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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that mums on the school run can be shockingly bad drivers?

37 replies

nikki1978 · 08/10/2009 07:40

I swear this week I have nearly been involved in some homicidal road rage incidents! These women seem to be so intent on getting their kids to school that they are completely unaware of everyone else on the road and the rules of the road too. Yesterday I pulled over slightly to let some other cars through in a narrow road with cars parked either side (more mothers of course) and 5 people decided to over take me so the other cars couldn't get through and I was stuck there fuming!

They park in front of peoples drive ways, pull up on the yellow zig zags in front of the school, rarely seem to say thank you - arrrgghhh! I am driving my kids to school too - I normally walk but the weather has been horrible this week - but I can remain a good driver even though I am in a rush too.

Bloody women drivers!

OP posts:

Original poster

nikki1978 · 09/10/2009 09:12

Sorry I should have put parents not just mums - not being sexist just generally see mums dropping off and not too many dads

I agree there are shocking drivers everywhere I was poiting out you see loads on the school run when normally you might see one or two each time you went out in a car.

If I have to drive to school I always drive sensibly and park where I can - if that means driving round the corner and parking 200 yards down the road (which is what I normally have to do) then so be it. What is the obsession with finding a place as near to the gate as possible? It is like people who drive for ages round supermarket carparks trying to find a place near the entrance when it would have been quicker to park at the far end and walk over. Peoples laziness is baffling sometimes! Obviously this doesn't account for the disabled...

OP posts:

fircone · 09/10/2009 09:26

A 4X4 woman reversed into my car one time in the school car park. She was quite aggressive and actually said, "Well, I can't see out of the back, how should I know you're there?" I was very cross, and said that my car could well have been a child or a pram or pushchair. In fact I asked her why she had bought a car she clearly could not drive properly and not see out of the back window. I received a tirade of juicy language in response. And I subsequently discovered she is a doctor. Perhaps looking to increase patient numbers.

SixtyFootDoll · 09/10/2009 09:29

I have also noticed that the larger the driver the closer they park to the school gates - and often live within walking distance.

fircone · 09/10/2009 09:30

I would add that the (few) dads are as bad as the mums. I live next door to a fancy prep school (own dcs at state down t'road).

The parents there are really aggressive drivers and often park across my drive. When I have to remonstrate with a rogue parker the yummy mummies at least scurry off, but I have a few rude gestures and even a "fuck off, bitch" from a dad in full business suit. In front of his dcs in their boaters. Bizarre.

MillyMollyMoo · 09/10/2009 09:37

One of mine can get the school bus in 12 months time, am counting the days

At their previous school I averaged one bump every six months, almost budgeted for it the parking and traffic was so bad.

Rocky12 · 09/10/2009 09:48

Last year my 6 year old son was nearly run over by a woman in a 4x4 talking on a mobile whilst trying to back out of a parking space that is normally reserved for the teachers. She backed straight onto the hatched areas that is used as a walkway. She told me she was trying to get a Dr's appointment for one of her children and that is why she wasnt looking and was using a mobile (BUT IT WAS OK TO RUN OVER A CHILD!!).

I sent a letter to the Head pleading for more care and he read out my letter to the whole school saying how disappointed he was in the standard of the driving. I think tbh that I am going to have to write a yearly letter. People improve for a few weeks and then back to normal.

As for the people who park on other people's drive.....

CaptainUnderpants · 09/10/2009 10:11

I live to a 'fancy prep' school too and it is a bloody nightmare at drop off and pick up ,
cars parked across driveways , parked on junctions and bends .

Agree with the fact that the bigger the car the closer they want to park outside the school ! Myself and neighbours over the years have often spoken to parents and the head but it still happens !

I usually walk or cycle to school and when my two were at the local state infants school same issue there, parking wherever people felt like !

there are alot of 4X4 where I live and alot of women who drive them cannot drive them ! let alone park them in a tight spot !

BrigitBigKnickers · 09/10/2009 10:40

YANBU- especially about these mothers in their chelsea tractors jeeps who think it's ok to stop on the zig-zags outside the school right next to the large yellow sign telling them no stopping, to drop off their little darling who is obviously far too precious to walk 100 yards down the road where there is ample parking, meaning my child cannot cross the road safely. (phew- sorry! Very long sentence!)

The other thing we have had problems with is one particular mother (the type who is always late and always in a rush) who parks on the pavement near the school then proceeds to fling her car door open nearly flattening my DD in the process- (to date this has happened three times! Am thinking of providing DD with a hard hat!)She then blocks the pavement while her PFB gets out of the car along with his PE bag, cello, science experiment, kitchen sink etc. etc.

Haylo · 09/10/2009 10:58

Smiled to myself on the walk to my DS's school this morning as one of the snotty, 4x4 driving, full time gym kit wearing, fake tan, alpha mum's was pulled up by a neighbour of the school for parking right across his drive again. Her reply "your neighbour XXX said l could". The reply to her was along the lines of WTF.

Everyone else on the whole parks at the bottom of the road and not on yellow lines or across driveways and walks up the hill the rest of the way, cellos, sports kit and all.

Certain individuals do not think rules apply to them, but what is that teaching their children ?

TheCrackFox · 09/10/2009 11:00

YANBU - it got so bad at our school that the HT reported it all to the police. They arranged to have traffic wardens there every morning for a couple of weeks. It was sheer comedy entertainment - the look of horror on some of the numbskulls faces was priceless.

To anyone that has nearly been run over on the school run please take their number plate and report the incident to the police.

fairydust · 09/10/2009 11:11

At dd's school we're lucky in the fact there is a church carpark that we can use to all park which is 2 mins walk from school and 99.9 % of parents park there.

Traffic is bad at dd's school as its near a main road what p**s me off the most is the parents that let the kids balance on the kurb on the road down to school and the parents that walk across the road without lookin there making drivers slam there breaks on so at dd's school its the parents walkin that are more dangeroue than the drivers.

Ripeberry · 09/10/2009 11:22

Everyone should do the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) test after 5yrs driving. At that stage most people get into very bad habits and they need to be shown how to drive 'properly' again.
Agree about 4X4 drivers being the right size to even drive them.
But legally, I could go out today and drive a huge 52 seater classic coach with just a normal car lisence.

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