police not speaking to van driver who swerved towards me and dc's today

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On the walk to school this morning my two ds's (7 and 5) stepped out into the road without looking. Nothing was coming at that moment but I could hear a van approaching and I hauled them back and reminded them to look. I should have had them holding onto the buggy but it isn't a busy road and they weren't this am. Anyway the approaching van was going very quickly and as it came passed us he swerved towards us. The two men in front, mid 20's were laughing. I saw the company name and that it was W reg and thought I'd ring the firm when I got home.

Felt a bit shaken up as when younger knew a family whose dad was killed when someone swerved towards them all as a 'joke' then lost control. Rang dh who said he would ring firm and police. Spoke to boss who got driver to ring him back. He denied it so dh rang police who said could do nothing as no 'independent witnesses'. Noone was around but I just feel cross and frustrated that this man put our lives at risk and the police won't even speak to him. It would be his word against mine but I hoped they would at least speak to him. Am I being unreasonable. Sorry for rambling post...

If I were you I would write a formal letter of complaint to the company telling them that this kind of behaviour, in a van marked with the company name, is extremely idiotic not least because you will now be informing all of your friends about their behaviour and encouraging them to never use their services - and to tell their friends too.

I am not really surprised that the police won't get involved but at the very least the manager should have offered an apology to you and you should ask them to make sure all their drivers are aware of the law when it comes to driving!

I would phone back the boss and put a rocket under him, I mean have a complete and total eruption with as much bile and venom as you can muster. Anyone who puts children's lives at risk like that needs it.

And if that doesn't work I'll lend you my very large, very scary royal marine brother to teach the idiots a lesson!

Dh rang firm again and told them he had informed the police and if this guy didn't ring him again and apologise he would be taking it further (even though police said they wouldn't). Felt a bit unnerved as hate bluffing. Anyway bloke did ring back and said he wouldn't swerve towards a family and said it must be a misunderstanding. He did sound shamefaced and dh said he seemed like a decent kind of bloke.

I can only say how it seemed to me. I was standing on pavement. Hauled kids back as van approaching rather fast, van seemed to swerve towards us and away up hill with blokes laughing inside. Whether he meant to or not he was imo driving dangerously and too fast. Can't help feeling a bit guilty now, don't really know why.

I can see why the police can't get involved. I would be phoning and writing to the company and their head office if they have one.

Companies don't need negative publicity in these uncertain times and I'd point that out.

Absolutely out of order. Grrrr. Some people just don't think of the possible consequences of their actions. .

Thanks everyone. I feel better having posted. Good ol' mumsnet.

They could have been laughing about anything and happened to wobble a bit. It doesn't mean they were necessarily deliberately swerving towards you and your dcs and laughing about that. You've already complained to their boss, they'll have had a couple of bollockings, I would leave the police out of it.

I'm not surprised you were shaken up, especially as seconds before both of your dcs had stepped out into the road without looking, but I think you've done enough.

On the other hand your DCs probably gave the driver a hell of a scare too.

Can I have a royal marine brother to use???? i don't need anything sorting out but am sure i can find something for one to do?

oh Inziiiiiiiiiii don't be mean!!!

Playing devil's advocate for a moment, it's entirely possible that the driver didn't even see you and that the laughing as they drove away was completely unconnected. That might explain his denials later. I'm not excusing his poor driving, BTW, but your contacting the company will probably make him take a bit more care next time if it WAS accidental.