In telling the parents each time their kid runs in front of the car

[Element4056]

We live in a cul de sac of 6 homes. To drive into the cul de sac there is a blind spot, hard to see when turning in and it is only a road which we can then turn into our respective homes. Just to make clear there is no pavement either side of this road, it is simply a road to turn into the cul de sac and then drive onto our driveways.

For the last month, the house just outside of our cul de sac (their back garden fence is situated adjacent to the road of the cul de sac) the parents have started opening their fence gate which leads to their back garden and letting their kids run out to play on the road. The kids are around 4years, 6 years and 8 years. They are left to play on the road without any adults around.

My husband, when turning and driving into the cul de sac, has had to break as the 4 year old was just sat in the middle of the road. Once the kid had moved away to a neighbours driveway, my husband started driving again only for the same child to then suddenly randomly run in front of the moving car! Husband then breaks again really hard. When we start moving again, the child then once again runs in front of our moving car.

I was very angry and went and told the parents off. That their young child not once but twice ran in front of a moving car and could very easily have been hurt. A road is not a play area for a child. This isn't a pavement. It isn't a park. They cannot play outside on the road. This was a week ago.

Today whilst driving into the cul de sac the 4 year old once again ran into the road in front of the car. I was very angry and made my husband go and tell his parents. My husband was reluctant saying he doesn't want to get involved. I said we are already involved when we seem to have this young child running in front of the car and next time he can actually get hit. Plenty of times drivers have come speeding when taking the turn and can easily hit him.

My DH thinks I'm unreasonable and that we shouldn't get involved. I think next time we should report the parents to social services for leaving their kids unattended and playing on the roads!

I have called social services with a similar issue - it turned out they were known to SS already and the girl went to foster parents for a while. This isn’t normal. I’d never let my 12 yo play on the road like this let alone a 4 yo

I lived in a “naice” development. Private roads but no access control. Lots of very wide pavements/paths of different surfaces for kids to ride or play on.

But a faction of residents decided it was a good idea to install a 10mph speed limit so their children could grow up “messing about” in the streets.

Private road or not, it’s still a street meant for traffic, not a play area. A small child, lying down on a skateboard, going round a corner on a downhill on the wrong side of the road, is still going to get very hurt if they are struck by a car going 10 mph.

I got a lot of stick for pointing that out. I had dash cam footage of me, going less 10mph, JUST managing to just miss their child. Their response: I should be more careful because I know kids like that corner.

You can’t reason with the entitled 🤷‍♀️

This is what I've been saying to my husband. I feel sorry for these kids as they have been failed by their lazy parents. Sorry if it is a bit of a drip feed but the first time I went round to their house to have words, there were multiple adults in the house sat round having a natter! I could see through their window. They couldn't be bothered to supervise their kids and just let them play on the road. The 4 year old was sat in the middle of the road !

Can the Council put up mirrors to cover the blind spot. We have one near our house and it is useful. Plus they could paint SLow signs on the road, or road bumps. Anything really that would remind drivers.
At least you know about it but what about delivery vans?
Its a disaster waiting to happen.

Kids that age don't have much awareness of danger , I agree their parents negligent in allowing this.

Keep telling them. If they have older kids playing they might assume they'd warn them of cars etc which is neither safe or fair.

Kids play on our Cul de Sac usually from around 5ish years old. Cars take it steady and kids can normally hear cars coming and run to side