Catfight! One Aussie mum sparks outrage by parking in a pram bay without her kids. Who was in the wrong?
- Replies 28
If you’re rushing home to your kids and need to pass by the supermarket to buy them dinner for the night, are you, morally speaking, entitled to leave your car in the pram bay even though you don’t have your kids with you?
This was the start of a long-rounded debate on one popular parenting Facebook group that solicited different responses from the community ranging from complete outrage to absolute indifference towards the act. Is anyone in the wrong?
According to one survey conducted by NRMA Insurance of about 1,500 people, one in five parents with children from ages 0-7 admitted to parking in pram spots despite the absence of their children.
The data suggests that about two-thirds of the respondents believed that parents whose children are no longer in prams no longer deserve the right to park in these spots but 16% of them did it anyway.
However, the research also showed that 9 out of 10 people who witnessed others parking in pram spots without children made no attempt whatsoever to confront these people.
Source: Shutterstock.net
“The way I see it, if you're in a rush and need to get home to your kids, then yes, it's ok, because your kids are the reason you're in a rush.” one mum commented.
Others brought up the legality of the matter, saying that there was no law in existence that could be used against those practicing this behavior, but commenters retaliated by saying that pram parkings were more of a courtesy than a legality.
“I mean, it's not illegal, but it's a bit of a d**k move.” one chimed in.
“You are allowed but it makes you an inconsiderate a**,” said another.
Some of the commenters were writing in a complete rage, accusing those who parked in these spots of being unfair and inconsiderate.
“The pram parks should only be for people with young children for many reasons. We need extra door space, we need closer spots. We also struggle to get the kids in the car with a trolley full of stuff,” one mum said.
“You shouldn’t in case someone with a carload of children comes along and could really use it. I’d rather the children be close to the shop entrance than walking through a car park where you always get idiots speeding through trying to make their car as loud as they can,” one dad wrote.
NRMA Road Safety Expert Dimitra Vlahomitros supported this idea, stating that children are more prone to car accidents especially while their parents are busy loading or unloading things from their vehicles.
Just a normal parking space. Source: Shutterstock.net
“Children are more at risk of being involved in a crash due to their unpredictability around cars and they can also be hard for other drivers to see so ensuring convenient parking close to entrances is available for parents with young children is really important.” Vlahomitros said.
What do you think? Do you think we should start integrating the use of pram bays into our legal system? Or is it okay for parents to use them as long as they do it to get back to their kids in a hurry? Tell us what you think by commenting below!
Check out this youtube video from pediatrician Dr Gülnihal Sarman, explaining why our little ones are more prone to accidents than anyone else:
Video Credit: Pediatrician to Parents