A school run mum blocked the driveway then refused to move when asked to

[DillyDallyDayDream]

I work a few doors down from a school/preschool as a nanny. The house has a doubled dropped kerb and double driveway.
I'd dropped my charge off at school and was getting the younger ones into the car when one of the preschool mums parked her huge 4x4 across the dropped kerb of the house I work in.
I asked her politely to move her car as I was going out and told her she can't legally block the driveway. She got quite arsey saying that she was late and there was no where else to park.
Was I being unreasonable to ask her to move??
Was I being unreasonable to report her to the local pcso after school whilst they were monitoring the parking?

Nothing to add.
Except this

Lueji - except that isn't strictly true. The type of car you have increases the risk you pose to others as a driver. If you choose a car that increases the risks to others for no good reason then I think you are making a selfish and inconsiderate choice.

Jack - because it isn't a good reason. Not many people plan to have 5 children and if you bought a 7 seater people carrier and drove it whilst you had your 5 children it'd be a waste of petrol/diesel/tax and would get in other people's way for years and you'd probably even be at the point of replacing it when you had reached the 5th child. Besides I don't think many people who have 7 seaters are planning or even wanting 5 children, they plan two or three and "need space for the pram/dogs/holidays/extra children" except that they don't really need that car for those things. They want that car with loads of extra space because it is nice for them.

Sofia - it isn't about being a 4x4 it is about being an SUV and being dangerous to pedestrians/cyclists. SUVs are not the only vehicles that carry large numbers of passengers.

YANBU she is a selfish inconsiderate moo

We have a huge car (not a 4x4 though) but we need it, I do not apologise for that at all

Well you/others seem to be mixing up your terms. There are lots of reasons for needing a 4x4 which are likely to be different from reasons for needing an SUV. There could be reasons for needing a 4x4 that is also an SUV, or and SUV that is also a 4x4. If you're going to tell everyone how they should live their lives, it would be good if you got your terms and instructions straight.
By the way, just wondering if you had ever calculated how many people died/suffered in the making of the computer you are posting on, or the clothes you are wearing. Why do you get to decide those are ok sacrifices to make in your life, but don't allow others to make similar decisions for themselves.

Well I love my big massive 4x4 and I don't care what assumptions people make. I am a very considerate driver and would never do what the rude woman the op described did. You can't judge people by their car - although people with a chip on their shoulder often do.

I think it is disingenious to call think that all 4x4 are bigger than cars, my sisters one is a lot smaller than my mothers volvo estate, just say it is a huge car.

The woman was rude and ignorant.

The fact that her car was a 4x4 has nothing to do with anything.

Just a poor excuse to start a fight.

One I won't be joining in

One of my suv's is smaller than a prius, or just about any other politically correct car you can think of. It's the one I use for going about town (even in Los Angeles where there are no pedestrians :) ). I try very hard not to get on a freeway unless I am in my big suv that will protect me and my children if we hit another car...not too many pedestrians and bicyclists around on the freeways.

no I took picture of Car parking the dropped Kerb that was forcing mums and kids and prams onto thr road and cause me to come down the road at school run time in the road .

Local pcso took Reg and was going to have a quiet word with driver and the Driver that another time parked on the drop Kerb outside my house which has a carport and a sign for use of ### road only got a lovely big fine and earful of me I told them cant park there I need to get out and do school run and droppe dkerb is there so i can get my wheelchair out .followed by earfull of pcso when they did not move as in a rush.so i caught the pcso up the road and got him to go wait .

oh and to point out not a 4by4 and our car is far bigger than any 4by4 .

The real problem isn't 4x4s or bad driving or parking, it's schools that were built in circa 1800 that have no provision for car parking or sitting.

Also the rule that you have to stay with your child until the bell rings but there is no where to park.

Our school was built at its current location about 8 years ago. It has plenty of space for cars in a double lay by and you can leave your child in the playground starting at 830. There is a playground attendant for this purpose.

Have your schools come into the 21st C in terms of car space and/or get them to change the rule about all parents having to stay.

Or, be like the US, and have the council put on free buses.

Sorted.

(Yes, I know it isn't this simple. I'm being facetious because I think the 4x4 argument is fucking stupid. They are cars. Get over yourselves, all of you. You chip wearing 4x4 drivers and you self righteous small car drivers/walkers/bike riders. For the record, my son and I walk to school. 1.5 miles one way. And I couldn't care a fucking flying fig what everyone drives so long as they aren't running me over when they do it.)

"one of my SUVs is smaller than a Prius"

Surely this needs to go in the Mumsnet all of fame

Unfortunately, it's the inconvenience caused to others by the owners of very big vehicles. The crap parking, the fact that you can't see round them, the sheer size in a city with a medieval street structure.
That's before you get into the environmental issues.
All builds them a bad reputation, and then the image gets trashed without further thought.

Not stopping other people making any choice just explaining that unnecessary big cars which increase the risks to other people are selfish and inconsiderate, so are clothes that are not ethically made, food that's not organically grown, computers/phones made in exploitative factories... Don't get the point? "Oh your computer killed people so that means me having a selfish and inconsiderate car is not selfish and inconsiderate" flawed logic. What is the problem people have with owning their own decisions?

The idea of most children going to their local school is so that they can walk there.
Wall to wall tarmac to be used for less than an hour a day? Really?
School buses for a journey of less than a mile?

Did you miss the bit about camping, or are you deliberately ignore that?

My car is no more dangerous to pedestrians than a focus or a golf.

My big car is totally necessary

Why does camping require a big car? It might be nicer with a big car....

Yes people carriers are more dangerous to pedestrians because they are higher and longer and often wider than smaller cars.

No, in the US if you live less than a mile away, you are expected to walk and not clutter things up by driving.

And the kids all walk together, without a grown up, from about age 7.

Do you accept that some people need big cars?

May

Same here infact we don`t have a car or 4x4 we have a Van .Is adapted Van before anyone jumps on why so big

as for local schools .We moved here and had to fight to get my dd into the school that is literally round the corner.Was offered one 3 miles away

Or that some people need to drive everywhere?

Human, I know what it's like sometimes I'd love a smaller car but sometimes life doesn't deal you a fair hand and you have to make do as best you can

"why does camping need a bigger car"
When we go camping we like to take things with us, like a tent, bags, cooking equipment etc. They wouldn't fit in a smaller car.

My car is no more dangerous to pedestrians than its no MPV equivalent.