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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To report this parent to the police?

83 replies

hopsalong · 26/01/2023 09:54

A man who lives near me takes his son, probably year 1 or 2, to school everyday as a passenger on an electric scooter. Sometimes they wear helmets, sometimes not. He always drives in the road, usually at the speed limit (20mph) and takes the corners pretty fast. They also have various bags etc. so it looks pretty unsteady. The child stands in front of the adult.

We live in central London so the streets are pretty busy, even though the speed limit is 20. (Lots of motorbikes, Deliveroo drivers etc.)

My husband thinks I'm being ridiculous. Would you report this to the police?

I will add that the man is often looking around, almost as if hoping passing female pedestrians will think wow, how cool is that, a scooter and a kid.

OP posts:
Sapphire387 · 26/01/2023 12:47

Do you know which school the kid goes to? I'd be more inclined to raise concerns there.

jtaeapa · 26/01/2023 12:47

Helen901 · 26/01/2023 12:42

I thought they were illegal in public? Its an accident waiting to happen. Id report

Some cities have lots of public ones that you can use if you have a driving licence

Upsidedownagain · 26/01/2023 12:48

Your last paragraph undermines your first. What has happened is most people focus on ribbing you about that and not the safety issue.

Do you even know who this guy is or where he lives? Or do you expect the police to organise a stakeout?

jtaeapa · 26/01/2023 12:49

And because the public ones are just on the street, they don’t have helmet. I go to one of the cities and 95% + of riders don’t have helmets.

GrasstrackGirl · 26/01/2023 12:51

Oh come on.

maddy68 · 26/01/2023 12:58

Mind your own business

evemillbank · 26/01/2023 13:01

Are you in Pimlico? This sounds like a guy I see! And I don't think it's sensible at all given that number of cyclists I see regularly getting knocked off their bikes going slower than him. There no way I'd put my kids on one of these for the school run.

dogdaydown · 26/01/2023 13:01

hopsalong · 26/01/2023 09:54

A man who lives near me takes his son, probably year 1 or 2, to school everyday as a passenger on an electric scooter. Sometimes they wear helmets, sometimes not. He always drives in the road, usually at the speed limit (20mph) and takes the corners pretty fast. They also have various bags etc. so it looks pretty unsteady. The child stands in front of the adult.

We live in central London so the streets are pretty busy, even though the speed limit is 20. (Lots of motorbikes, Deliveroo drivers etc.)

My husband thinks I'm being ridiculous. Would you report this to the police?

I will add that the man is often looking around, almost as if hoping passing female pedestrians will think wow, how cool is that, a scooter and a kid.

How can you tell "how he's looking around", is that a special kind of sense you have?

MYOB!

I hope he's on dadsnet dating he has the woman constantly staring at him, looking like she wants me to approach her and ask her back to mine.

BelleMarionette · 26/01/2023 13:03

While they are technically illegal, unless a hire one, there is no enforcement of this. In London they are everywhere. You could let the police know, but nothing will happen.

I have mixed feelings about electric scooters, as they are far better environmentally than driving, and shouldn't be a greater danger than an e-bike. The main issue seems to be the reckless nature of a lot of their users.

PollyPut · 26/01/2023 13:06

Some schools have a policy on this (usually banning illegal riding of electric scooters). Do you know which school they are going to? I'd start there if you're concerned about child.

I've seen some and agree it looks dangerous

GrassWillBeGreener · 26/01/2023 13:19

The hire scheme in our area (not London but I suspect they are all the same) is very clear. 18 and over only, one person only, absolutely no extra passenger regardless of age. Report seems reasonable to me; and maybe look at reporting to the hire scheme too if possible - they might actually try to do something about it?

00100001 · 26/01/2023 13:23

Well, call him out on it if it means so much to you.
Next time you see him looking around for the attention... go over to him and tell him you think it's incredibly dangerous....

Original poster
hopsalong · 26/01/2023 13:27

I think the last part of my post led people astray. Fear not, I'm not attracted to the puffy bearded scooter man! I meant only that he doesn't seem to be concentrating as hard as he might on driving carefully.

Will report to the school. Thanks to everyone who suggested that. I saw a cyclist (adult) die last year in a road accident and couldn't live with myself if I didn't report it and something happened to the boy.

OP posts:
Original poster
hopsalong · 26/01/2023 13:31

@dogdaydown

'How can you tell "how he's looking around", is that a special kind of sense you have?'

Eh?

Because his head moves as he looks at things on either side of the road. This is how I behave when I am walking. When I am on a bike I am ignoring the for sale signs, the people on the pavement etc, and looking grimly at the road and for side roads, cars turning etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
hopsalong · 26/01/2023 13:33

To clear up one final thing. I can't confront him about it because he always whizzes past me. I've thought about shouting something but am worried they would both fall off.

It is a privately owned scooter.

OP posts:
Tinkerbyebye · 26/01/2023 13:34

Yes I would

Toomuchinfor · 26/01/2023 13:36

I don't know how you could know what the man is thinking.

However I would probably email the school and express your concerns. No helmet!?

RagzRebooted · 26/01/2023 13:40

TiddleyWink · 26/01/2023 11:20

I’ve seen similar and it makes me feel sick seeing little kids on those things without helmets. YANBU.

People are taking the mick out of the last part of your post but I know exactly the kind of bloke you mean, clearly really pleased with themselves and thinking the women will swoon at a man doing the school run in such a ‘manly’ and cool way 🙄

The PP who didn’t report and the child later died must feel horrendous (not that it’s her fault of course but you would) - if a parent doesn’t protect their own child then I would hope as a society someone else would, rather than ‘minding their own business’ and letting an avoidable accident happen.

Some of the posters on this thread really need to grow up.

Agree with every word of this.

Commonsensitivity · 26/01/2023 13:40

I sniggered at your comment.
If course he's not looking for females. He's scanning for traffic.
They should be wearing a helmet but not sure reporting to police is ideal. Perhaps get in touch with a school safety officer to see if they would send out an email reminder about wearing helmets etc.

dogdaydown · 26/01/2023 13:46

hopsalong · 26/01/2023 13:31

@dogdaydown

'How can you tell "how he's looking around", is that a special kind of sense you have?'

Eh?

Because his head moves as he looks at things on either side of the road. This is how I behave when I am walking. When I am on a bike I am ignoring the for sale signs, the people on the pavement etc, and looking grimly at the road and for side roads, cars turning etc.

Sorry it was your ridiculous analogy of he was look around for females admiring him, just too funny.

Is that different to looking at for sale signs, or looking for dogs etc?

Does he enjoy your looking at him, looking for females, do you enjoy looking at him?

dogdaydown · 26/01/2023 13:47

hopsalong · 26/01/2023 13:27

I think the last part of my post led people astray. Fear not, I'm not attracted to the puffy bearded scooter man! I meant only that he doesn't seem to be concentrating as hard as he might on driving carefully.

Will report to the school. Thanks to everyone who suggested that. I saw a cyclist (adult) die last year in a road accident and couldn't live with myself if I didn't report it and something happened to the boy.

Oh your not........ ok then

OnedayIwillfeelfree · 26/01/2023 13:49

Do you mean a 2 wheeler scooter or a mobility scooter?

Original poster
hopsalong · 26/01/2023 15:28

Why are people so preoccupied with the man looking at women? I don't really know what he's looking at. But he drives along (fast) paying no apparent attention to the child and casting his head about. Cars frequently have to stop to avoid him. He seems distracted and not focused on the road.

I have reported to the school. Thanks to those who read seriously.

OP posts:
dogdaydown · 26/01/2023 15:35

hopsalong · 26/01/2023 15:28

Why are people so preoccupied with the man looking at women? I don't really know what he's looking at. But he drives along (fast) paying no apparent attention to the child and casting his head about. Cars frequently have to stop to avoid him. He seems distracted and not focused on the road.

I have reported to the school. Thanks to those who read seriously.

Because you stated it as part of your OP? If you don't know why are you assuming?

It made your post quite ridiculous.

Back2Back2t · 26/01/2023 15:42

hopsalong · 26/01/2023 15:28

Why are people so preoccupied with the man looking at women? I don't really know what he's looking at. But he drives along (fast) paying no apparent attention to the child and casting his head about. Cars frequently have to stop to avoid him. He seems distracted and not focused on the road.

I have reported to the school. Thanks to those who read seriously.

Why are people so preoccupied with the man looking at women?

OP are you being serious? You were the one that said it on your original post! The fact is, you don't know if he was looking at women.