Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

To think that people who obsess about car seats should do an advanced driving course

23 replies

CruelAndUnusualParenting · 02/09/2009 13:13

It seems like everybody on here worries about picking the right car seat and the NCAP rating of their car, but I'll bet only about 1% have taken an advanced driving test.

Having the right equipment to survive a crash is good, but not having a crash in the first place is what we should be aiming for.

Studies show that an advanced driving test considerably reduces your risk of having an accident in the first place and achieving a pass with the IAM or RoSPA costs less than a decent car seat.

I know 90% of the population think that they are in the best 10% of drivers, but how good are you really?

I don't have the scary videos the car seat obsessive are find of, so here's a scary question instead :-)

Are your children safe with you behind the wheel?

OP posts:

kathyis6incheshigh · 02/09/2009 13:16

good point.

Mamazon · 02/09/2009 13:18

you could be the gfreatest driver in the world.
doesn't prevent the car in front/behind/on the opposite side of the road being a moron.

so yes, take an advanced driving test as it will help you react, but don't think that being a great driver means you don't need to make sure the people in your car have the safest seats available.

bethoo · 02/09/2009 13:25

you cant be the best driver in the workd but yuo cant guarantee that another car driver is not an idiot!
you cant stop someone from drink driving or falling asleep at the wheel for example.
so i dont think an advanced driving course is a sure guarantee that you will not have an accident!

edam · 02/09/2009 13:28

It's not either/or is it? I doubt the tutors on the advanced drivers course would say, well done, you've passed, now you can chuck your child car seats away...

Original poster

CruelAndUnusualParenting · 02/09/2009 13:29

I didn't say it was a guarantee any more than a top rated car seat guarantees that your child will survive an accident.

It does reduce your risk.

OP posts:

AvrilH · 02/09/2009 13:32

Good point. I would definitely go on an advanced driving course in preference to shelling out £000s on a car seat. It is a lifetime investment too.

Feierabend · 02/09/2009 13:34

LOL. How many more threads on this topic?

MIAonline · 02/09/2009 13:36

It would probably be a good idea, but come on, lets not beat someone up for caring in any way. Whether that be about car seats or something different. Even if I don't always agree with people, I do respect them for giving a shit.

Did you suggest it on the other thread?

bethoo · 02/09/2009 13:36

AvrilH are you new here?
sorry for hijack.
and with reference to car seats front faceing seats are not really 100% safe for under 4s as it can cause spinal injury should the car be hit. rear facing are advised til 5 years of age or so it has been stated by the media etc.

Original poster

CruelAndUnusualParenting · 02/09/2009 13:37

I thought about posting on the other thread, but there was too much crap on there already.

OP posts:

BedofRosesItAintII · 02/09/2009 13:38

Hmmm, have been thinking about the advanced driving test, purely as I really enjoy driving and also I think (correct me if I am wrong) you get a reduction on car insurance.

I think YANBU at all, and thanks for the links!

whyme2 · 02/09/2009 13:38

I've done an advance ddriving course and although you cannot choose who else is on the road I learnt to judge risk and assess other drivers and how to protect myself from them. It was well worth it and I learned a lot.
Arguing that other drivers are idiots is not an excuse. You can learn how to drive safely whatever the conditions around you.

cat64 · 02/09/2009 13:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

AvrilH · 02/09/2009 13:42

bethoo Not very, I used post occasionally under another name. Why do you ask?

No seat is 100% safe. We can't protect our DC from risk, just do the best we can to manage it under our own circumstances.

StewieGriffinsMom · 02/09/2009 13:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

southeastastra · 02/09/2009 13:59

i think we should make our roads more safe. the uk has some of the worst roads in europe.

Meglet · 02/09/2009 14:03

Yanbu-ish. I'm halfway through advanced driving (on a break due to kids) and as someone else has said it teaches drivers to minimise risk, don't get too close to other drivers, keep your distance, good car control etc.

But its also essential to get good car seats too.

edam · 02/09/2009 17:16

SEA, in what way? I thought our record for road accidents esp. deaths was actually one of the best in Europe.

southeastastra · 02/09/2009 17:45

the way roads are designed, number of trees along roadsides and lack of crash barriers, saw a programme, wish i could remember what it was called..

edam · 02/09/2009 18:49

interesting. I think there's a word for it (the way roads are designed and the job title of the designers) but can't think what on earth it is! Probably something obvious like highway planning or something but I'm sure I heard something more complicated...

StewieGriffinsMom · 02/09/2009 18:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

spicemonster · 02/09/2009 18:56

Very good point CAUP.

I also wish that people were sent to traffic school (like they are in the US) to learn how to drive again when they do things like:

turn before indicating
demonstrate no awareness of other road users
insist on sitting in the middle lane of the motorway at all times
veer out of their lane when going round roundabouts
drive in the centre of the road because they have no idea how wide their vehicle is and are scared of hitting parked cars.

OnlyWantsOneDoesntLikeDM · 02/09/2009 19:11

Ive done an advanced driving course, offered by my local council.

Invaluable - was told that when you get past 3 years driving, all that you were taught is either invalid, or not used by you.

Learnt some really usefull information - and I am one of those mums that freaks out about car seats and spent £100's on them!

Flip