To want to say something to parents who DO this?

[AjasLipstick]

At school drop off, there are quite a lot of parents who park on the side of the quite busy road (that's allowed) and then go INTO the road open the child's passenger door and stand there with their arses sticking out whilst they undo seatbelts and haul toddlers out.

Why don't they go onto the PATH side of the car and get them out there? Yes they might have to kneel into the car a bit if the child is further towards the road side...but so what? They shouldn't be standing on roads and getting children out onto roads should they?

Totally agree with you. It’s idiotic, selfish, stupid, and wrong.

The speeding around our school is appalling. Also yes I agree the amount of times there's a traffic jam in the side road due to all the doors open on to the road and too narrow to pass its bizarre. I park with child seat next to pavement but then I only have the one to get out

Slightly different, but the other day I was part of a small queue, waiting to pass some parked cars. There woukd have been room to pass them anyway, but a woman was standing in the road by one of them, checking her phone before getting in!

When there was a break in the traffic the other way, we all filed past, while she grinned at something funny on her screen, oblivious to the fact that she was obstructing traffic

I wouldn't be able to do this. I have three kids under five, baby car seat in isofix base in the middle seat (where it is safest). The older two can't physically get past the isofix base. These people are not parking illegally, they have every right to use the road to get out of the car. Drivers should have a bit of consideration and slow down and take care not to run other people over.

Is it not in the highway code, that children should be strapped in via the kerb side door?

I have to due to the set up in my car access both sides regardless of what side I park on...but I do wait until it's clear.

*or taken out

The older two can't physically get past the isofix base. These people are not parking illegally, they have every right to use the road to get out of the car. Drivers should have a bit of consideration and slow down and take care not to run other people over.

As I said, I am sure you would magically find a way of doing it if you had to- e.g. if you parked on a road with very fast cars or if someone had blocked the other door in the car park and you needed to get home. It's easier to get them out on the roadside, I get it, but it's also really freaking dangerous and you can't rely on drivers to slow down. Your kids could surely climb round or over the car seat- there is a gap between the seat and the back of the front seats.

Oh God, I do this, I won’t be doing it anymore 😬

Speak to the school, they should be able to send out a contact letter asking people not to do it and advising why, good luck and I agree with you

This is why I get my childminder to do all the school runs because I hate it!

Yanbu. Some people need to remember to use their loaf.

No, they can't get past, would you like me to take pictures? Clearly, I wait until there are no cars when I open the door then get the child out and guide them to the pavement. I don't see how this is different to crossing the road? Would you expect to be run over/abused if you step out into the road to cross after checking all clear? Have a bit of consideration.

And the thing about it being dangerous to get them out roadside.... okay, so do you not cross the road?

I can't get my 6 year old out past his sisters rear facing isofix car seat. It's not possible in all cars. I hate standing in the road getting whichever kid out but there's no other option.

Walk?

Yes wickedlazy section 102 says about getting out at kerbside not sure about getting in though!

Helpful

You are perfectly within your right to unload anyone you need to on the roadside. It is up to drivers to wait a damn minute. If I could u laps both kids on the pavement I would but it's not physically possible. And I'm not walking 45 minutes each way either but thanks.

Mention it to the school - let them send out a shout in an email, newsletter etc. Don’t approach individuals; you’ll look a bit mad!

So they really cannot climb over the seat then? The seat reaches all the way to the back of the front seat, so there is absolutely no gap in between that a child could squeeze through? That's an interesting-sounding car seat. And you cannot lift them over the seat either?

No skin off my nose what you do tbh but not all drivers are going to wait a damm moment and it's all well and good to go on about how selfish they are, but when you or your child have been hit, the damage is done. If you broke down on the hard shoulder for example, I bet you anything you would find a way of getting your kids out on the non-road side.

You try leaning over a rear facing car seat and a high back boaster seat to the child in the other rear facing car seat and let me know how you get on.

If there's a person and an open door the general driving etiquette would be to politely wait rather than hit it.

There is a gap of maybe 2cm between the rear facing isofix seat and the front passenger seat. And no I can't lift a 30kg child up and over the seat. Why on earth wouldn't I unload curbside if I possible could?

Might it be easier to park facing the other way then? I am guessing the 30kg child does not sit in a rear-facing car seat so surely much easier to reach over a booster seat to get the younger one out?

It's good driving etiquette not to hit people, yes. It happens though because people don't always drive properly.

And as I said, if you were on the hard shoulder of the motorway, you would definitely be able to get them both out kerbside, due to the high risk of death if you opened the door towards the traffic going 70mph. The motorway scenario makes me feel even more terrified about the previous poster who said her kerbside door did not open. Jesus H Christ.

Peakpants, a 20 mh zone outside a school is very different to the hard shoulder on the motorway so not sure why you're comparing. Again, do you not cross the road/walk your kids across the road? You must get altitude sickness with the moral high ground you're taking. Unless you never cross a road please don't tell me I'm being dangerous. I'm not and the onus is on the drivers not to run people over, not on pedestrians to not use the road.