week I changed the location I was picking up my dd and some other people's from, because the original location meant a really nasty right turn at a junction I haven't done before on to a fast road. I felt a bit of a wimp doing that because I know I am capable and careful but equally other people's dcs do come with added pressure and I'm sure she will feel this too!

troisgarcons · 28/10/2011 22:17

One of her duties is to do school runs in her own vehicle (she has buisness car insurance) for breakfast and after school club at the nursery.

I hope she has the proper insurance for that - I cant take children from school in my car - it would breach the terms of my social, domestic,pleasure insurance. The only teacher I know who can take children in her private car is one who had a previous life as a driving instructor and kept up the appropriate insurances.

Original poster

Bohica · 28/10/2011 22:28

Ivy I didn't really think about it from that pov. I was just suprised that someone so new to driving would be given the responsibility of ferrying other peoples children to and from school.

Reading all the replies I'm looking a tiny little bit U arn't I?

OP posts:

lesstalkmoreaction · 28/10/2011 22:40

She might have class 1 insurance as that is what I have but all it covers is her car against damage while carrying children while carrying out paid work ie while doing a school run, it does not cover the children. If I was the girl I would check with the nursery that the children are covered under the nursery insurance by an inexperienced driver.
As a parent my issue would be that my child was insured against any injuries while in a car. Definately needs checking out just to make sure, but hopefully never needed.

ivykaty44 · 28/10/2011 22:44

why other peoples children? why did you not think any passenger...? you weren't being ageist where you? If it had been oap's to their doctors appointments you would have started the same thread -wouldn't you?

HeresTheScaryThingBooyhoo · 28/10/2011 22:51

i think, i could be wrong, but there is a difference between driving your own children or your granny or your partner around the day you pass your test and driving in a professional capacity, as in companies usually have policies on how long you need to have had your license before you can drive a company car for insurance purposes. i thought that was what the OP meant anyway. correct me if i'm wrong OP.

BertieBotts · 28/10/2011 22:53

Trois that's interesting. So all the teachers ferrying children around on Waterloo Road is completely false then

EllaDee · 28/10/2011 22:54

I see why you'd be nervous but I think YABU.

Maybe she has done advanced courses alongside? My instructor did half the pass plus lessons with me before I took my test, though you usually do them after, so I know it's possible to do.

InnoPanel10 · 28/10/2011 23:20

I've taken my child on my driving lessons. I intend to take them everywhere once I pass.

squeakyfreakytoy · 28/10/2011 23:24

You do realise you wont be able to take them with you when you take your test? :)

Children are a distraction in a car for even the most experienced of drivers, never mind one who will be out on her own for the very first time.

MCos · 28/10/2011 23:39

When my kids were younger, as soon as their nanny had passed her driving test, she did the driving for nursery/hobbies, etc. She was young and inexperienced, but a careful driver. More careful driver than me!

In my experience, just telling kids to be quiet that you need to concentrate on 'hard driving' works every time (any time I need to concentrate, roundabouts, lane changes, Xing busy roads, any difficult traffic conditions really). Never had a kid traveling with me yet that didn't respond to that request.

ToothbrushThief · 29/10/2011 09:37

I don't think your question is either ageist or unreasonable. This is from Govt website regarding driving between 8-16 passengers (minibus) :

i. the vehicle is used for social purposes by a non-commercial body but not for hire or reward
ii. the driver is aged 21
iii. the driver has held a car (category B) licence for at least 2 years
iv. the driver is providing the service on a voluntary basis
v. the minibus maximum weight is not more than 3.5 tonnes or 4.25 tonnes including any specialist equipment for the carriage of disabled passengers
vi. if the driver is aged 70 or over, is able to meet the health standards for driving a D1 vehicle

Although these stipulations are not applied to new drivers driving for hire/reward I think it shows that the above are considered risk management.

The difference between a new driver driving passengers as part of their job and a parent doing the same is the voluntary vs reward bit. However the whole point of passing is to be able to drive.

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