To be ashamed that I was not brave enough to address this issue?

[Wimpyarsedwhippet]

Name changer as I don't want this linked to my normal name.

Saw the DH of an old acquaintance, never liked him, misogynist prat.

He had his young son in the cart with him when he pulled up in the car park.

Front of car, no seat belt.

Coincidentally we left the place at the same time, drove off, child in front, no seat belt. Actually was sitting with back againt the dashboard, backwards, iykwim?

I nodded at the DP in the venue, but due to my non confrontational issues, I said nothing.

AIBU to be ashamed to think personal fears perhaps overrode this child's safety? Tbh Ithink even if I had said anything it wouldn't have made the arrogant idiot secure the child.

TBH the message doesn't get through to idiots like this just from someone having a quiet word.

My DH is a police officer who has had to speak to a certain parent at school again and again about car seats (or rather, lack of car seats) for his children. It was the promise of coming back on duty and getting the Sgt to send an officer on school run every day to enforce the law that finally got this parent to invest in car seats.

So don't beat yourself up about it.

Doubt he would have taken any notice of you anyway.

All it will do is get him to think you're an interfering busy bodying prat.

If he hasn't got the message about seat belts and car seats by now, he's not going to listen to you. [Sad]

I doubt he would have appreciated being lectured to by you.

You are not responsible for that child's safety - he is.

Would he have put the seatbelt on if you had a go at him - maybe.
Would he put a seatbelt on him next car journey - not very likely.
Would he have verbally abused you in front of the child - probably.
Would he have physically abused you in front of the child - possibly.

Do you know where he lives ? Dial 101 and let them know that he is putting the child in danger. You have seen him twice with the child unsecured - let the police know.

"It will never happen to me" I agree OP ridiculous that people think they are immune. Same with texting. You were right to be concerned but if you had confronted him you would probably have got a earful.

Coffee I wouldn't have presented it as a lecture.

Thanks for the other responses, I just feel like a crap human for not doing anything.

But I'm sure any words would have not been welcome, or would have been unheeded. Poor child.

You can do something though OP, that is what 101 is for. Some people are incredibly dumb.

It's not rocket science to know you need a car seat. It's drilled into people all the time, you can't leave the hospital and drive the baby home without one (at least here), it's common knowledge that it's against the law not to buckle up. He already knows he's suppose to be using a car seat. If he's not doing it, you're not going to change anything.

Do you know his licence plate? You could file a report and the police might check up on it.

Not a car seat issue PBC, more the fact the child was yamping around the front seat unfettered.

I've taken the licence plate details of a car I saw with untethered children in the back and given it to the police. They said they'd go and speak to them. Whole village to raise a child and all that

I saw a woman yesterday driving with a dog on her knee.

I wasn't bothered about the safety of the dog but the fact she could not control the car and knocked over a bollard at some road works.

People are just stupid when driving. I don't drive but I watch people driving home from work and the number on phones, fiddling with radio/CD, texting, chatting to their friend, doing their hair, smoking, eating..... the list goes on.

report him. I reported someone I saw on the school run; the police took it very seriously and sent someone round. The person would have no doubt told me to f off but it's somewhat harder to ignore the police. Even if they do nothing this time, ask them to log it as if the same person keeps being reported the police will act.