Would you report to the school

[Hihihihihihihihihihihi]

Every pick up and drop off there is a parent arriving in a car. There is huge clouds of black smoke coming out of the exhaust, they leave the engine running for ages whilst waiting for the gates to open and when they set off again they drive so fast and revving the engine when there is children crossing roads. Would you report this to the school or is there something else that can be done? The school is always trying to promote less fumes and walking instead of travelling by car and to turn engines off whilst waiting etc

I imagine the school has more important things to do and wouldn't be able to do anything about it.

So now schools are responsible for the emissions of parents cars? If you're that concerned, approach the person in the car and tell them what you think-why should the head do it!

Other than putting it in the newsletter or something there’s nothing they can do.

I'm not sure what the school could do?

Are you joking

Maybe tell the parent you think there's something wrong with their car
Because it shouldn't be spewing black smoke

To be fair our school put out a letter asking parents not to idle their cars or arrive on site earlier than the end of the day. We have rooms that back on to the carpark and regularly have cars idling, windows down, music blaring and smoking/ vaping. It's not an ideal learning environment for half of period 5.

I just worry there will be an accident. They drive so fast and don’t seem to even look if there’s anything coming or seem bothered that there is people crossing or that there is young children. They seem to speed up more than anything

@Hihihihihihihihihihihi check to see if your council has an anti-idling initiative like this one, in which case they might have a way to report it: https://www.richmond.gov.uk/engine_idling

I’m not sure the school can do anything. Does the car have MOT?

PE teacher can do a full service and an MOT

I hate the apathy on this thread.
Yes report it.

Yes hopefully they can put it in the news letter or like ours send out a general email asking parents not to idle and be responsible at drop off etc.

If its dangerous driving you can definitely report it to non emergency police no.

This is not the responsibility of the school.

Because people who drive like that will listen to a news letter!

Maybe not but it's worth a try, sometimes children talk and pass onto parents eg my mum said its your mums car :but it it's dangerous driving around a school op can post to police.

Your Karen mum.
Loads of you around.
Its nothing to do with the school.

Whilst I agree the parents actions sound dangerous and anti social the school has no authority in this matter.

if you report it they will (to pacify you!) likely put it in the newsletter this is not going to change this parents behaviour. It’s not like they don’t know their car is smoking!

If the parent is doing something illegal tell the police, otherwise there is nothing you can do.

if the school are already advocating not idling and safer driving then I don’t think there’s a lot more they can do, they have no enforcement powers. However you may be able to report the idling to your local council, it’s an offence and they may be fined depending on the council and evidence. You can also check any car without an MOT, if there’s black smoke it’s unlikely to have passed one. Reportable to your local police force. You can also report dangerous driving to your local police force. Video evidence is preferable, there’s different requirements depending on the reporting mechanism.

I’ve reported driving which puts me or my DC as a pedestrian/cyclist in danger as too many people (almost 1,700 last year) are still getting killed on the roads and around schools at a minimum should be safe. So if the local police have a word and it makes someone think and be more careful then I’m all for it.

It's not apathy to point out that the school is not responsible for vehicle maintainence enforcement.

@Hihihihihihihihihihihi Don't be so ridiculous- report it to the police, council, or the DVLA; not your child's school.

@AndrewGarfieldsLaptop if there is no MOT ( as car doesn’t sound in good repair) she can report as no MOT, no insurance.

Who to? The teacher who has enough to do??? Touch some grass honestly ffs

School have no power over the parents. They are expected to do too much nowadays. They are there to teach children not tell parents how they can drive.
You should do it yourself if you are concerned OP - why should you expect the school to do this for you.

The school can perfectly well put an item in the newsletter asking people not to idle their engines and reminding them of the dangers to children’s lungs. Our school does stuff like that all the time, usually because of constant complaints from local residents about the selfish parents who park over their driveways or illegally on the pavements at corners blocking visibility. The chances of it making a difference to the driver are slim (but it may make other parents feel bolder about asking the driver to turn their engine off).

If it's spewing black smoke it won't be running for much longer anyway!