to wonder if 'baby on board' signs make any diffference?

[misslinnet]

DH is very keen on us displaying a 'baby on board' sign in our rear window whenever we go out in the car with DS. He believes that drivers behind us will be much more considerate and not tailgate if they see this sign.

I think that most tailgaters don't understand why they're meant to be leaving a sensible stopping distance between them and the car in front, don't understand how their behaviour is potentially dangerous, and therefore I think that if a driver normally goes around tailgating the car in front, he's going to continue doing so whether or not there's a baby on board sign.

AIBU to think that these signs make no difference at all to other driver's behaviour?

So they are made for telling others - don't hit my car, hit one that only has adults in it were they??

It makes no difference...it simply identifies the car's owner/driver as a complete and utter plonker.

Ooh I like this one though

If you only drive safely because the car infront has a child in it, then you're a pretty crap human being and probably shouldn't be driving at all.

I hate the signs though. Just because they look tacky and shit.

They're daft, IMO. Especially all those 'princess on board' ones and the like, of which DP's brother has 4 on his back window. 4! Yup, we get it, you have a daughter, you think she's a princess, you support Liverpool - oh yeah, one of them actually says 'Liverpool princess on board'. Vom.

The most explanation I've seen for having one was on here a few years back, when a poster explained that she had one as when her children are in the car she's likely to be distracted, turning around to look at them etc, so her sign was to warn other drivers to keep their distance in case she did something silly. That really inspires confidence.

I have one. A little blue tee shirt with little dude on board.

I like it so we must me twats..

(obviously not the person that called me a twat..)

My sentiments exactly Easily!

They are for people who need to shout out to the world "Look at me! I have a baby! I am part of the parent club now! LOOK AT ME!!!!"

Informative sign

Feeling very :-( that noone seems to have read my earlier post as to why they exist!

Yes your right continental...

On a similar vein I often think there should be something in place for motorbike passengers. Years ago someone I know was riding pilion and was thrown so far from the bike she was in a ditch for 6 hours until the driver reigned conciousness and asked where she was.

Sparklingbrook, the cuddly toys and crap all over the dash / parcel shelf really irritates me too. I've seen cars with them suction-cupped onto the rear window and piled up on the parcel shelf, so the driver couldn't see a thing. Why? Why do people do this?

Nope no difference - may obscure your vision though.

It took me ages on my tiny phone screen while cuddling my toddler with my dominant hand [sniffs]

I know Shadows, I wouldn't be able to concentrate. the gonks would be reflecting in the windscreen. What with that and stuff swinging from the rear view mirror. Oh and furry steering wheel covers-just why?

I have a very minimalist car with no adornments. Air Fresheners make my eyes water too.

I think they're vaguely ridiculous and have never understood the point.

I thought it was just a way of shouting 'I have had unprotected sex!' or 'did he put holes in the condom, the bastard'

Baby on board stickers are fertility flags. They are for smug idiots who think they've achieved something because they have reproduced. " Grandchild on board" "twins on board", all on cars driven by very dull people.
OP, is your DH a first time Dad by any chance? This can be his only excuse.

Ooh Netto where did you get your sign from? I think I might like something similar (lost in a certain Spaniards eyes)
As you were

Myhandlooks - I read your post!! And I thought, how funny, I was only telling my DS on school run this morning how incensed my DM used to get about those ghastly "Show Dogs in Transit" stickers you see in people's rear windscreens - as if there was anything more precious about their Pomeranians than our lovely old mutt. But that's probably the reason - insurance claims. I've never thought about that before.

If you feel that you need a sign to indicate to other road users that you are either a) so arrogant that you think that the people in your car are more deserving of careful driving than people without a sign or b) are likely to be driving badly due to distraction of having a baby in the car go right ahead, but IMO it is totally offensive to think that people should alter their driving around your baby rather than someone elses mum, father, brother, sister or friend.

Sorry, myhandslooksoold. I did read your post about them originally saying pet on board.

Although, I've only ever seen signs like that on police vans carrying police dogs.

I'm sorry, but car stickers irritate me. Quite frankly I couldn't care less who is in the car in front, I keep a safe distance regardless.

It just makes me think that the parents are ridiculously proud and PFB about their baby.

And yes, DH is a first time dad.

He also got upset about me buying DS second hand toys in case they had germs from other children on them. Probably just as well he's always at work when we go to playgroups, he'd freak out if he saw all the babies and toddlers sharing the toys and potentially mingling their germs together....