Stuck on the motorway due to accident ahead, children out of the car ahead - dangerous or AIBU?

[kattekitt]

Currently at a stand still on the motorway due to accident ahead. Both sides of motorway appear closed as in no rolling normal traffic.

Fair few fire engines & police cars whizzing down the hard shoulder and up the other side of the motorway

A few cars around have their children out, DH thinks Aibu by being concerned for their safety.

For example one girl about 9/10 yrs old out of the car, parents or people she's traveling with remain in the car - she's been dancing in lane 2 then sitting on the central reservation.

I'm probably being ott but I just don't think it's safe.

Others are now picking flowers off the embankment (right next to the hard shoulder)

As I type other side starts moving.

It’s very hot to sit in the car. But I understand exactly what you’re saying. Is this the M5?

YANBU - very dangerous in case traffic moves/emergency vehicles come through etc

Better to sit in car with doors/Windows open it air con on.

Extremely dangerous - tell them so. The only safe place out of the car is far away beyond the hard shoulder.

What would they do if emergency vehicles needed to use the hard shoulder? They wouldn't be expecting children to be playing there.

Bloody hell this is madness!

Of course the children shouldn’t be out of the car.

Complete madness op I agree

The episode of Hospital that was on BBC this week featured a man who got out on the hard shoulder to help someone with his broken down car and was hit by another car himself.

So dangerous to have kids there.

Don’t see the issue if traffic at a stand still and hard shoulder Clear for emergency services.

Well for a start in the inside lane passengera open their door onto the hard shoulder!

So long as they are not near the hard shoulder I don't see the problem. Was caught in similar myself a while ago. People were out of cars walking their dogs,

I could understand letting DCs out of the car esp today as it is so warm if there was no chance of the traffic moving , ie everyone has turned their engines off cos you have been sat there so long.
BUT the adults should be with them at ALL times and they should not be allowed to play on/ near the hard shoulder at all as the emergency services could come along them at high speed from either direction

Yes dangerous. Motorbikes may still be moving down between lanes for a start. And even going slowly they may not be expecting a child to dart out.

I don't think they should be out of the car unsupervised, but I can't see an issue with being out of the car in general. I think some previous posters haven't read the OP properly.

So long as not on hard shoulder, probably with DH

What is wrong with people?! So, so dangerous. We really are dumbing down. Especially dangerous to be on the hard shoulder

What is the plan for these new 5 lane 'smart' motorways to do when things come to a standstill like this and emergency vehicles need to get by?

Hardly room for people to squeeze together, it's packed tightly as it is...

I'm on the fence for this one - I remember getting out of the car as a child on a standstill motorway and it was fine... but I see how it could be dangerous.

I'd just mind my own business I think.

Yanbu. Yeah it’s hot in the car but it’s so much safer.

4 lane, not 5, sorry.

No. You're supposed to stay in your car.

It is hot, so probably hideous with the kids in that situation, but nonetheless they shouldn't be bloody sat on the central reservation or picking daisies on the embankment.

A pee break, accompanied by an adult, I would understand. Even if it was a leisurely dawdling one. But unaccompanied just messing around is really really stupid parenting.

Nearly 300 people a year are killed on the hard shoulder, you're not even supposed to sit in your car on it, you have to get out.

The Op said they were playing in Lane 2 and sitting on the central reservation.

Most of the comments here are about the dangers of sitting or standing on the HARD SHOULDER.

She didn't say they were on the hard shoulder.

I can't believe anyone would be so stupid.

A car my dad was in got rear-ended in a standstill queue - the car that did it was actually about 5 cars back and they still managed to slam everyone forward as none of them had the handbrakes on. He was ok, but it was very nasty for the people further back.

From the OP:
Others are now picking flowers off the embankment (right next to the hard shoulder)

When the other side starts moving I'd get straight back in the car, but if the motorway is at a complete standstill, usually when waiting for air ambulance, I don't see the problem especially in this heat.

We were once coming back from holiday and knew from radio reports what was going on, both sides were stopped and people were skateboarding and all sorts on the other side of the motorway on a completely clear carriageway.

As soon as the helicopter took off everyone cleared the carriageway and got back into their vehicles. Police on motorbikes were monitoring the situation and everyone was perfectly safe.