Parking plus death wish kid

[whateverstreet]

Ok I don’t think I’m being IABU but my neighbour does.

1. we have a large carpark that should hold 8 cars, but we all squeeze a few more in (including them) -‘normally 15
2. they believe their child should be able to play in the Car park
3. that includes throwing balls around the cars, and cycling in between the cars -‘as all kids should be able to play outside their house.
4. the bloody kid has damaged the side of one of our cars
5. the bloody kid has a death wish - they play chicken n dive at the entrance to the car park, they hide and then floor themselves in front of cars
6. I almost ran over said child the other day, when they dived in front my car.
7. you can only do a max of 2 miles an hours on the turn into that car park - when I shakingly complained - I got told I must have speeding / he dived in front of my bloody car.
8. aibu in that I don’t want to be the one who finally runs him over - life ruined.
9. I vomited last time as it was so frighteningly close - one inch from his head. He dived for the ball at the entrance to the car park - emergency break time.
10. I told the parents - went in one ear out the other - and now it’s become even more of a game. I’m the nasty neighbour - no just what this kid is doing is plain dangerous.
11. is it time to move!!!?
12. I’ve done the obligatory drawing, but I’m not good at it / the red splodges are the cars - the arrow shows where he jumps out/dives face down on cars.

Can you speak to other neighbours and find out if they have the same issue. Can you speak to the child directly and bollock them out next time. I appreciate this will stir the anger of the parents but it may be the only way to get through.

Otherwise it'll have to be a dashcam so you have evidence of your slow speed and the child's idiocy.

Tell them their child has a death wish and you can only do what is humanly possible to not hit them. Seriously. What on Earth are you supposed to do when a kid does that shit?

Set up a dash cam, film it and show it to them.

How old is the child?

Agree dash cam.

The child is 7, a few of us have an issue - but we are deemed snowflakes not understanding the need for children to play outside of their houses...:: I have three kids,all of whom play outside the house - just not in the car park.

There is a park just in front of our house for crying out loud. You can watch your kids from the window - you can give them that independence - nope it's let's them play in the car park - it's safer, closer

And yep I'm going to have to get a dash cam - and move

I've bollocked the kid before / so now it's even more of a game

That's nuts. I can't believe the parents wouldn't tell him off.

Dashcam is the only answer. Can you text/email your concerns so there's a written record?

So if there’s few of you, why haven’t you called the police?

do you live in a middle class area?

Get a dach cam then show it to the local PCSO (if you have one) maybe a bollocking from them will sort it

You don't call the police on kids, and yes it is a naice area - but even so I don't want to be the one to run over a kid.

The problem with a lot of new build estates, we have shared parking - imagine more like the local shop car parking, would you let your kid play in the shop car park?

Would you let your kid play dodge n dive cars at the entrance to said car park?

I'm getting a dash cam.

You poor thing. The dive thing = insane.

Go to the local police and report this. The parents can't let their kids dive infront of cars. Get a dash cam

Yes to dashcam. But it’s not a solution; you’re essentially taking about a seriously injured or dead child and having the evidence to prove you weren’t at fault when you get interviewed by the police.

As the parents obviously don’t give two shits, would it be overkill to report to social services? Letting a 7 year old play unsupervised in a car park where they’ve very nearly been killed on several occasions is neglect. Starting with the PCSO might be more appropriate though...

But you wouldn't be calling the police on the kid, you'd be calling them on the parents for letting their child get in to danger like that. The police aren't going to do anything to a seven year old except protect them, which may involve having a sharp word with the parents.
You have my sympathy, it sounds nerve-wracking.

Why don't you call the police on kids?! This particular kid is doing something very stupid and incredibly dangerous. One day it will end in disaster.

Where I live we have a group of children on bikes who pull wheelies and weave in and out of traffic in the high street. Everyone calls the police on them as the alternative doesn't bear thinking about.

Just run the fucker over and shrug your shoulders when you next see them

You don't call the police on kids

You definitely do when they are putting themselves in danger. Apart from anything else, it's indicative of neglect by their parents.

I must confess to not having thought of it like that. I don't think it's neglect, they do genuinely care for their kids - it's more they let their kids do what ever they want. The kid rules is the way I see it - but that's what causes the dangerous behaviour.

I could do with a more non extreme way to sort the situation. And I think the dash cam is a good way forward - if I could show them what actually happens - they might re think?????

It IS neglect. They’re putting their child, who is not mature enough to make rational decisions for themselves at risk of serious injury or death.

Personally I wouldn’t wait for dashcam footage to show them, what if you didn’t manage to stop in time and the dashcam didn’t catch a near miss but captured footage of the kid being killed by your car?!

Of course it's neglect, the parents are supposed to look after the children and protect them from harm. If they let them play with matches or lighters is that not neglect? This could have equally serious consequences.
You know about this "game" and are taking care to avoid the child getting hurt, someone else will not know, may not react quickly with potentially serious consequences. Why not ring 101 for advice and say you are concerned for their safety?

Sitting a bit wow, I had been wondering if i was over reacting, hence the abui, I didn't feel I was, but ... I'm now wondering if I am under reacting. I'm fairly chilled, no fuss sort, seen a lot, & genuinely this is not a bad family - but that bloody kid is a nightmare. But Not a reason to call social services - that's too extreme. Yes they are being dangerous in their behaviour - but as a community we need to deal with that - not bring in the reinforcements just yet.

You need the local police to have a word with the parents. This is to avoid an accident - the child hurt or worse and the driver feeling terrible for ever. You have tried to explain to the parents but the parents have done nothing.