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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that parents on the school run are the most selfish and entitled driver on the roads?

132 replies

MintyChapstick · 12/02/2016 17:24

There's is a big debate locally to where I live regarding school run parents and the chaos they cause when going to either pick up or drop off their kids at school. It mainly concerns the primary school a few streets away from me where residents have been complaining that school run parents are blocking driveways etc and then when challenged have been saying things like "oh its only for a few minutes". Knowing the area as well as I do I know that most families are within a short walk of the school, so why do they even needs to ferry their kids back and forth in a car?

I happen to work at another local school that has a sign on the gates saying that car park is for staff and taxis only, but due to parents ignoring it the headteacher now has to go out and stand in front of the gates to prevent parents using it. The roads outside are a nightmare, and I feel sorry for the people who live there. Its like there's a sense of entitlement that because they are either dropping off or picking up rh their children from school they can park wherever they like.

AIBU to think that a lot of school run parents are really entitled and selfish?

OP posts:

RidersOnTheStorm · 12/02/2016 21:44

It's illegal to park on verges here, I imagine it's the same everywhere. You're entitled to park on the road, not the verge or the pavement. And you aren't entitled to block dropped kerbs, double park, park on a bend or on zig zags.

I think Madmomma is probably one of the entitled people we're discussing.

ElasticPants · 12/02/2016 21:45

It's chaos at my DCs school. It's at a T-junction of two avenues, both roads have cars parked all the way up either side.

On Fridays a coach drops a class back from swimming at 3pm. The coach can't fit in to the very small staff car park, so blocks the junction.

It's complete carnage.

madmomma · 12/02/2016 21:50

Yep massively entitled. And I run kids over for fun. Love parking in disabled spaces and blocking pushchairs too. Just what I'm all about. Gee thanks Sirzy sage advice there. You must know the area, and the plethora of wide roads nearby to park on. Silly me for parking legally as best as considerately as I possibly can in a very difficult area, in order to get my kids to school on time.

LarrytheCucumber · 12/02/2016 21:51

I live close to a site with three schools on it, each with a different finishing time.
All the roads leading off the road the schools are in are cul de sacs and the number of people who park their cars, vans, or in one case minibus, on the corners is incredible. It means that coming out of your road, if you are a resident, means inching out and risking being hit by the happy parents sailing down the middle of the road.
We have reported it to the Police several times and been told that other schools have worse parking problems!
Today at DGC's school we lost a wing mirror because a Mum parked on the other side of the road to us after we had parked and hadn't left enough space for a large vehicle.
So no, OP in my opinion YANBU.

ZedWoman · 12/02/2016 21:52

I work at a secondary school. It's down a private road. The residents have made a (very understandable) big fuss about parents parking on the road.

The rear entrance to the school is about 10m beyond a roundabout. The entrance has yellow lines along it.

When the parents have filled up all the 'spaces' along the yellow lines and have filled the road, they park on the roundabout. This is a roundabout in the town centre of a large commuter town in the SE. It is a busy roundabout. One day there is going to be a serious accident.

Original poster

MintyChapstick · 12/02/2016 21:54

You do realise that 'road tax' hasn't existed since the 1950's, madmomma so that argument is a none starter anyway.

OP posts:

madmomma · 12/02/2016 21:58

Car tax minty then, you know exact what I mean. And we pay for roads through our council tax. No need to split hairs. The point is, none of us owns the road outside our home. The roads are there for everyone to use, within the law.

Original poster

MintyChapstick · 12/02/2016 22:03

Yes, and parking on grass verges and blocking driveways is not within the law. In fact it's illegal. So why do you think it's acceptable? More to the point why the hell are your kids in a school half an hours drive away?

OP posts:

wowis · 12/02/2016 22:04

I get you madmomma I live very near school and drive so can get to work on time . It's residential area and we all have to mount the pavement and everyone on the whole manages to not be a petty dick head about it . Totally agree you don't block driveways however . but totally unrealistic to find somewhere with wider roads so you can park more safely ?? if that was an option we'd be doing it!

madmomma · 12/02/2016 22:08

I've never blocked a driveway,ever, nor have I ever said that's acceptable. Of course it's not! And not that it's any of your business whatsoever, my kids go to the best school I could find and it happens to be a half hour drive away. So what?

Original poster

MintyChapstick · 12/02/2016 22:09

So if someone was trying to get past in wheelchair or with a buggy but couldnt because you've parked your car on a pavement that would make them a petty dick head would it? wowis.

Why do you think you are so important?

OP posts:

ZedWoman · 12/02/2016 22:10

Oh dear. I can see where this is all headed.....

Time to leave (if I can get out of the street)

madmomma · 12/02/2016 22:11

Exactly Wowis. I live near a hospital and parking is a nightmare. I wouldn't dream of blaming someone for parking outside my house to go to work or visit a patient. That's just life. It's a pain for everyone but traffic is heavy, parking is very limited and people have to get on with their lives.

Original poster

MintyChapstick · 12/02/2016 22:12

The best school you could find is half an hour drive away? What horse shit. Are you one of these school snobs who will only send your precious offspring to a school with an outstanding estyn report by any chance?

OP posts:

idiuntno57 · 12/02/2016 22:14

Why all the abuse minty?

Reading this thread it is clear that some drivers are inconsiderate, many are not.

Is this news??

Original poster

MintyChapstick · 12/02/2016 22:16

Where is the abuse? Ive not seen any. Just genuine bemusment as to why some parents find it acceptable to cause chaos on the roads outside schools?

OP posts:

idiuntno57 · 12/02/2016 22:18

What horse shit. Are you one of these school snobs who will only send your precious offspring to a school with an outstanding estyn report

That is abuse

madmomma · 12/02/2016 22:18

Lots of assumptions there minty. Actually what happened was my son didn't get offered any nursery place whatsoever. 200 kids in our city didn't. He's at the older end of the year group and desperately needed one. At this time, my husband was having daily radiotherapy for a head and neck cancer that was likely to kill him. I rang the admissions officer and she found me a place at an undersubscribed school out of the area. We started him there because it was pretty much a dead cert that he'd be accepted for reception too, as it was undersubscribed. Obviously I didn't want him to have to move schools because his home life was going to be difficult enough without having to resettle after possibly losing his dad. It paid off, he got into reception there and it's a brilliant, caring school (though no, it doesn't have an outstanding Ofsted).

madmomma · 12/02/2016 22:21

Thanks for the support idiyunt but luckily I couldn't give a flying fuck what minty or anyone else thinks about any decisions I make for my family.

Piratepete1 · 12/02/2016 22:21

My DDs school has it right. A hundred space school car park and a drop off one way system with teachers waiting to yank the little darlings out as you sail past.

madmomma · 12/02/2016 22:22

To me it's the best school for my children and our circumstances. Nothing to do with Ofsted, and also nothing to do with parking, so sorry for derailment!

wowis · 12/02/2016 22:25

Jesus minty bang out of order . It's a thread about the school run get a fucking grip . Sorry to hear about your circumstances madmomma xx

Woodhill · 12/02/2016 22:26

Is your dh ok now Madmomma?. My dc went or go to school out of the area but it's secondary so can go on public transport or school bus

madmomma · 12/02/2016 22:28

We're at 18 months so so far so good thanks woodhill Lots of pain but he's having botox in his neck soon so hopefully that'll help.x

idiuntno57 · 12/02/2016 22:34

My kids go to school a 40 min walk away. We chose it because it is great. 95% of the time I walk them. Sometimes I drive. I usually park in a pay and display. Occasionally I don't. I would say that I am a considerate Parker though it is possible that at times I haven't been.

Why I chose the school and my personal choices and general attitude as a driver have little to do with my decisions as a parent.

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