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

[Temp123999]

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...

I currently have a 17 year old who is learning to drive.
he has lessons, and we take him out a lot.

I do NOT think this is a suitable place for most learners.

If he was capapble of doing this without misatkes, then he would have his test already.
He starts in quiet places, learns control, then moves on to busier places and bit by bit on to fully busy roads etc.
Same with parking, first couple of times in an empty car park, then busier and busier.

The only thing I would say OP is that if that learner has been learning for a while and is ready to take their test, then they should be able to manoevre as safely as a fully fledged driver.

OP, out of interest do you drive?

@Temp123999 your link is ridiculous. A learner driver isn't whizzing around a car park at 40mph.

Maybe people are being 'weird' because they are aware of how to keep their own young children safe in hazardous places. You may be content to let your toddler run free in a car park but most people aren't. I wouldn't let a puppy do that either, by the way.

There are alot of non teenagers out there learning to drive.

A secondary school car park near me is used in driving tests, as is sainburys carpark. So driving instructors take learners their to practice.

I actually don’t think a learner is anymore likely to hit a child in these circumstances than any other driver. It sounds fundamentally unsafe from your description. Driving instructors with dual controls and learners are possibly less likely to hit a child than a regular driver rushing to collect children?

@PolPotNoodle
You may be content to let your toddler run free in a car park but most people aren't. I wouldn't let a puppy do that either, by the way
I stated in my OP the age of my son not sure why you need to be so rude.

I think it's a suitable place, it's not a school at home time, it's a sports facility car park at 6pm. Probably safer than a supermarket car park.

Driving instructor disagreed and said it's a public place.

Did you actually confront the instructor about this?

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.

OP: "AIBU"
Everyone" "yeah a bit, because x, y and z"
OP: "Well sorr-eeee for just wanting to protect the children! You are all clearly a bunch of child haters and want them all to die! Oh, and this is a parenting forum dontcha know!

What is the venue?

It's hardly going to be outing to say it's the local Council run leisure centre!

Surely if it wasn't a public area and was eg a car park for a private sports club, it would be members only in the car park and the driving instructor wouldn't be able to access it.

Taking this further, should learner drivers not be allowed to drive past nurseries or schools in case a child was out and about? Should they not drive parks in case a child or a dog ran into the road?

Have you spoken to the venue about it?

OP do you drive? I ask because sometimes non-drivers see driving as being more complicated and intense as it is?

If anything the learner car would be safer, 2 pairs of eyes (1 highly experienced, 1 concentrating hard), a professional instructor will have dual controls so can brake from his/her side of need be and mirrors - there will be extras.

Also (and you won’t like this!) the instructor might be purposefully choosing a busy spot to teach how to manoeuvre with lots of activity around.

Hopefully the learner will learn how park slowly and calmly instead of the screech and swift turn that many many drivers do to park.

It’s an opportunity for the parents to teach road safety to their kids. At least the learners will be slow and steady.

Responsibility is on parents. And no, your child doesn't just slip their hand out of yours because you're also looking after siblings/friends.

It seems highly unlikely that a learner driver (they're not all teens, plenty of older learners too) would reverse into a toddler. Both they and the instructor will be looking very carefully. And they will be moving extremely slowly so even if they did make contact, that would all. Kid might fall over and get a grazed knee.

This is another example of parents with more than one child who think the rest of the world should change their habits because of their decision to have more than one child.

Well actually it isn't, because I now see the OP's child is about 13 - she is assuming the parents of the younger children share her views. Perhaps they don't and actually are keeping an eye on their small children.

Far better to learn when there are loads of hazards so the habit of being hyper vigilant is formed from the start. If he learns to reverse park in an empty car park he is in for a shock when he passes his test and has to do it for real in a busy car park. He should be driving in real situations from the start so he is always prepared for it.

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

The building and what goes on inside it/who attends it is entirely irrelevant. The car park is still a public place.

This is a great place for learner drivers to practice.

Going against the grain, but I don't think it sounds a suitable place.

A driving instructor has dual controls for a reason. I think you’re being ridiculous and your ‘acceptance’ is the funniest PA strop I’ve read in a while.

There was a driving instructor teaching parking on the road outside my DDs school last week at pick up time. I did wonder if the instructor had fully thought that through... But mainly because it was causing an obstruction at one of the busiest times of day for that road (cars parked both sides of road so traffic can only move one way at a time, so a rather long queue built up in the time it took). A dark car park full of children doesn't sound that ideal either really... But if it's public they have the 'right' to do so. I don't think children are any more in danger from a learner driver than any other. A parent with fighting children in the car would-be more distracted for example.

It's an unusual place to practise! That said I think it's probably more safe than someone who has just passed their test as the instructor will have dual controls and be watching like a hawk. When I was learning there was a car park with specific spots for learner drivers to practise on.

YABU.

Answering some of your questions

I do drive

The venue is a not public if you want to park you need to get a ticket from reception after showing online receipt for activities

It's in northwest London

The driving instructor didn't have a ticket as he wasn't getting out of the car.

It's not a school but it's purpose built for a couple of children's after school activities

Maybe the driving school has permission from the venue to use the space.

@OwlBeThere
I think you’re being ridiculous and your ‘acceptance’ is the funniest PA strop I’ve read in a while.
If that's the case you need to get out more🤣🤣