Parents Responsibility for Young Children on Roads

In some housing estates you see very young kiddies out playing with their friends on the road. The adults are generally keeping an eye on them by mutual agreement among households . There are often signs on display saying "Mind our children " reminding motorists of the kind of area they are in and of the need to be very careful. Residents who do not observe this precaution are frequently taken to task by parents, residents associations etc. That is normal. If these children are unsupervised near a main road that is asking for trouble.

w

why

In what universe is sending your kids to play in the traffic considered adequate parenting? Vehicles don't need to be moving fast to do damage to young children with no road awareness.

Community guard and also Tusla are the way to go.

Strictly speaking yes it's the drivers responsibility to avoid hitting pedestrians.

That said, I wouldn't be gambling my childrens lives on such high mindedness. A practical and pragmatic approach to road safety would obviously have parents keeping their children away from the roads. Whoever is "right" will be little comfort if you are looking at a child that's been knocked down.

We have that issue in our car park in our development. Despite a playground, large communal gardens and a huge park 5 minutes away. It is going to take a child being hurt before certain parents will give a damn.

A lot depends on the layout of the estate. Some cul de sac roads have children of a wide age range out playing with toys, on their bikes etc. Skipping , hopscotch and German jumps are also enjoying a revival. Drivers in such areas are very aware of the presence of children. Just last week I heard of a case where a number of parents approached a resident with regard to less than careful driving in the estate and the person took the advice in the spirit in which it was given . With regard to young children wandering away and approaching the main road unsupervised? They should not be allowed out without an adult until they are capable of /prepared to obey the rules.

100% drivers in the wrong. However I'm very cautious with my kids on the road, walking, skating, cycling or playing. They're very aware and well versed because anyone can jump in a car with no licence, no insurance, drunk, drugged and drive like a lunatic and nothing will be done about it.

I'd mostly be concerned about the possibility of a toddler crawling under a truck while the driver is making a delivery.

Since they don't respond to advice, let Tusla know.

A residents association has no legal standing to intervene in family matters.

You said the father was unreceptive to an approach.

He has been warned and it might be best left at that.

Of course any individual neighbour can do as they think fit.

How about looking at slowing down the drivers first? Children playing outside their house should not be seen as the main problem to be addressed.

There's a balance. They have to get out on their own at some stage.

I guess Boards has always had a tradition of clueless idiots dispensing bad advice.

Imagine reporting parents to Tusla for letting their kids play outside their house. I mean, Tusla?

Given the ages of these children I would consider them being unsupervised on the street on a regular basis active danger.

There is no law that I know of, about letting your children out to play, though (imo) a 3 year old is too young to be outside without an adult present at all times.

I don't know, I'm torn on this. I think the onus is on the parents to teach their kids not to run out on the road (the first thing you teach them as soon as they're old enough to play outside) but also heavily on drivers not to drive at speed in housing estates.

As a driver, I anticipate there will be young children playing outside in housing estates, and adjust my speed and observation accordingly. Kids will be kids and forget the "rules"- run out after a ball or whatever.

I dont think keeping kids housebound all the time is the best solution either.

(eta) Does the estate have any traffic calming measures? In my estate we bombarded the council daily until they installed speed ramps.

Sad state of affairs when letting your kids play outside in the estate is deemed worthy of a call to Tulsa.

100%.

My thoughts on this would be:

1: Parents but thats already tried and failed.

2: Garda community officer. But likely to fail also.

3: Ask the residents to stump up to pay for speed bumps and signs for slowing drivers down.

.
.
.
.

100: Tulsa. They will likely suggest go with options 1 and 2. And not do or be in a position to do anything anyway.

Well the OP suggested that, so I repeated what they asked.

Yes, I'm for real 🙄 bumps and signage, I suggested that if it exists, they go through their management company to address the speed issues. You know this could be an option depending where they live. Where did I suggest about damaging public property? Does that make more sense to you??

A 3 year old playing in the street unsupervised is a recipe for disaster and terrible parenting.

I remember when this happened back in 2000 around the corner from me. Was absolutely horrific. Parts of the poor kid's skull were imbedded in the road.

https://archive.ph/FKD3a

When you drive into or through a residential area you need to assume that a child will appear from nowhere and that it's your solemn duty to avoid harming that child. A driver may have his or her own opinion on the parenting skills of the local parents, but that is neither here nor there.

Where did I suggest about damaging public property? Does that make more sense to you??

I think they mean that if the residents of the estate took it upon themselves to install unauthorised ramps, it would be seen as damage to public property.

Also, if someone damaged their vehicle going over an unauthorised ramp, they could make a case for damages against the residents.

I remember years ago, there were a few estates that did this, and it backfired. It was one of the reasons why the residents in my estate held off and hassled the hell out of the council, until it was done legally.

I have seen three year olds play safely in the company of older siblings out on the road in some housing estates. The child referred to in the original post who keeps running towards the main road would be a different story .

Depends what you define as 'older sibling' really. A 12 year old keeping an eye on their younger siblings? Fair enough.

A 6 year old like in the OP though? That's entirely different.

Any driver who knocks over a child in a residential housing estate should have their license taken off them and face a stint in prison.

If you knock a child over, you were driving too fast and not paying attention - no ifs and no buts.

Do this a few times and publicize the sentencing and watch the ignorant drivers get the message.