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?

Also I see OP you've discovered why child spaces are useful in car parks. Never mind most of mumsnet thinks people who want to keep them just for those with young kids are the scum of the earth. No matter how far away you park you can't guarantee some twat won't park next to you and make it near on impossible to get them in the car.

But according to mumsnet parents are just trying to sneak in a shorter walk.

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

Emergency services won't pay any attention to them. All cars will be checked regardless of signs. My brother is a firefighter and says he's never once checked for a sign to see if there are children in a car. A car with a sign isn't going to get checked more thoroughly than one without

I've got a "I'm going as fast as I can" sign because my little 800cc car struggles up hills and sometimes on the flat

Ugh I hate these signs. They’re totally pointless. Horrible thought but if your car was so mangled in a crash that the emergency services couldn’t see car seats in the back, they’d hardly be able to make out a sign on the back windscreen... And they really wouldn’t be doing their job properly if they didn’t check the car for occupants other than the driver. Get one if you want to brag about your babies but don’t kid yourself that it’s for safety reasons!

DH is a fireman. Stationed at one of the busiest (if not the busiest) stations in Yorkshire for call outs.
The car crashes they attend fall into 2 categories.

1. the drivers can speak and are happy to walk away when they realise their car is about to be cut up.

Or

1. The car is so bloody mangled a sign held on by a plastic suction cup has disintegrated/disappeared in the impact.

They are highly trained and it really is a fucking insult to them, the police and paramedics that anyone thinks they need a sign to check a vehicle for occupants.

MaxPepsi, DH and SIL are coppers and BIL a paramedic. All three were very surprised when I told them MN think BOB signs are for their benefit. They all missed that day in training. DH even asked all his Trumpton colleagues who were similarly tickled. BIL pointed out that these little lifestyle choice/fertility signallers only serve to slightly block your rear view.

I have seen ones saying “Mother to be on Board” - I mean, WTAF?

I followed one the other day which said Elderly Driver Please be Patient.

They drove very, very slowly and did swerve a lane a bit. I think if you need one of those to warn people its probably time to give up the keys.

If you want one, get one but others will be judging you. They are unbelievably non U. They have definite class associations that are closely linked to spray tans and large hoop earrings.

You are right MaxPepsi it is an insult to the emergency services to think they wouldn’t check a car in an accident for any reason.

‘Have you checked the car for passengers Dave?’
‘No they have tinted windows so I can’t be arsed’

I read that they were made for emergency services to look for a baby if he had been ejected from the vehicle, but it's clearly not the case.
I still have a stick on one, very simple, just in case it would help. It was inexpensive on e-bay.

I used to work for an emergency service, and if we saw a sign we would check that no child had been ejected from the vehicle in an accident as PP said - some people unfortunately don’t always strap children in properly and I have seen it happen.

get the sign.

You're clearly anew mum who just wants to keep her babies safe so YANBU for reconsidering getting a sign.

YWBU to get one on the pretext the emergency services may not think to look in the back of your car in the absence of a twee little sign.

Personal favourites include the 'little prince Alfie-Jae on board' type ones that seem to have appeared.

I did also once see a 'fur baby on board' one as well.

Do the emergency services check for pets?

I thought signs like these were designed to warn other drivers that the driver of car with said sign (powered by fairy dust/babe on board etc) is likely to be intellectually compromised?

Before reading this thread I wasn't 100% sure why people had these signs. Now I know it's just for show.

I think if it makes you feel reassured then get one.

What a load of nonsense @littlemissminor. "Oi, Penny, these people have got a baby on board sign - check to see if a child has been ejected from this car!" "Sure thing George! This car has got two car seats in the back but no baby on board sign so we can be sure there are no kids in the hedgerow here."

Also in my experience, they fall off more than they stay on. Not worth the frustration.