To still be shocked by what I saw!!

[Newname71]

I was on my weekly Saturday outing with DM. Checking my rear view mirror and I had to do a double take!! Car behind me, female driver with L plates on the car. Male front seat passenger had a little girl sat on his knee! She looked about 18 months old! Said to DM, just check I’m not seeing things!! Nope, I wasn’t! Pulled over and reported to 101, I honestly can’t believe there are people out there that stupid and reckless!

How do L plates indicate a driving lesson? No evidence of this

L plates could be on the car for any person who’s learning to drive and uses that car, not necessarily the person driving. When I was learning to drive, I used my parents car so each time they used their car, it wasn’t a driving lesson…

Safeguarding is everyone's business, would the same people who are saying they would ignore this also ignore signs of child abuse because there's a possibility the child won't end up seriously hurt or killed!?

Well done for reporting OP, some of the replies on here are nearly as bad as what you witnessed

L plates do not indicate a driving lesson 🤣

There are too many bonkers irresponsible people around unfortunately. Far too many to flag to the police. I live next to a primary school, and am amazed daily how many parents put children's lives at risk during drop offs and pick ups. But I guess most who are witness to it don’t really bother or think it’s an issue.

As you were stationary, you could have got in the back and put a seat in the front and sat with your kids. Not ideal. But doable... I wouldn’t take a child in the front in case the traffic moves forward and there is an accident and the airbag goes off. Or put the older child with their seat in the front with the airbag off if there’s that option.

Well if they were driving with 'L' plates but not under instruction they were breaking the highway code.

It is not illegal but is a dick move. The 'L' indicates a driver under instruction or taking a test to other road users.

They do if you follow the highway code. That's what the 'L' is for.

As I said driving with 'L' plates when you have passed your test is a dick move.

I know a mother who breast feeds her baby and lets him nap on her during car journeys. While her DH drives. They are both intelligent professionals who dote on their child. Perhaps to the point they can’t stand him being upset in a car seat and not cuddled. He’s almost 2. Nothing suprises me anymore. I have 3 kids and bf then all but also managed to keep them in car seats all the time. I think baby led everything is making people think their baby can decide safety rules too! I also know a mother who hasn’t had her 8 year old in a car seat for years as he didn’t like it. Time parents started parenting again not allowing their children to decide on everything!!!

The car should not be displaying L plates unless a learner is driving. If someone else is driving the car, the L plates should be removed or covered up.

Obviously many drivers, including some on here, either don't know this rule or ignore it.

How awful - a lucky escape for the child.

Me too. Baby was 6 weeks old, car was hit by drunken driver, door flew open and mum lost hold of the baby who was thrown across the ground and died. Never seen so many tears in an ED. Watching the person carrying this child to the mortuary was horrific.

Probably a bit outing but there were two little girls at my daughter’s school who had been in a terrible car accident. One had lost the use of her arms and the other had very limited mobility (mostly in a wheelchair). Because of this they were allowed to be picked up from right outside school so we would see, every single day, the mum or their nanny (childcare, not grandparent) drive away without them being strapped in, in a convertible car. My friend was friends with the mum and said they never wore seatbelts.

That really used to shock me

That's exactly what taxi drivers should be doing but every time we use one, we've had to make the driver wait before our DD is strapped in properly. Even when told, they edge away while I'm having to tell them again to stop before she's in properly.

That's not good. I did have one do that once and I complained and never encountered him again.

When I lived in the midlands it was fairly common to see toddlers sat on laps in the front seat and 4 people crammed into the back. Police did fine, mostly they tried to educate as to why you must use car seats, seatbelts and not have more people then the car was designed for but it was a constant issue as people born/living elsewhere couldn't see the problem. My police officer friend would tell us (anonymous) tales of this. Even at my kids primary you would see this, teachers tried to educate but the culprits didn't listen. Tends to be the grandparents not the parents I should add, education is key

Good. How is it right for taxis to be allowed to have children rolling around the car but not everyone else? The law should be changed. I'm positive taxi drivers would want their own children safely strapped in if they were passengers in another taxi.

I’d report it OP, you did the right thing. Poor kid.

Yes. They started using seat belts after that.

I think they had heard tales of people being trapped by seatbelts. Also I don't know if you remember the 1970s seatbelts. They didn't have any give in them, you had to adjust them for each person.

I've never really noticed if they start the meter as soon as they start driving away or as soon as you get in. If its because they are keen to start the journey then I will happily give them the extra 20p ffs 😂

Yes. They started using seat belts after that.

I think they had heard tales of people being trapped by seatbelts. Also I don't know if you remember the 1970s seatbelts. They didn't have any give in them, you had to adjust them for each person.

You should stand on the street and buckle the child in before you get in the car. That would stop them.

No. Only the things I deem irresponsible and putting a small child at risk of harm.

Let it go.

No actually I’m 53 and I remember those good old days when thousands more people were killed on our roads.

Are you always such a bitch? Your comment smacks far more of an unfulfilled shitty life than my post does. Hope you’re okay hun.