to lose it at this angry woman who criticised my parking.

[bobbypercy1]

So i was in town this morning with the Q7 (or the panzer tank as I call it) and i pulled up to a space. I reversed in a few times but i was always a bit squint. Eventually i left the car squint but still in the bay. I let out my kids and just while i locked the car this woman came over.

she said i should go back and straighten the car out because it was squint. I told her that if she had a q7 i would like to see her park it in such a tight space. She thought i was suggesting that she didn't have a big car because she was poor. i wasn't suggesting that at all. so she went into a long rant about me being disrespectful. i was shocked .

but i didn't shout too much cause i had two kids with me.

aibu to be annoyed at her.

Well OP I am feeling very sorry for you. I don't think you were bragging by daring to mention the model of car you have...I think you were just illustrating that it's a big car and tricky to manoeuvre.
I think that so long as you were in the lines, you were ok. People might see you sitting all skewiff and roll their eyes, but to approach you and have a pop about it, was a bit outlandish....so maybe the woman was having a bad day and took it out on you, which we all know isn't cool. Swbu.

of course you can 'take your time' if you are a learner or have a green P sticker on-most people will probably try and show some patience. However, if neither of those things apply, why on earth should anyone think it is ok to take their time.

Either get a car you can drive and handle or stay off the road. Too many accidents are caused by drivers who are simply not up to the job and the consequences of not being up to this particular job are so appalling that there is no room for fluffy, 'just do your best'.

Some of these accidents occur in car parks where people who cannot handle their car are going back and forth, all over the shop and put pedestrians particularly children at risk.

There is no excuse for not being able to handle your car and then simpering about how one needs a car. having a car is not a right.

Have never heard of an accident caused by somebody slowly and carefully taking there time when parking. Speeding and not looking where you are going cause accidents.

Samu - I'm learning to drive atm too. I have my own little car to practise in - a Ford Fiesta...it's tiny. We have three kids, and the Ford Fiesta will be what they will be transported in during the week, for a couple of years at least.

I do not understand why people think they must have a tank when they have three kids? I mean yeah - the space is nice to have and everything...but it's hardly essential! If you have four or more kids, then it's essential.
What IS paramount, is safety and control while driving. There's no way I would consider driving a 7 seater as a newly qualified driver! I'll stick with with my Fiesta and be in my comfort and skill zone - and screw the space.
Luckily my eldest is a tall 11, so he can sit in the front.

I won't risk anything other than a wee hatchback until I know my onions.

I also can't believe there is a person on the planet who always parks perfectly first time with no adjustments when parallel parking.

Really, Merry Mouse!

Unfortunatly, I have. A small child, 2 years, 3 months and four days, knocked over by a car that was backing back and forth into a parking space. A simple task but one that was beyond them and, on one of their interminable backing out to have another go, they ran over the boy.

Parking is a good test to see if one can handle the car or not. if they can't park it, they can't handle it. if they can't get into a parking space and leave the car straight, how do you think they manage on country lanes when they meet another car; how do you think they manage overtaking on a motorway?

Parking is basic. if you make a pig's ear of it, try another car that you might be able to manage or stay off the road.

So..... according to some of the Mumsnetters on this thread parking skew obviously means that you cant handle your car and shouldn't be on the road

What a load of crap.

The OP has not said she can't park it, all she said was that, in this ONE instance, she parked it skew (but within the lines) It is ridiculous to extrapolate this into meaning she shouldn't be driving the car.

I am bloody brilliant at parallel parking but I bet I have left my car skew once or twice. I presume all the outraged MN'ers on this thread have never done it.

I am loving the hysterical and ridiculous generalisations too. It actually doesnt follow that if you drive X type of car then you are automatically a selfish driver. A lot of you are talking snidey CRAP.

Samu do you have five kids plus a partner? If not, you really don't need a seven seater and it would be foolhardy to get one as a first car. A small hatchback will easily accommodate three young children and then some.

I agree that people should be restricted to engine size/curb-weight for a period of a few years after their test. A similar provision exists with motorbikes already.

I drove a three and a half tonne VW Crafter at the weekend, it is hugely bigger than a transit van, it is scary to think that someone could leap into one of those straight after passing their driving test.

Missmarples - sorry but that's a silly example. Any two year old is below the level of the rear of a car. Any driver - you and I included - could hit a child like even on your first manouvere when parking if the child is not restrained - which is why hands should be held or reins used without question near parking traffic.

I don't think it's so much the small children that take up space, its the car seats they have to travel in, and that as soon as you want to go somewhere with grandparents/a friend you need an extra car.

Well, I guess anyone should be able to drive any car as soon as they pass their test and people who cannot handle large cars should not feel bad about it, after all they need those cars.

Of course, the parent of any child who is knocked over by one of these people can console themselves that they are merely silly examples. The child should be the right height for their age and at no time should that child dart away. Northern Lurker-have you ever had a 2 year old?

Inexperienced and incompetent drivers who insist on driving a large car (drivers who are so incompetent that they cannot even park properly) are a danger. I am amazed that anyone could even argue against that but then there will always be apologists for anything.

Oh yes I have. Three of them actually and yes we always applied car park rules. Every single time. But if we hadn't and something awful had happened it would have been an accident in which neither party was at fault.
Your accident story was a silly example because that accident was nothing to do with being unable to park. It was an accidental collision.

The point northern lurker made was that anybody could run over a 2 year old if the child suddenly darted behind a car, whatever the size of car or however many attempts had been made at parking.

Of course you can usually spot children playing on a pavement or a group of adults with children standing around chatting, and when you park you drive at a snail's pace or, in a car park you wait until they have moved well out of your way and you do not move unless you are certain that the space you are moving into is clear.

This is what prevents accidents, not the amount of time you take to park, or straightening up.

Yes exactly Merry. There are usually kids playing in our road and if I'm reversing out I count them and then make sure I can see them all before moving! In a car park setting where other cars obstruct your view you can't do that as well and toddlers are vulnerable.

Oh dear!

Are you an altruistic apologist, Northern Lurker, or are you not too good behind the wheel yourself?

My driving is certainly better than your use of logic. Perhaps you should brush up on that before you're let loose on a forum with a large ego computer.

Pictish

I have five kids and dh got the car a few weeks ago so we could have some days out in the holidays. I can't afford a small run around for me as well so I texted my driving instructor and he said when I pass the test we can always have some lessons in mine just to help me get used to the bigger one.

I have drove it on quiet roads but wouldn't dear park or anything yet.

Yeah you need that car then. Or rather, if you're going to have a car at all, it has to be one of those.

I don't envy you at all. Practise practise practise...it's the only way.
Good luck.

dare*

Thank you.

I am nervous about driving it. But I won't drive it alone until I am confident I can do it properly. Even if that takes more lessons after I have passed in it.

I am too nervous not to do that lol

My husband has been driving for years and he is having an awful time reversing it into our narrow drive. He swears a lot while doing so!

Northern Lurker.

It is logical to hope that incompetent or inexperienced drivers are not encouraged to place themselves behind the wheel of a large vehicle that they cannot even park properly; even if they do absolutely need it so much that the safety of others is put at risk.

Or are you saying it doesn't matter if they are inexperienced or incompetent, they should be able to drive whatever they please? if this is what you are trying to say, why? I am interested to hear the logic behind this 'unusual' view.

To be clear, it is reasonable imo, to assume that if a driver cannot park a car without causing danger or annoyance to others, then it does not bode well for other more complicated driving situations that they find themselves in. It is a little like asking someone whom you have witnessed making a pig's ear out of sewing on a button, to make your wedding dress. if they cannot do the most basic task they are incompetent in that area. Therefore, in this situation, if they can't park a particular car then they can't handle it. That is dangerous.

There is no evidence that she couldn't park the car though.

Q7, ikea bookcase, washing machine? Fantastic. And three children! I must immediately get rid of my Nissan Micra and purchase a monster.

Only the evidence of her own words that she tried 'several times' and in the end had to leave it a bit, 'squint'.-'squint' enough for someone to draw her attention to it.