To change my mind about getting a car sign?

[Zillcat]

Posting for traffic.

I have always, always, hated the cars with "baby on board" signs. I figured that it shouldn't matter if someone has a baby in their car, everyone should be driving carefully anyway
That and I am particularly annoyed with people like my neighbours who have a 'grandson on board' sign, even though I have never seen their grandson go out in their car.

However despite my hatred, I now have twin boys and have done my first solo trip out with them both in the car. My first thoughts are that if I'm in an accident and I am incapacitated, it may not be obvious of my precious cargo in The back due to having tinted windows.
AIBU to get a sign or would it make no difference?

therebel Why would you think that?

I thought they were to alert other drivers in car parks that they need to leave room for you to open your passenger doors and boot, that’s why I have one

Never heard that one before and it’s never occurred to me that’s what someone’s trying to imply with it!

Everyone needs space to open their doors & boot, having kids doesn’t make that particularly more necessary imo - if someone’s going to park like a nob they’re not going to give a crap about a sign

I don't pay enough attention to other cars when I'm parking (apart from positioning!) to notice if they have a sign.

I've never had a 'sign' because I consider them hideously twee. My car was hit by a train with only one of my two DC in the car (school run) and the paramedics asked about the presence of children based on the number of car seats, not a sticker...

They alert me to the driver in front being likely to turn round to mop up vomit/whatevs or to start screaming with no warning signal.

.

Because that’s the only purpose I could see for having one so that’s what I assumed they were for. If I see one I try to leave extra room because I don’t want them to open their car door into mine.

Book there are only laws on how dark you can have the front windows, not the back and rear windscreen.
You are not going to be in such a bad accident that you are incapacitated and the emergency services not notice two children in the back! Even if you had an accident from passing out and ending up in a ditch/ field it is really common for people to be driving with children/ dogs etc in the car. The only scenario I could envisage in which a sign might do an iota of good is if there was an accident and the car caught fire, passers by helping mightn't be able to see the kids in the back if your windows are tinted but how dark are they? Usually only boy racers have such dark tint on the rear that you can't see in at all as it doesn't look very good with the front tinted to legal levels- is your car properly blacked out?
But anyway, it's not going to be a problem for the emergency services.

Wow do people still believe that? OP when a medic arrives at a scene of a car crash they check the entire car for passengers. How is a sign in the REAR window doing to help that if it's been smashed up?

I always thought they were a steath boast that the parents were capable of having children

I bought one because I too was wrongfully told about the emergency services thing. However I have noticed that when DS is in the car (and therefore sign is used), cars behind me generally keep more of a distance and don't tend to get right up my ass compared to when I'm not using the sign.

Thanks all for replies. I think I will forgo getting one.

For the record, the tinted windows are just on the rear passenger sides and are factory installed. I cannot have them removed as the car is a work lease car.

I did think of having something so people don't park so close. I did learn on my journey that it sucks having to climb over the back seat to fit one of the car seats because someone was parked so close I needed a tin opener to get in.
I had parked as far away as possible to stop this from happening.

I always thought Baby on Board signs were there to apologise to other drivers in advance for driving very slowly-because-on-way-home-from-hospital-with-precious-newborn, driving like a muppet-because-distracted-by-screaming/fighting-toddlers, or look-out-I-can't see-out-the-back-window-because-someone-won't-sit-still-and-down-in-their-seat.

I don't think it would make a jot of difference in the event of an accident.

They're a bit wanky.

I never wanted one either. I think originally they were for emergency services but I don’t think it makes much difference these days. However I do have one because I live in New Zealand and the majority of drivers here are twats and like to tail-gate you. I have found it makes a little bit of a difference with people backing off from you a bit if you have a sign on the back of your car. So I keep it on there but that’s the only reason.

I can’t imagine they make a jot of difference to anyone else’s behaviour.

They’re about as pointless and twee as the stick-figure family stickers.

The worst ones are the ones that say ‘Little Prince/Princess ___’ on board. I just think what smug twats the parents must be!

To the people saying windows shouldn’t be tinted, it’s only illegal to tint the front windows. If it was illegal to tint the rear why would it be an option on new cars?

Don’t waste your money

The worst ones are the ones that say ‘Little Prince/Princess _’ on board. I just think what smug twats the parents must be!

Or “Cheeky Little Monkey __ On Board”

I thought those signs were to alert emergency services tonne honest, rather than to encourage careful driving

They're for neither purpose, they're merely novelty crap intended to decorate the car with something that is important/of interest to the owner. Serve no more purpose than stickers for Chester Zoo or Alton Towers.

They don't check your car for a monkey if you have a zoo sticker and they don't link baby on board stickers with the likelihood that there may be a child trapped in the car.

I really want to get this one

I once saw one that was personalised. I don't remember the names but it was something like "Kayleigh and Jake on board"

Fucks sake.....

Tinted windows are high on the ' why modern cars are shit' list, with no air ram, terrible sight lines, no sun roof, alloy wheels , no spare tyre and so on.

I read that the Emergency services dislike them because 1. they are hardly visible in the wreckage of a car and 2. people use them without children in the car and cause unnecessary delay.

I dislike them and see them as showing the driver is cutesie and ditzy. What difference is it seriously expected to make apart from obscuring your rear view?

They're pointless. Emergency services could check the back, sign or no sign.

They annoy me every time I see them. Like I'd always planned to drive like a dick but will be more careful now I see you have children? Give me a break.