Parking lot "incident" with child

[bcla]

So yesterday I was getting something to eat for my kid before going to a county fair.

However, as we we getting back to my car, my kid walked towards the right rear door like always. The space to the right is empty, so it seem pretty safe.

Suddenly a car pulls into the space while my kid is still there and then my kid is pressing against my car to avoid the incoming car. The driver is turning into the space and comes within an inch or two of my kid due to the turning angle. When the driver stops and gets out I just ask what the heck he's doing. He has his own kids with him, including one about my kid's age. He doesn't necessarily apologize, but rationalizes what he did by claiming he wasn't going to hit my kid and my kid wasn't moving. It wasn't necessarily a confrontation, but it just seemed like all kinds of wrong to knowingly drive that close to child, rather than waiting.

 

[BrianL]

One should never pull into a parking space if people are getting in/out of the car in the adjacent vehicle or standing in outside the car. It's just dangerous! I would have been quite upset about something like that.

 

[Wishing on a star]

WOW.... people are, well, the words are not DIS friendly!!!

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Is it possible that the driver didn't see your child?

Our grocery store has angle parking. So it is possible to not see a small child, alone, standing next to a larger vehicle.

And then after you said something, he felt the need to cover himself?

 

[Christine]

Is it possible that the driver didn't see your child?

Our grocery store has angle parking. So it is possible to not see a small child, alone, standing next to a larger vehicle.

And then after you said something, he felt the need to cover himself?

I was wondering this also. I've had this happen to me. I start pulling into a space and I'm halfway in before I notice a person was trying to get out of their car, etc. I feel embarrassed and usually give a "whoops, sorry" gesture to the person. But it might be possible that as he was whipping into the space, he just didn't see your child, especially if you have a taller car. But, he could have just said that.

 

[disneyseniors]

This sounds like Walmart's parking lot every day!

 

[bcla]

Is it possible that the driver didn't see your child?

Our grocery store has angle parking. So it is possible to not see a small child, alone, standing next to a larger vehicle.

And then after you said something, he felt the need to cover himself?

He was turning right into the space, so he had a clear view of my kid. He even acknowledged that he had a clear view but felt he could do it because "your kid wasn't moving".

 

[Magpie]

He was turning right into the space, so he had a clear view of my kid. He even acknowledged that he had a clear view but felt he could do it because "your kid wasn't moving".

Good thing my husband wasn't there. This is the kind of thing that makes his head explode, and it could have got ugly (or at least shout-y and hand-wave-y).

That guy sounds like a real piece of work. I'm glad your child is okay!

 

[Christine]

He was turning right into the space, so he had a clear view of my kid. He even acknowledged that he had a clear view but felt he could do it because "your kid wasn't moving".

Oh, well, yeah, he was in the wrong. Seems unnecessarily risky.

 

[katie01]

Unacceptable on the other driver's part. I'm glad your child was ok

 

[undertheradar]

So yesterday I was getting something to eat for my kid before going to a county fair.

However, as we we getting back to my car, my kid walked towards the right rear door like always. The space to the right is empty, so it seem pretty safe.

Suddenly a car pulls into the space while my kid is still there and then my kid is pressing against my car to avoid the incoming car. The driver is turning into the space and comes within an inch or two of my kid due to the turning angle. When the driver stops and gets out I just ask what the heck he's doing. He has his own kids with him, including one about my kid's age. He doesn't necessarily apologize, but rationalizes what he did by claiming he wasn't going to hit my kid and my kid wasn't moving. It wasn't necessarily a confrontation, but it just seemed like all kinds of wrong to knowingly drive that close to child, rather than waiting.

Perhaps you should escort your child through the parking lot ? While your description points responsibility towards the other driver, it could have been avoided if you had your child by you.

 

[Jdbsfw]

If there are plenty of spaces I wont park next to another car anyway and certainly not if they are trying to get in/out of the car....Id simply go park somewhere else, typical clueless idiot behind the wheel likely, just like practically everybody else that drives...

 

[bcla]

Perhaps you should escort your child through the parking lot ? While your description points responsibility towards the other driver, it could have been avoided if you had your child by you.

So what do I do if I escort my kid by hand to the door and this guy just does the same thing, only we're both close to getting clipped? He seemed intent on getting into the space ASAP regardless of who was there. His rationale seemed to be that knowingly coming within inches of someone waiting to open a door was acceptable as long as he didn't hit anyone.

 

[Hikergirl]

OP, is your kid older, or are they little?
If they are older I'm wondering if they guy saw your kid and figured they'd know enough not to move when he pulled in. Not that that is right, unfortunately people don't always do the right thing.
I don't know if I would have been brave enough to confront him, I would have given him a WTH look but not sure if I would have voiced it. Someone who does something like that would make me think they were easily unhinged at the mention of them doing something wrong. Selfish jerks usually are.

 

[Westcoastwild]

So what do I do if I escort my kid by hand to the door and this guy just does the same thing, only we're both close to getting clipped? He seemed intent on getting into the space ASAP regardless of who was there. His rationale seemed to be that knowingly coming within inches of someone waiting to open a door was acceptable as long as he didn't hit anyone.

You stand and "block" the empty spot. I do that all the time when I'm loading or unloading my mother's wheelchair or when she's taking longer to get in. Makes people mad. But people get impatient and they think they can just pull in or out around you. So open the door for your kid and grin hugely at the jerk next time. They can't do anything but wait and fume.

 

[wenrob]

So what do I do if I escort my kid by hand to the door and this guy just does the same thing, only we're both close to getting clipped? He seemed intent on getting into the space ASAP regardless of who was there. His rationale seemed to be that knowingly coming within inches of someone waiting to open a door was acceptable as long as he didn't hit anyone.

Even at 11.5 I have my kids both get in the side I'm on and slide/walk through to the other side. If anyone gets hit it's going to be me. That said, the guy was out of line. No space is worth risking hitting anybody.

 

[MIGrandma]

Perhaps you should escort your child through the parking lot ? While your description points responsibility towards the other driver, it could have been avoided if you had your child by you.

I think that if the child is old enough to open the door on his/her own, get inside the car, and close the door on their own then they are old enough to do so without mommy or daddy walking them to the door. I don't escort my grandchildren to the car door when they go somewhere with me. They are 12 and 8, old enough to open their own door, get in, and close it. If what the OP described happened with my grandchild I would have been upset with the other driver too. Some people pull into a parking space way too fast and don't pay attention, sounds like this is what happened to the OP and I don't blame them for being upset about it. The driver definitely should have been more cautious, and patient, and waited for the child to get into the car and close the door before continuing into the parking spot.

 

[bcla]

OP, is your kid older, or are they little?
If they are older I'm wondering if they guy saw your kid and figured they'd know enough not to move when he pulled in. Not that that is right, unfortunately people don't always do the right thing.
I don't know if I would have been brave enough to confront him, I would have given him a WTH look but not sure if I would have voiced it. Someone who does something like that would make me think they were easily unhinged at the mention of them doing something wrong. Selfish jerks usually are.

My kid is 6. I don't care if he thought his driving skills were great, but as a parent it just freaked me out because it seemed unnecessary.

I would normally go there and if the coast is clear I would just open the door. My kid isn't at the point where I don't need to help. At the time it seemed pretty safe. The car hadn't even entered the parking lot yet, but it was a small lot and the driver quickly pulled into the lot and to the space.

He wasn't even a fire breather who was like "mind your own business". He had his own kids with him and seemed otherwise calm. I just don't normally know how to react when someone is seemingly so impatient to not wait a few seconds. I certainly wouldn't pull into a space (even if it's straight in) when someone is waiting.

 

[bcla]

I think that if the child is old enough to open the door on his/her own, get inside the car, and close the door on their own then they are old enough to do so without mommy or daddy walking them to the door. I don't escort my grandchildren to the car door when they go somewhere with me. They are 12 and 8, old enough to open their own door, get in, and close it. If what the OP described happened with my grandchild I would have been upset with the other driver too. Some people pull into a parking space way too fast and don't pay attention, sounds like this is what happened to the OP and I don't blame them for being upset about it. The driver definitely should have been more cautious, and patient, and waited for the child to get into the car and close the door before continuing into the parking spot.

The thing is that he acknowledged that he was aware there was a child next to the space and that he thought it was still acceptable. He was paying attention, but didn't seem to believe what he did was risking my child's safety.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Maybe, maybe not you should have been with your child. That isn't the issue here. It's about the other driver not giving a hoot about your child. No excuse in my book. He should have had the patience and waited....PERIOD.