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?

I am a judgie. And to me, a 4x4 means one of those fuck off huge monsters that require a step ladder to get into the driver's seat. Not a "pretend wannabe" one, a proper big thing.

Not that it matters, it just means you have a ridiculously oversized car for, let's say, driving to the supermarket. On relatively smooth paved, tarmaced London streets. Not a mountain or bog in sight.

is this still going on!! haha! well i am off in my lovely 4X4, that requires a step ladder to get into the drivers seat because it is so huge not because i am a short arse and drive to my local woodland to walk my dogs!

my crossing out didnt work!

The police regularly police our school as parking is a nightmare but people's sense of entitlement is crazy.

A few weeks ago by three year old was nearly knocked off his scooter by a car trying to park on a corner, reversing onto the pavement. People mounting the pavements to do 3 point turns when they find there are no spaces at 8:40 in the cul de sac.

People regularly just park on people's driveways .

The problem with 4x4s is that owners always think that critics are just jealous. However,
they ARE more dangerous to pedestrians, particularly children, as visibility is worse.
they do cause more problems in places such as busy school runs as they take up more room and are more difficult to manoeuvre/turn

If the reasons for having one outweigh these, then obviously your choice but owners have to accept these facts and drive accordingly.

How is visibility worse?

Mind how you go Two - don't knock over any ethnic peace bicycles (thank you Jeremy Clarkson) in your death trap!

Thank god the school run is over for the morning! Just came home to find someone had knocked the bin over in the driveway in order to do a 3-point turn. Luckily, it had fallen in a way that the contents hadn't spilled, which is good because the lorry will be round very soon for collection.

And the worst of it is that we are on a cul-de-sac that has a space suitable for turning part way along. So a few yards and the chap would actually have had more room to turn.

Oh come on, Fry. Kick the hornets' nest and tell us what kind of car it was! If you didn't see then just make it up! (Passes a wooden spoon)

Visibility is worse because you are higher up. Therefore you are less able to see things which are lower down.

This is particularly why children are more at risk. They are much lower than you windows and therefore, the range at which you physically can't see them is greater than a smaller car.

I'm happy for you to prove me wrong on this - maybe ask Jeremy.

Have you noticed how many 4X4s have personalised number plates? So you're rich - get over it.

4X4s use a lot more petrol. There's a limited amount of that and it's going go run out, remember?

Using a lot of petrol causes a lot of carbon emission. This is the cause of global warming, which is already starting to cause huge problems worldwide.

4X4s hog the road - we have lots of narrow lane roads here, and other people driving 4X4s means that you have to spend half your time reversing to find a place to let them pass (they usually expect the other driver to do the reversing).

There are safety issues with 4X4s - you may be safer, but others aren't. Don't other people matter?

Without any appreciable difference to your lifestyle (in a small car you can get to all the same places, believe it or not), you could avoid all of these problems.

You deliberately choose not to do so. What does that say about you? Your children are going to spend their lives in this world too, you know. They can't buy themselves out of the problems you're choosing to contribute to.

here

So yes, by all means laugh at the ethnic peace bikes and pour scorn on those lower down the food chain than you, but be aware of the risks you are taking to make yourself feel better.

I think we all know where Jeremy stands on the 4x4 debate.
You can actually see much better in a 4x4 because you are higher up and so can see further ahead. It's the same principle as standing on tip toes to help you see better. You speak as though 4x4 are on stilts!!! You should have a sit in one - you might even like it ...

The 4x4 haters have a very one dimensional and repetitive argument. Come up with something else people, please!

I have sat in one gin, I've even driven one.

However I don't own one because it is completely inappropriate for my needs. My main driving is in urban areas, car parks and residential areas.

Therefore I drive a small car.

Dromedary, what about people that can't go to all the same places in a smaller car? I'm sure that not everyone with a big car strictly needs one but many do and who can judge people without knowing the reasons? (not that I think anyone should be judged for having a specific type of car)

Cruncher - you've hit the nail on the head. You assume that I think I'm "higher up the food chain" because I have a 4x4. Of course I don't think that. I don't know you, how would I have any idea of your achievements and strengths in life. You could be a Nobel prize winner for all I know. I don't tend to make judgements based on tangible and expendable items. You, however, allow yourself to be made to feel "lower down the food chain" ( remember these are your words, not mine) because of what I, and others have, that you do not. It's just not logical.

When you can disprove the one dimensional argument, or come up with something to counter it, then we can all move on.

The fact is that 4x4 are more dangerous to pedestrians and, in particular, children than other cars.

That is a proven fact which you can't refute. And all the smug blustering in the world will not change that.

If you have personal reasons for owning one which override that then lovely, off you go.

Just don't expect others to forget those facts just because it makes you happy.

We all make judgements and draw lines about acceptable risks to ourselves and others. You have made yours, I have made mine.

I judge you on yours, but I'm not expecting you to care. I'm just expecting you to acknowledge the facts of the decision you've made and be OK with them, not ask everybody to come up with a 'more fun' argument.

You can't see little people well though Gin? Or things closer to you - hence lorries knocking cyclists off easily - same principle.

Cows, did you park across three two bays in the supermaket? Hog two traffic lanes and cut across several small normal cars on your way?

I didn't mean higher up the food chain in life, I meant on the road.

As the school run goes

• 4x4
• big cars
• little cars
• cyclists
• pedestrians.

It's a little like asking the anti-gun lobby to come up with a different argument than 'because they kill people'

Well I've been driving a 4x4 since my early twenties and I find that can see little people perfectly well. I can concentrate and I can use my eyes.

Cruncher - read my earlier posts - I do need a big car.

I understand the environmental arguments against big cars, but what I don't understand is that these same arguments are not used (certainly not with the same venom) against other things which use the earth's finite resources - big houses, holidays you have to fly to etc. if a MNetter posts a link to her house she's trying to sell, I have never heard her criticised for having a house that is strictly larger than necessary and therefore costs more to heat, light etc.

Also it would be better for all kids if parents who care about education sent their kids to struggling schools and raised the average standard up, but most parents don't. If they possibly have a choice, they tend to move to areas where the schools are already good, usually with associated house prices.

I just don't understand why it is cars as a symbol of selfishness (if that's how you see it) that evokes such fury.

iggly indeed I did. I also intimidated short cars by driving very close to them, did a few 789 piont turns in peoples drive ways, abandoned my car in front of peoples drive ways, I also run over a couple of cyclists. all in all a very typical day for a 4X4 owner!

I knew it

There are safety issues with 4X4s - you may be safer, but others aren't. Don't other people matter? - compared to my family and me, No I would much rather myself and my family live.

The car was NOT a 4x4, but actually a peugeot 306 that needs some maintenance, judging by the smog coming from the exhaust.

I wasn't othered y the type of car it was, just the fact that I saw twatty driver knock bin over as I rounded the corner back from school, but when a little too far away to do anything more than yell in annoyance. I live about 1 minutes walk from the school, so no need to drive, even in the rain.

The turning space is big, even the dustcart (which is outside as I type, so very glad I wasn't having to clean up spilled stuff) can turn easily.

Twat driver