Scared to let DD in his car??

[Widget123]

So, I've recently become friends with a local mum. We've met a couple of times, our DD's get on great and she seems nice. She asked if my DD can go over theirs, when I said yes (even this I was a little nervous of without me there as I don't know them THAT well yet), she said great her husband will pick her up on his way back from work.
I immediately go worried as I don't know the husband, I've never met him and the thought of my daughter (5) being in the car with a man I don't know makes me feel uneasy.
My DH says he would prefer to have met him first and I agree... but are we being unreasonable and what the hell do I say to the mum without causing enormous offence?!
The sane part of my brain is totally saying 'don't be ridiculous, it's a car trip with a local dad!' and the other is saying ' don't put your little girl in a car with a guy you don't know whoever he is?!'
Good advice please, and can we try to keep this kind, I know people like to take swipes on here sometimes :S

@Widget123 Op, some of us aren't arguing with other posters about who is a better mother(!) and are hoping to hear an update! Did she reply?

Just have a change of plan after which you can perhaps get to know the family better - invite them round maybe.

God no, even the police would tell you not do let her alone in a car with a strange man. Fuck what people think, you keep your child safe.

well, I'm going against the grain here.
My kids would have done this, and I would have asked as the other mum did, and offered a lift, but would not be remotely offended if you said no, you will drop her off yourself. (and would have understood why)
I am a teacher, and safeguarding trained, and I find this thread really over the top.

We did playdates with pre-school friends, so aged 4, some parents stayed (fine) others dropped off. For myself, I stayed if I thought dc were unsure, and dropped off if they were fine.

and round here, parties were 80% drop off from pre-school.
I sometimes stayed for a while at parties with dc3 becuase she wasn't happy at first, but then after 10 minutes she would say - you can go now mummy!

I know it varies according to area and what local practice is, and the school etc etc, but round here it is pretty normal for 5 year olds to play at each other's houses, without parents and where we only knew parents form the school run.
But if you or your dc are at all nervous or unhappy, of course you follow that, you don't have to do what anyone on the internet says, if you don't feel happy about it, don't do it.