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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think if a school bus has stopped to let children on from the opposite side of the road the traffic should stop and wait until the children are safely on the bus?

86 replies

Agincourt · 13/03/2012 08:20

because I am finding it bloody infuriating.

My child gets picked up for 'road safety issues' by a council run bus scheme. We live in a location where there is no footpaths and it's also on a very bad bend. The bus driver pull to the centre of the road to try and block the traffic going round it, but still people overtake before my child has even crossed the road. Today some idiot drove up the grass verge where we were standing waiting because he hadn't got time to stop and nearly ran us over Angry

If everyone just waited my child could get on the bus within less than a minute and the bus would be on it's way. As it is, everyone has to wait longer and my childs safety is put at risk because people can't be arsed to wait :(

In America there are apparently laws in place so that people do not overtake school buses when they are stationary, not sure if this rule applioes in other countries but I wish they would do something here.

OP posts:
LizzieMo · 13/03/2012 08:27

YANBU- Unsafe drivers arounds schools is a pet hate of mine, I am sure we have all seen near-misses when people can't be bothered to wait a few minutes.
Or walk a few steps and so not park on the pavements/zig zags. I agree with you it is not on but maybe you need to contact the council to see if they can do anything, if it is their own transport then I think they have a responsibility to review the safety aspect of it.

FredFredGeorge · 13/03/2012 08:33

YABLU as it seems the road is an unsafe place to collect/drop off a passenger. Why not walk further so you can be picked up at a safe place where you can wait on the same side as the bus stops.

But YABU to expect better driving.

hairytaleofnewyork · 13/03/2012 08:33

YABU - how are the other drivers supposed to know? And why doesn't the driver turn so that thedoor is by the kerb?

mercibucket · 13/03/2012 08:35

Why on earth is he stopping on a bad bend?

mercibucket · 13/03/2012 08:35

Why on earth is he stopping on a bad bend?

hairytaleofnewyork · 13/03/2012 08:35

I get equally infuriated (I live by a school) with parents who step into the road in front of my car with their children without looking. Just because it's a school does not mean the usual rules don't apply.

Original poster
Agincourt · 13/03/2012 08:36

you can't walk anywhere, it's got no footpaths, it's why he is being picked up in the first place! and I do expect other drivers to drive safely and with consideration for others. I imagine if they ran my child over and killed him it would be a custodial sentence for dangerous driving.

There is no kerb because there is no path

OP posts:
Original poster
Agincourt · 13/03/2012 08:37

Why on earth is he stopping on a bad bend?

because that's where we live! There is nowhere else to stop.

It's b road, not a main road, but I have started to see that actually most people are more concerned about waiting for a minute for a child to get on a bus than about that childs safety

OP posts:
Whatmeworry · 13/03/2012 08:40

^I imagine if they ran my child over and killed him it would be a custodial
sentence for dangerous driving^

Possibly not, it does sound as if the bus is stopping in a risky place. I'd talk to the bus driver/council.

It's b road, not a main road, but I have started to see that actually most people are more concerned about waiting for a minute for a child to get on a bus than about that childs safety

No, we are looking at the real world, with cars moving on roads. I

sixlostmonkeys · 13/03/2012 08:41

It sounds like the bus driver is causing confusion by stopping in the middle of the road - he may think it's to stop cars overtaking but the car drivers haven't a clue what he's trying to do.

It may be best if he pulls over somewhere else where he can do so safely. This will mean you will need to walk a bit further but it will be safer all round

FredFredGeorge · 13/03/2012 08:41

okay, now YABVU, you can walk on a road without footpaths, and now you just appear to be justifying your laziness and actually causing the bus to stop in a dangerous place.

Original poster
Agincourt · 13/03/2012 08:42

It picks up other children along the road and they do exactly the same. The council have advised the bus to stop blocking the road (which can be seen from either side of the bend btw, there is no hedging, it's a flat bend iykwim) The car this morning could have stopped, it instead decided to mount a care verge where we were standing because the arsehole didn't want to wait

OP posts:
Original poster
Agincourt · 13/03/2012 08:43

why am I being lazy Confused there really isn't anywhere he can stop. The bus is provided for 'road safety issues' because the lane is too dangerous to be walked on

and lol at me being very unreasonable.

OP posts:
sixlostmonkeys · 13/03/2012 08:44

There must be a better place? even if it is half a mile down the road?

Original poster
Agincourt · 13/03/2012 08:44

by anywhere, I mean anywhere else. It's the only place he can stop where traffic either side can see him. It's a BIG bus in a bright colour, it's not like it's invisible.

OP posts:
Whatmeworry · 13/03/2012 08:45

YABU - there is no point in being "right" and have a run over child. Cars travel on roads, its what they do. You need to sort it, not them.

Original poster
Agincourt · 13/03/2012 08:45

So you think we should walk down a dangerous lane for half a mile even though the bus is picking him up DUE to those road safety issues presented by the lane Confused

nevermind!

OP posts:
Gumby · 13/03/2012 08:47

Why doesn't he just stop parallel to the grass verge with his hazards on?
Who on earth would overtake on the inside going up a grass verge?

Pusheed · 13/03/2012 08:48

Sorry OP but I can't see what the problem is. You stand on which ever side of the road the bus door opens onto. Bus turns up. DC steps on. If the cars behind are in a hurry then they drive around the bus on the driver's side.

How does that endanger you and DC unless you are waiting on the 'wrong' side of the road or are crossing to get to the bus.

I personally would not try to squeeze pass the bus so YANBU in that respect. But, unless I am missing something, I don't see why their driving is dangerous.

hairytaleofnewyork · 13/03/2012 08:50

So you've asked if you are BU. You've been told you are. And now you are insisting you aren't. Classic.

Pusheed · 13/03/2012 08:51

As for the bit about the US, their school buses have 'traffic' lights and when they are on they are regarded in law as being the same as regular traffic lights i.e. cars in both directions have to stop.

Sirzy · 13/03/2012 08:52

So basically you want to teach your child it's ok to expect cars to stop so he can cross what you have already said is a dangerous road? Great message to send!

Why not take the time to teach how to cross the road safely!

ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged · 13/03/2012 08:52

Um, OP, it's called Am I being unreasonable? - the question mark means people are allowed to disagree with you Smile

hairytaleofnewyork · 13/03/2012 08:53

So you've asked if you are BU. You've been told you are. And now you are insisting you aren't. Classic.

ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged · 13/03/2012 08:53

I also don't quite understand the question, do you wait on the opposite side to the bus doors? Why?

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