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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think Driving instructors shouldn't practice parking in a venue specifically designed for children.

57 replies

Temp123999 · 04/02/2020 18:02

Just that really just dropped my yr8 boy at a venue that is for his chosen sport he's a touch above average height for his age.
When he's going in they have the smaller children aged 3 to 9 coming out it's dark and some of the parents seem to pick up other kids, I Just don't think it's a suitable place for a 17/18 year old to practice reverse or Parallel parking.
I realise it's the responsibility of the parents to keep kids safe but it's incredibly busy.
Driving instructor disagreed and said it's a public place.
Thoughts please...

OP posts:
Urkiddingright · 04/02/2020 18:10

I was taught in a secondary school car park but it was after school hours. I was also taught in a busy supermarket car park.

I think any public place is fine tbh and it’s always up to the parents to keep their kids safe in a car park.

heartsonacake · 04/02/2020 18:16

YABU. It’s a public place and it’s the responsibility of the parents to keep their children safe.

Original poster
Temp123999 · 04/02/2020 18:16

I agree it's parents responsibility but I think a qualified driving instructor should have the sense to avoid a venue overrun with toddlers and primary aged children particularly when it's dark.
Even the best parent might lose her grip on her child's hand whilst managing his siblings plus a friend...

OP posts:
Original poster
Temp123999 · 04/02/2020 18:22

Okay but how you feel if your teenager child hit a toddler while having driving lessons because the instructor chose to come to venue which is running multiple activities for children whilst it's dark?
It would be distraught if I child even if I thought parent should have been more alert.

OP posts:
Original poster
Temp123999 · 04/02/2020 18:26

@heartsonacake
It's actually not a public place it's for children attending particular activities which are private, but I still don't feel a public place like a school during home time is great place for a learning to drive our state school bans parents from driving into the playground or within 400 meters of school gate due to safety issues

OP posts:
PawPawNoodle · 04/02/2020 18:33

Of course you're right, why teach a new driver how to safely manoeuvre in the safety of a car park where an instructor can help them to see dangers, have control of peddles and also be a second set of eyes? What nonsense, it makes much more sense for 17 year olds to practice in a risk free empty car park, get their licence and then immediately run someone over while backing out because they have no practical hazard awareness experience.

Berrymuch · 04/02/2020 18:36

As the driving instructor has dual controls, I think it's a great environment to learn in. I just learnt in empty car parks, no help for 'the real world' when I passed.

CakeAndGin · 04/02/2020 18:42

Where my mum lives, there’s a really shit junction - an entrance from a car park, a pedestrian crossing to the left and a zebra crossing, another junction and a blind bend for the main road to the right. I asked my instructor why I had to try and get out of that junction when I was still learning. She said I had to do the junction at some point so I should learn to do it under proper instruction and that if I can do that junction, I can do any junction.

Those teenagers when they have passed their test will have to park in a busy place at some point during their driving life. The hazards might include that it’s dark, that there are children... It’s better that they learn how to recognise these hazards with an instructor than try to do it by themselves when they’ve newly passed. Or worse avoid doing it until they have kids and suddenly they’re too nervous to park.

DieSchottin93 · 04/02/2020 18:46

I agree with @PolPotNoodle, surely it's better to have them practising in the dark in a busy car park under the guidance of their driving instructor who, as others have pointed out can take control of the vehicle if necessary and act as an extra pair of eyes, rather than have them try and do it alone when newly passed and then panicking. YABU.

Cyberlibre · 04/02/2020 18:47

Well is it a public place or not?

YABU anyway. You have got to keep an eye on your children in car parks because there is always the chance of an idiot driver. I'd say a person learning to drive with an instructor would be less of a risk to the children than some of the parents I see outside the schools driving!

GrumpyHoonMain · 04/02/2020 18:51

Insurance for people learning to drive is a fraction of that of newly qualified instructors because people tend to be safer drivers while learning (and there is someone else in the car to keep them accountable).

Tombakersscarf · 04/02/2020 18:51

I think Yanbu OP. I avoid reversing myself when collecting dc from school in a situation where I would normally reverse happily, as I know there will be small people (below my line of sight) and probably children going a bit too fast on scooters etc. I wouldn't take the risk.

Tombliwho · 04/02/2020 18:57

As opposed to not teaching them to manoeuvre safely in a hazardous situation and leaving them to crack on with it alone after their test..?

LagunaBubbles · 04/02/2020 18:58

It's actually not a public place it's for children attending particular activities which are private

Eh? Are you saying ifs a private road? Just because the activities are "private" doesn't mean the car park is!

Winterwoollies · 04/02/2020 19:28

People can get so precious about kids. Kids are important, obviously, but the world can’t stop for them?!

Topseyt · 04/02/2020 19:40

You are being ridiculous. It is a good place to learn to manoeuvre and will teach them to deal with those particular hazards under proper supervision from an early stage.

You get plenty of children running around I supermarket car parks too, where many learners also practise. They have to learn to drive in the real world too you know!

Original poster
Temp123999 · 04/02/2020 22:22

Okay I accept I'm being unreasonable to protect toddlers from being hit by a learner driver in a dark car park plus also thinking about how teenager driver would feel if they reversed into a small child.
Mumsnet is so weird at times considering it's a parenting forum.
if I said puppies instead of toddlers I'm sure the replies would have been completely different🤷🏽‍♀️

OP posts:
OP posts:
74NewStreet · 04/02/2020 22:28

The venue may be designed for young children; but the car park will be just like any other car park. YABU.

74NewStreet · 04/02/2020 22:31

Toddlers would be at risk of being run over in any dark car park if they weren’t being supervised closely. I really don’t see your point.

BreconBeBuggered · 04/02/2020 22:33

...? That news story's about a child running out and being knocked down on a road. Do you think learner drivers should avoid roads too?

Luckystar20 · 04/02/2020 22:33

Get a grip it screams of 'Will someone please think of the children'

Redglitter · 04/02/2020 22:33

Surely the children are at just as much or more risk from qualified drivers using the car park. A learner practising parking is going to be in a barely moving car. Other drivers even entering or leaving the area will probably be going faster

bridgetreilly · 04/02/2020 22:33

YABVU. Learner drivers in cars with a driving instructor who is paid to observe everything going on and has dual control? Yeah, those are the LEAST likely people to have an accident.

Astarsobright · 04/02/2020 22:42

Is it a car park? I'm struggling to picture a venue for toddler activities that could also be used as a place to practice parking