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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Prang at school

21 replies

JumpRope · 19/01/2015 18:29

DS is at a boys independent prep (not sure whether that's relevant, may be as its private property and not council land, or whatevs). They have insufficient parking for the number of parents who collect. Its really sad, as there isn't even the option to walk, as quite a long stretch of the hill doesn't have pavement, and crossing the road into the school, there aren't pedestrian crossings, just two very small 'school' signs.

So, people have got used to parking quite haphazzardly. I managed to back into a small car today, that was very parallel parked up alongside a row of cars in spaces, but this one was 100% NOT in a marked parking space. I was concentrating on cars coming down the hill where I'd just come from and hoping nobody would swing round the corner into me, and this car was sticking out at the end of the row. I apologised straight away, took all the blame, and I will of course pay out for the damage to the rear light I have caused.

Poor lady was very shocked as she was sitting in the car reading.

But, aibu in thinking that she is just a teensy bit in the wrong for merrily sitting away in a non-car parking space, whilst the rest of us wheel around trying to find somewhere legitimate? Other cars do occasionally go in non- marked spaces, but I never do, as it genuinely makes things more difficult.

On a separate note, we already share lifts daily both ways with another family to try and reduce the load, but I am thinking of leaving this school due to the ridiculous access situation.

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MaidOfStars · 19/01/2015 18:32

You crashed into an obstacle, your fault. You can't lay any blame at her door, as far as I am concerned.

But I would have had a little silent swear at her anyway, probably because I would be annoyed with myself.

Shesparkles · 19/01/2015 18:35

She was static, you were moving therefore legally you're at fault

BackforGood · 19/01/2015 18:39

Yes, YABU, and you know it - your vehicle was moving and crashed into one that was stationary. You are annoyed with yourself and therefore trying to shift a little bit of the blame on to her. Grin

ItsAKindOfRabbit · 19/01/2015 18:42

yabu

HappyAgainOneDay · 19/01/2015 18:42

Are you allowed onto the school premises? If there's insufficient room within the school boundary, isn't there any room in the road outside? Or would that mean a 30 second walk down the drive for the pupils?

JumpRope · 19/01/2015 18:43

That is probably true Blush. But I am going to talk to the head about people going in proper spaces. It might get the school to think a bit more about an alternative.

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LynetteScavo · 19/01/2015 18:44

Tabu, I have a car covered in debts, the vast majority my fault. Or maybe I could blame that rogue bollard....

JumpRope · 19/01/2015 18:45

I'd happily walk up to a mile, HappyAgainOneDay, as would my son. But its completely unsafe to do so, especially for me with two five year olds and a three year old.

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puntasticusername · 19/01/2015 18:47

I can see why you're annoyed at her being there, but why was she there reading? Presumably she was waiting for someone, or something like that? She wasn't just driving past and suddenly thought "I know! This is the perfect time to finish The Unbearable Lightness of Being!", pulled over and whipped her book out.

It sounds very awkward about the poor parking but as you said yourself, if there is a very limited amount of parking space then people are just going to do the best they can, and you have to be prepared for that. Sorry, I do feel for you, you must be kicking yourself!

SnapeChat · 19/01/2015 18:48

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VanitasVanitatum · 19/01/2015 18:51

I agree that she WBU, don't see why anyone is saying YABU when you have clearly stated you take the blame.

She shouldn't have been parked there, it was selfish of her, they mark spaces for the reason that those are sensible places to stop.

Was she on double yellows? Unless she was it is technically legal to be where she was, selfish still.

AuntieStella · 19/01/2015 18:51

You do not have to be in a marked bay to be legally parked on the road. Unless she was excessively far from the kerb, or on double yellows (or other marking that restricts parking), then she is in no way at all at fault.

joanne1947 · 19/01/2015 18:51

there isn't even the option to walk, as quite a long stretch of the hill doesn't have pavement,
I don't understand the problem, thousands of miles of country roads do not have pavements, you walk facing the oncoming traffic.
Can you suggest to the school that they ban parents from dropping off children within a mile of the school? If all children walked to the school there would be a lot less cars. Walking is a good way to keep fit.
Even better can you afford to buy your Ds a bike nad he can cycle to school, no walking and a perfectly legal way to use the road. Your local police will tell you about safe cycling courses.

JumpRope · 19/01/2015 18:52

She was waiting for her child. People turn up half an hour early to bag a space, and sit there emailing or reading.

I don't think you understand the set up SnapeChat, of course since I haven't really described it, but there wouldn't be scope for doing that. There's nowhere for them to wait, at the end of the road (which road?).....There is a mini bus from the train station, but its about £7 per day, so ridiculous for a 2 mile journey.

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JumpRope · 19/01/2015 18:55

joanne1947, its not a country road, we live in a medium size commuter town with a LOT of 4x4s zooming around. I've never seen a pedestrian on that road, if it was just me I would happily walk into the traffic, but not with the boy I collect and my son and occasionally my daughter in tow.

My son has a bike, again, the road is pretty dangerous for a 5 year old to cycle along (apart from the fact he can't really ride it and its uphill for about 1.5 miles).

AuntieStella, we were in a carpark within the school grounds. There are spaces marked out with white lines.

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sliceofsoup · 19/01/2015 19:00

As you have already said that it was entirely your fault and that you are paying, then I think YANBU to be a bit annoyed.

At our school people abandon their cars (on no planet could it be called parked) in the most ridiculous places. They turn a double lane road into single lane traffic, they block the exit from the actual car park, and they invent spaces on kerbs. Honestly I am flabbergasted every day.

After a mother and five of her children were mowed down on a grass verge near me, resulting in one of the children dying, on their way to school, I can definitely say, walking a mile on a road with no foot path is not worth it.

JumpRope · 19/01/2015 19:07

That's horrific, sliceofsoup. I think its going to take an injured person to make the council sit up and put even a crossing in on our road.

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laughingmyarseoff · 19/01/2015 19:19

I think you need to visit the webpage 'you park like a C*' JumpRope. YANBU for being annoyed at bad parkers, especially if she's not parking legally or is blocking part of the road. It's definitely your fault but it doesn't mean she's not in the wrong for parking so poor.

fredfredgeorgejnr · 19/01/2015 19:20

So it's a private road? Seems easy, get your posh school to ban all driving on the road and then you can merrily walk up and down it in safety.

YABVU for blaming you lack of driving skills on the other woman.

ItsAllKickingOffPru · 19/01/2015 19:26

All parents should agree not to park there and the pupils can make a little crocodile down to a safer point. They could make banners and everything.

JumpRope · 19/01/2015 20:16

Its not a private road that leads to the school gates, not sure what gave you that impression, fredfregeorgejnr.

There simply isn't anwhere else to put cars, I would be all up for crocodiles etc.

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