Mediocre Mum

Baby on Board!

Hate is too strong of a word, but I really don’t like these signs:

Firstly, I find them insensitive.  Whoopee! Well done, we managed to procreate and are enjoying all that comes with being a parent but do we have to flaunt it.  Imagine driving home after your 3rd failed attempt at IVF and all you see is these damn things everywhere.

Secondly, they don’t make me drive any differently around you. In fact, I may get even more aggressive and heaven help you if you get distracted by your children in the backseat and do something stupid like brake suddenly, forget to indicate or miss a green light.  Don’t even get me started on those mirrors you can put in the back so you can spend the whole time looking in the rear view mirror!

As you can tell I suffer a bit from road rage.  I do a lot of driving for work and turn into a bit of an animal behind the wheel.  Somewhere along the line, I’ve decided that I own the road and the rest of you are in my way.  Yes, if you are in the fast lane going 70 mph I will fly up behind you at 90 mph and if you don’t get out of the way I will flash my lights.  I don’t care if you’re a burly builder and I won’t hesitate to flip you the bird.

Maybe I should get one of these:

I’m a Grumpy Old Woman. Are you? Help yourself to a badge.

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Comments

65 responses to “Baby on Board!”

  1. Hayley Avatar
    Hayley

    I had a similar debate with my driving instructor when I learnt but he informed me they actually have a safety aspect to them in that in an accident it informs the emergency services of the possibility of a child helping them make a quicker descision in who to treat if they need to.

    I dont have one in my car but I would bloody well hope people would see Js carseat and think twice about getting up my arse unfortunately they dont. It angers me greatly, why should they be able to put my sons life at risk by getting up my backside, simple they shouldnt. I was lucky enough once that a police car was following someone who got up my backside and actually pulled the guy for agressive driving, to say I was relieved I cant even describe.

    When I was in my teens we lost one of my cubs, the only girl in our unit and her mother to a dangerous driver who had been driving agreesively getting up the back of their car, in the end they were run off the road and both died instantly on the hard shoulder of the M25. Not the way to go.

    As much as they have their downfaults I think these signs can do some good for those that bother to acknowledge them and think about that car that they might want to put extra pressure on just so they can get to their destination two minutes earlier.

    Reply
    1. mediocremum Avatar
      mediocremum

      Hayley, bloody good point! I hadn’t thought of the safety aspect of the signs. For the most part I’m joking and not as bad as I sound. I only get aggressive if someone does something stupid that in turn puts my life in danger. :-)

      Reply
  2. The Moiderer Avatar
    The Moiderer

    I so totally and absolutely agree with you. I never understood why you would have one of these stupid signs and everyone we knew was instructed to not dare buying us one! One person still did and it went straight in the bin. I actually think it should say “Idiot driver on board” because that’s what you would have to be to see the point in one of these signs!

    Reply
  3. Gashead Avatar
    Gashead

    The original purpose of these signs was to tell the emergency services, in the event of an accident, to look for a baby who might not be immediately visible. By displaying one when a baby is not on board a driver is potentially wasting the emergency services' time and 3 points should be deducted from the driving licence for each offence.

    Reply
  4. Gashead Avatar
    Gashead

    The original purpose of these signs was to tell the emergency services, in the event of an accident, to look for a baby who might not be immediately visible. By displaying one when a baby is not on board a driver is potentially wasting the emergency services’ time and 3 points should be deducted from the driving licence for each offence.

    Reply
  5. Hayley Avatar
    Hayley

    I had a similar debate with my driving instructor when I learnt but he informed me they actually have a safety aspect to them in that in an accident it informs the emergency services of the possibility of a child helping them make a quicker descision in who to treat if they need to.

    I dont have one in my car but I would bloody well hope people would see Js carseat and think twice about getting up my arse unfortunately they dont. It angers me greatly, why should they be able to put my sons life at risk by getting up my backside, simple they shouldnt. I was lucky enough once that a police car was following someone who got up my backside and actually pulled the guy for agressive driving, to say I was relieved I cant even describe.

    When I was in my teens we lost one of my cubs, the only girl in our unit and her mother to a dangerous driver who had been driving agreesively getting up the back of their car, in the end they were run off the road and both died instantly on the hard shoulder of the M25. Not the way to go.

    As much as they have their downfaults I think these signs can do some good for those that bother to acknowledge them and think about that car that they might want to put extra pressure on just so they can get to their destination two minutes earlier.

    Reply
    1. mediocremum Avatar
      mediocremum

      Hayley, bloody good point! I hadn't thought of the safety aspect of the signs. For the most part I'm joking and not as bad as I sound. I only get aggressive if someone does something stupid that in turn puts my life in danger. :-)

      Reply
  6. Gashead Avatar
    Gashead

    Hmmm, looks like my original explanation which I read elsewhere in good faith is an urban legend and they are not to alert the emergency services at all. As somebody pointed out, in the event of a crash the glass would smash and the sticker would fall off anyway. There is also mention that young lads use the signs in order to get less hassle from the police!

    Reply
  7. The Moiderer Avatar
    The Moiderer

    I so totally and absolutely agree with you. I never understood why you would have one of these stupid signs and everyone we knew was instructed to not dare buying us one! One person still did and it went straight in the bin. I actually think it should say "Idiot driver on board" because that's what you would have to be to see the point in one of these signs!

    Reply
  8. Emily O Avatar
    Emily O

    I’m with you, I don’t like them either. And I remember hating them when it took me three years to conceive our first child. I say ‘pah’ to the safety aspect. If people really meant to use them as a safety alert then they’d take them down when they didn’t have their children in the car. Otherwise the emergency services would waste time trying to find children not in a car with one of these signs up and ignoring children in a car which didn’t have one of these. I’m glad you wrote this, it’s got me ranting!

    Reply
  9. Gashead Avatar
    Gashead

    Hmmm, looks like my original explanation which I read elsewhere in good faith is an urban legend and they are not to alert the emergency services at all. As somebody pointed out, in the event of a crash the glass would smash and the sticker would fall off anyway. There is also mention that young lads use the signs in order to get less hassle from the police!

    Reply
  10. Emily O Avatar
    Emily O

    I'm with you, I don't like them either. And I remember hating them when it took me three years to conceive our first child. I say 'pah' to the safety aspect. If people really meant to use them as a safety alert then they'd take them down when they didn't have their children in the car. Otherwise the emergency services would waste time trying to find children not in a car with one of these signs up and ignoring children in a car which didn't have one of these. I'm glad you wrote this, it's got me ranting!

    Reply
  11. Very Bored in Catalu Avatar
    Very Bored in Catalu

    We've got one in our car although it's in Catalan, it's there purely that in the event of me being involved in a serious car accident that the emergency services would take a few seconds (hardly enough time to warrant calling it a waste if my child isn't on board) to check to see if my son is in the car. Your windscreen wouldn't necessarily smash, unless you rolled over maybe??

    Now, cuddly toys on the back shelf – they're annoying! ;-)

    Reply
  12. Jude Avatar
    Jude

    Yes, I hate them too, really don't see the point of them. People should drive safely all the time, not just because they think a car has a baby in it. I do tend to make unfavourable judgements about people I see using them.

    Reply
  13. Very Bored in Catalunya Avatar
    Very Bored in Catalunya

    We’ve got one in our car although it’s in Catalan, it’s there purely that in the event of me being involved in a serious car accident that the emergency services would take a few seconds (hardly enough time to warrant calling it a waste if my child isn’t on board) to check to see if my son is in the car. Your windscreen wouldn’t necessarily smash, unless you rolled over maybe??

    Now, cuddly toys on the back shelf – they’re annoying! ;-)

    Reply
  14. Jude Avatar
    Jude

    Yes, I hate them too, really don’t see the point of them. People should drive safely all the time, not just because they think a car has a baby in it. I do tend to make unfavourable judgements about people I see using them.

    Reply
  15. 1950s Housewife Avatar
    1950s Housewife

    Really can't get worked up about them. Insensitive? Perhaps, but then people who have gone through IVF have the challenges of seeing Mothercare billboards etc.

    Tailgaters who terrify the crap out of me by driving up my arse, now I could do a massive rant about them… ;-)

    Reply
    1. mediocremum Avatar
      mediocremum

      This just sprang to mind as I have two very dear friends who are going through all this at the moment. I know people aren't intentionally being insensitive. ;-)

      Reply
  16. 1950s Housewife Avatar
    1950s Housewife

    Really can’t get worked up about them. Insensitive? Perhaps, but then people who have gone through IVF have the challenges of seeing Mothercare billboards etc.
    Tailgaters who terrify the crap out of me by driving up my arse, now I could do a massive rant about them… ;-)

    Reply
    1. mediocremum Avatar
      mediocremum

      This just sprang to mind as I have two very dear friends who are going through all this at the moment. I know people aren’t intentionally being insensitive. ;-)

      Reply
  17. nixpixnix Avatar
    nixpixnix

    I had one when my son was younger. It was mainly to alert drivers in the hope they wouldn't hoot etc. Although soon realised it made no difference as I had some aggressive woman behind me once hooting like a nutter.. so the sign didn't stop her! My son is special needs and back then any sudden noise would freak him out, ie hooting, balloon popping etc. He's got better now, he's older so I no longer have one but I have no problems with them at all.

    Reply
    1. mediocremum Avatar
      mediocremum

      Whoops! I feel really bad now but I'm fairly sure I've never hooted at you.

      Reply
  18. nixpixnix Avatar
    nixpixnix

    I had one when my son was younger. It was mainly to alert drivers in the hope they wouldn’t hoot etc. Although soon realised it made no difference as I had some aggressive woman behind me once hooting like a nutter.. so the sign didn’t stop her! My son is special needs and back then any sudden noise would freak him out, ie hooting, balloon popping etc. He’s got better now, he’s older so I no longer have one but I have no problems with them at all.

    Reply
    1. mediocremum Avatar
      mediocremum

      Whoops! I feel really bad now but I’m fairly sure I’ve never hooted at you.

      Reply
  19. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    I have to admit that I had one when my kids were younger and it does make me give a driver a little more time and space when one is showing in other cars.

    I would say to the earlier poster however that for every idiot taligating someone there is usually a bigger idiot in front sitting in the wrong lane.

    Reply
  20. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    I have to admit that I had one when my kids were younger and it does make me give a driver a little more time and space when one is showing in other cars.

    I would say to the earlier poster however that for every idiot taligating someone there is usually a bigger idiot in front sitting in the wrong lane.

    Reply
  21. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    I hate them too! My neighbour has had one in the window of her house for the last four years…her child is now at school!

    I never had them for my four babies. I do remember feeling murderous when I saw them after I miscarried my first.

    I think, however, I may get a 'teenager on board' sticker to warn others that I may be being distracted by music so loud my ears are bleeding or by being whipped by a quick hair flip!

    Reply
  22. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    I hate them too! My neighbour has had one in the window of her house for the last four years…her child is now at school!
    I never had them for my four babies. I do remember feeling murderous when I saw them after I miscarried my first.
    I think, however, I may get a ‘teenager on board’ sticker to warn others that I may be being distracted by music so loud my ears are bleeding or by being whipped by a quick hair flip!

    Reply
  23. lastofthemojitos Avatar
    lastofthemojitos

    I DETEST them, always have, always will. The worst I ever saw was 'Pregnant lady on Board'. Eh hello do you want a medal???? You sound like me on the road, hence 8 penalty point on my licence…..

    Reply
  24. lastofthemojitos Avatar
    lastofthemojitos

    I DETEST them, always have, always will. The worst I ever saw was ‘Pregnant lady on Board’. Eh hello do you want a medal???? You sound like me on the road, hence 8 penalty point on my licence…..

    Reply
  25. mediocremum Avatar
    mediocremum

    Fingers crossed no tickets or points yet.

    Reply
  26. mediocremum Avatar
    mediocremum

    Fingers crossed no tickets or points yet.

    Reply
  27. Hayley Avatar
    Hayley

    Lol its ok hun, its just something that hit a bit of a nerve thats all :)

    Reply
  28. Hayley Avatar
    Hayley

    Lol its ok hun, its just something that hit a bit of a nerve thats all :)

    Reply
  29. 1950s Housewife Avatar
    1950s Housewife

    ‘Babe on board’ drives me crazy. Er…no, usually the driver isn’t.

    Reply
  30. 1950s Housewife Avatar
    1950s Housewife

    ‘Babe on board’ drives me crazy. Er…no, usually the driver isn’t.

    Reply
  31. Adrian Avatar
    Adrian

    The stickers I hate the most are the ones with “Jesus loves you” and a little outline of a fish on them. Not because I dislike people who are religious in any way. More because, for some reason, they all seem to genuinely believe that their cars are made of tissue paper and, as such, they must be driven at no more than 10 mph whilst keeping at least 1/2 a mile of safe stopping distance between themselves and the vehicle in front of them… If you’re stuck behind one of these, it’s far from heaven… It’s hell!… Oh the irony!

    Reply
    1. mediocremum Avatar
      mediocremum

      My favourite bumper sticker…if you drive to close I’ll flick a booger on your windscreen!

      Reply
  32. Adrian Avatar
    Adrian

    The stickers I hate the most are the ones with "Jesus loves you" and a little outline of a fish on them. Not because I dislike people who are religious in any way. More because, for some reason, they all seem to genuinely believe that their cars are made of tissue paper and, as such, they must be driven at no more than 10 mph whilst keeping at least 1/2 a mile of safe stopping distance between themselves and the vehicle in front of them… If you're stuck behind one of these, it's far from heaven… It's hell!… Oh the irony!

    Reply
    1. mediocremum Avatar
      mediocremum

      My favourite bumper sticker…if you drive to close I'll flick a booger on your windscreen!

      Reply
  33. james Avatar
    james

    Funnily enough, I was discussing what 'on board' stickers we should have on our car. Since there are four of us in here of various descriptions, there'd not be much room to see out of the back window.

    Ideas ranged from "Hairy Man" (Is that really how my children see me?) to "Cheeky child"… none of which make the slightest bit of difference to how other road users treat the car.

    My driving, however, speaks volumes.. :D

    Reply
  34. james Avatar
    james

    Funnily enough, I was discussing what ‘on board’ stickers we should have on our car. Since there are four of us in here of various descriptions, there’d not be much room to see out of the back window.

    Ideas ranged from “Hairy Man” (Is that really how my children see me?) to “Cheeky child”… none of which make the slightest bit of difference to how other road users treat the car.

    My driving, however, speaks volumes.. :D

    Reply
  35. @gawnee Avatar
    @gawnee

    hate them. but they do offer a partial explanation to driving speed. I used to be a speed monkey, but have bcome strangely sedate since breeding.

    Reply
    1. mediocremum Avatar
      mediocremum

      Sadly I have to drive faster to get home to childcare….I do realise the silliness of that comment.

      Reply
  36. james Avatar
    james

    (Oh, and 90mph gets ~really~ bad fuel economy.. I know – I used to drive for a living, too :D)

    Reply
    1. mediocremum Avatar
      mediocremum

      Broke a ton tonight! Shhh!

      Reply
  37. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    I don't have one, but I too thought they were to alert the emergency services – but who takes them out when the kids arn't on board?? I used to have one that had Little Miss Naughty on it, but only because I liked it and had all sorts of Little Miss stuff in my car! I don't have an issue, unless it's these people who have a "baby on board" on one side and a "child on board" on the other, and stickers all over the window – hello, visibility???? Oh and nodding dogs – WHY!!!!!! I have to say though after 3 years of fertility treatment with B, we did look for a "Pregnant Lady On Board" one just because we wanted everyone to know!!! We never managed to find one though!

    Reply
    1. mediocremum Avatar
      mediocremum

      You should have! That's worth celebrating!

      Reply
  38. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    I don’t have one, but I too thought they were to alert the emergency services – but who takes them out when the kids arn’t on board?? I used to have one that had Little Miss Naughty on it, but only because I liked it and had all sorts of Little Miss stuff in my car! I don’t have an issue, unless it’s these people who have a “baby on board” on one side and a “child on board” on the other, and stickers all over the window – hello, visibility???? Oh and nodding dogs – WHY!!!!!! I have to say though after 3 years of fertility treatment with B, we did look for a “Pregnant Lady On Board” one just because we wanted everyone to know!!! We never managed to find one though!

    Reply
    1. mediocremum Avatar
      mediocremum

      You should have! That’s worth celebrating!

      Reply
  39. @gawnee Avatar
    @gawnee

    hate them. but they do offer a partial explanation to driving speed. I used to be a speed monkey, but have bcome strangely sedate since breeding.

    Reply
    1. mediocremum Avatar
      mediocremum

      Sadly I have to drive faster to get home to childcare….I do realise the silliness of that comment.

      Reply
  40. james Avatar
    james

    (Oh, and 90mph gets ~really~ bad fuel economy.. I know – I used to drive for a living, too :D)

    Reply
    1. mediocremum Avatar
      mediocremum

      Broke a ton tonight! Shhh!

      Reply
  41. Nickie at Typecast Avatar
    Nickie at Typecast

    There are worse… they are the “Little Princess On Board” (or similar) ones. They really get on my wick!!

    And I am well known on the M65 for flipping the bird at other drivers :D

    Reply
    1. mediocremum Avatar
      mediocremum

      Back at ya!

      Reply
  42. Nickie @ Typecast Avatar
    Nickie @ Typecast

    There are worse… they are the "Little Princess On Board" (or similar) ones. They really get on my wick!!

    And I am well known on the M65 for flipping the bird at other drivers :D

    Reply
    1. mediocremum Avatar
      mediocremum

      Back at ya!

      Reply
  43. nixpixnix Avatar
    nixpixnix

    No! Don't feel bad, was just letting you know why I used it… and the woman who hooted wasn't blonde ;), didn't work anyway so if I ever have a 2nd child I'm not sure I'll bother.

    Reply
  44. trevorcoultart Avatar
    trevorcoultart

    Worse: "Show dogs in transit". Actually, now I come to think of it, those do serve a purpose. They tell me it's okay to crash into the back of your car rather than someone else's as I'm less likely to injure any actual people.

    Reply
    1. mediocremum Avatar
      mediocremum

      Saw a dog in a Pram last week……weirdo’s!

      Reply
  45. mediocremum Avatar
    mediocremum

    Saw a dog in a Pram last week……weirdo's!

    Reply
  46. balisally Avatar
    balisally

    Ha ha I agree. When I see these signs I feel like giving the driver a gentle nudge to their bumper. And I’m not a violent person.

    Reply
  47. balisally Avatar
    balisally

    Ha ha I agree. When I see these signs I feel like giving the driver a gentle nudge to their bumper. And I'm not a violent person.

    Reply
  48. balisally Avatar
    balisally

    Ha ha I agree. When I see these signs I feel like giving the driver a gentle nudge to their bumper. And I'm not a violent person.

    Reply

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