Why do people drive their kids to school??

[brightonbaker]

Every day My oldest DD 11 walks to school, she is at secondary school and it is about 8minutes walk away. There is one road to cross. I walk my younger DD 8 to school, her school is the same distance. I then get home and go to work, I'm lucky I can start at 9:30.
I think it is good for them to walk to school as it is a good start to the day, exercise, fresh air etc.
I have two neighbours with older DDs about 13 and 14 who I am quite sure have never walked to school, ever. So they leave about the same time as us and get back about the same time as its only 8 minutes walk and by the time they have found somewhere to park** illegally it takes the same amount of time. So why? Why are they doing this? one of the parents does not work so no need to rush and I'm not sure what the other one does.
Really gets on my nerves so thought I'd see if there are some legitimate reasons why people drive to a very local school ?

my son is at school 20 minutes walk away. we walk/scoot/bike most days (primary so can't go on his own), but shoot me, if it's pissing down with rain I'll drive! also if I've got to to on to work and haven't got the time to walk back I'll drive. It's not always straightforward

@CavoliRiscaldati

Be scared! I'm award winning too

I think you might need to go back to actual school and learn how to read for meaning. Where on earth have I said that disabled drivers have the right to drive and park dangerously? What an odd comment to make. I haven't once mentioned blocking driveways or dropped kerbs, nor being a nuisance or unsafe. In fact, I pointed out that there are usually extra markings stopping people from parking where it is unsafe.

U ok hun?

I get really annoyed with the idling cars too. I tend to be at school fairly sharp for the school pick up (which I need to do as no other options and believe me I've looked into everything because I would rather be at home getting stuff done rather than collecting teen DC from school) and the number of large gas guzzling cars that sit their with their engine running for up to 20 minutes is unreal.

Round here it’s also because people don’t like kids being round so much traffic. Don’t want them to walk or cycle because roads near schools are dangerous at school dropoff/pickup times. So they drive, and become part of the problem.

8 minutes is very close OP ours isn’t it’s about 15mins walk but along the side of an extremely busy road which I don’t feel comfortable walking along so we drive because saving a little fuel is not worth my children being maimed or worse

I have twin DDs who have just started at different secondary schools - in fact they go in opposite directions! This was their choice, luckily both are very good schools.

However, for the first time in their lives they are having to rely on public transport by themselves. Although the schools are only a couple of kilometres away they have to be at he bus stop by 7.30 each morning to ensure they are at school on time. The buses may be quite frequent but the are crowded. Often a couple will go by without stopping. The girls have also learned that adults can be rude & pushy when it comes to getting on. The first week they (and their friends) were very polite & let the adults on first whereas the adults just pushed the kids out the way.

We're practicing alternative routes but in an emergency I will happily drive whichever DD is having problems to school. If they're late they get detention - even when it's not their fault.

I'm sure, as time goes on, they'll get blasé about being late but at the moment it's reduced DD2 to tears.

U ok hun?
Was that the end of your dissertation?

You are the one trying to find excuses for a disable person parking badly, I am answering you telling you that's they are not allowed to do so. Are you one of those people who don't realise where disabled people can and can't park? It's pretty obvious where people can't park

And now you have to agree that I was right in the first place, so there we go. I am criticising because I am right to do so, and will keep encouraging the council to go and put a few parking fines for bad drivers (not discriminating against disabled drivers, they get fine just the same)

I drive to school and i'm a sahm. DD's (4) school is 40 minutes walk and DS' (12) is 10 mins in the other direction. They both have different start times (20 mins apart)and i dont have time to walk DS to school and then get DD to school on time. I can't make him go himself as he's a wheelchair user.

Maybe they are still in their PJ's; maybe they have depression and it takes them everything just to get the kids to school; maybe they have chronic pain; or they just CBA?? Who knows. Let them get on with it or ask them if they want to start a walking bus... who knows you might make a friend and get to know your neighbour

Completely agree. Just want people to hop on the bandwagon "won't anyone think of the planet!!!"
I'm sure people do their bit where they can but all of you getting het up about people being lazy?! Keep on judging if it makes you feel better - it's not going to get you anywhere.
And btw I walk my kids to school and nursery but on days I have to work if it involves me having to stay longer/start earlier so my kids have to be in before or after school clubs just for the sake of walking 15 mins and then getting stuck in 45 mins of traffic then no thanks.

Thanks muddling, really interesting.

I think DD might be going it alone on the school run home when it gets super hot, next June.

Makes me feel ill, but she is fine. I'll meet her half way!

Better clear it with school first as I am in the strict minority of walkers.

@CavoliRiscaldati

Was that the end of your dissertation?

Which one? I've written a number. None of them ended in that, though. Why would they? Another very odd comment.

You are the one trying to find excuses for a disable person parking badly

Am I? Where? I simply said that disbaled people can park on certain double yellows, which is stating a fact. Nowhere have I justified them parking badly.

It's pretty obvious where people can't park

Not always. I've come across many disbaled people in the support groups I hold, who don't realise what double vertical kerb lines mean and have been ticketed as a result.

And now you have to agree that I was right in the first place

Erm, no I don't. I don't have to do anything.

I will keep encouraging the council to go and put a few parking fines for bad drivers (not discriminating against disabled drivers, they get fine just the same)

This sentence makes no sense, but if you mean you want bad drivers to be fined, surely that's the law anyway? Why shouldn't they be fined if they are driving badly? None of that has ever been in question.

You sound like a very angry little person. Perhaps look into some mindfulness techniques after you learn to read again.

HTH

Not sure why my phone keeps autocorrecting disabled to disbaled though!

I was about to type that I lived about 3/4 of a mile from DS2's primary school, but I looked it up to be accurate - it's actually 1.6 miles away, so we've walked more than I thought! DS1's secondary school is 1.8 miles away and their routes diverge after about a mile. It takes about 25-30 mins to walk to DS2's school.

I have and will continue to do a mixture of driving and walking - usually drive 2 or 3 times a week (now dropping DS1 off at the point where his route diverges, then he meets up with his friend and they walk up the hill to school together. The transport method I choose depends on:

• Where I am working that day - the school is often on the way to work anyway.
• Weather - If it is absolutely pissing it down, or raining plus very windy, I look very unprofessional walking straight into a meeting with public/important guests if I'm soaked through with my hair stuck to my face. If I wear waterproofs I end up just soaked in sweat with BO instead I've tried that!
• How my health is. I look perfectly normal most of the time but have had a painful back/hip/pelvic condition for over 12 years that can have me sobbing in pain if I try to walk anywhere occasionally.
• How exhausted DS1 is - he's better now, but at the start of term he was so shattered by 3.15pm that he'd fall asleep during the five minute car journey home. If he walked he'd whine, sit down and refuse to move, cry... just too knackered as he's only just turned 5 and it's a long day for him sometimes! Now he's back in the routine, he jogged home happily yesterday with no issues other than me having to stop him running ahead too far several times.

we see the flowers coming up in Spring and all the changes through the seasons, play little word games and chat about the school day.

We always do this in the car, it's a nice part of the day when I actually get the info about what they've been doing, we practice times tables etc. as the drive takes about 45 mins due to a shitty ring road one way system (walking much nicer and quicker). If walking, conversation with DS2 is usually just shouting at cajoling him to hurry up, or yelling at persuading him nicely not to run off a mile ahead without me!

People have many reasons, but there are obviously those who are just lazy! Some people just can't possibly conceive of the idea of walking anywhere at all. Bil was like that. He would just not walk. The absolute best example was when he tried to go blackberrying by driving along a country lane at one mph leaning out of the window picking

I live next to a private school and I have noticed some people who arrive at a ludicrously early hour in the afternoon in order to be in pole position. I'm talking over an hour early. And these women (it is always women) sit prodding at their phones (clearly playing games). If they have to arrive early, why not read a book, read the paper? What a waste of time. And I have also spotted the Two Cars Mums. These people drop off kids, leaving one car there in position A. Then get lift home with another mum. Then in afternoon get lift back and can scoot off in own car in ace position. Repeat with another mum combo. And I spend too much time at my kitchen window! (Also policing those who park over my drive "just for five minutes")

Great thread. I have raised two kids to ages 10 and 14 and in that time owned a car for 18 months. My kids have walked/ cycled to school. I honestly don't know where 90% of the people at their school live, but the majority come in cars. Just the other day the receptionists politely asked someone not to park outside a neighbour's drive and she was subjected to a hostile tirade. If people didn't reach for the car door every time they needed to move our cities would be healthier places. In the morning it's a parade of people sitting alone in their cars in traffic jams.

Ladyincement, I suspect the need for a car is primarily psychological, it's a safe place, a status symbol, a badge of identity as much as a means of getting from A to B.

Annie I think that people who bitch about other parents driving their dc to school while not being perfect themselves, want to change behaviour that inconveniences/annoys them, while not giving up/changing the environmentally unfriendly things they do for their own convenience.

I've given up a lot of things because i don't feel morally justified in using them, and I have arranged my life in order to make that happen, even when that comes with sacrifices, but of course I'm not perfect. Nobody is perfect.

However, i am usually willing to listen when someone points out that something I've been doing, to which I haven't given a second thought, might be harming us all. And I might not them change my behaviour, but then equally I also might, especially if alternatives have been put to me.

What I don't usually do is tell them it's all pointless unless they are totally perfect.

Lady you do know it's not actually illegal to a)be lazy or b) play games on your phone. Or get to the school gate early for that matter.

What has it got to do with you if someone is playing games/reading a book/reading a newspaper?

Maybe if they walked they would miss the start of Jeremy Kyle. 😂

Lots of different reasons. DS is autistic and has no sense of danger. Trying to keep a strapping 8yo contained is a lot different to being able to walk with a toddler in the buggy. We often get lifts to school because of this (I don't drive) or on the good days we'll walk. Many people do it as they drop kids off on their way to work.

I do think the lady who lived a street away really didnt need to drive her kids to school every day. But I'm sure owning a car was a status thing there.

I live just a couple of streets away from primary school. Sometimes we walk. Sometimes it's raining and I don't want to get wet. Sometimes I'm going to the shop after and don't fancy carrying loads of shopping home. Sometimes my back's bad. Sometimes my kids ask to get a lift instead of walking. Sometimes I'm going to a friend's or family's house straight after the school run.

I'm a SAHM and don't drive to work after. Unless you live in my house you wouldn't know the reason for regularly driving to school.

I agree with expat. These things turn out so smug and sneery . And with the obligatory class based comments about fat lazy parents watching Jeremy Kyle. So predictable.

Maybe if they walked they would miss the start of Jeremy Kyle

Oh I missed that gem! How judgemental and idiotic

I'm a loan parent to 2 with a disability and a demanding fulltime job. I don't even have a TV or time/desire to watch one

I would probably grumble less about people driving to our local school if they didn’t drive/park like such idiots when they got there. Don’t drop your kids off in the middle of the road, don’t park on the zig-zags because it’s “only for a moment” and get OFF the pavement ffs.

There’s always lots of places to park if you’re prepared to walk for five minutes to school, but nope.