Idling Cars During Drop-Off and Pick-Up

[Decadense]

Does anyone have parents that leave their cars idling during drop-offs and pick-ups?

[Decadense]

I have addressed this in the past, but it continues. I am afraid someone will get hurt

[Blackcat31]

I would tell them per insurance rules, you can NOT allow them to leave their car running while on your property.
If they park on a public street, there isn't much you can do but if they park in your driveway or on your property it is YOUR liability if someone does get hurt so I would stand firm and tell parents they only get one warning and if they continue to do it on your property you may have to terminate care due to the amount of responsibility it places on you.

I live in MN where it is sub zero in the winter and I will NOT allow anyone to leave their cars idle during drop off or pick up. Its also illegal for parents to leave other children in running cars without an adult in the car with them so I threaten calling the police if they do it. I hate to be that firm about things but I don't want the responsibility of someone getting hurt on my watch or while on my property.

[Decadense]

I would tell them per insurance rules, you can NOT allow them to leave their car running while on your property.
If they park on a public street, there isn't much you can do but if they park in your driveway or on your property it is YOUR liability if someone does get hurt so I would stand firm and tell parents they only get one warning and if they continue to do it on your property you may have to terminate care due to the amount of responsibility it places on you.

I live in MN where it is sub zero in the winter and I will NOT allow anyone to leave their cars idle during drop off or pick up. Its also illegal for parents to leave other children in running cars without an adult in the car with them so I threaten calling the police if they do it. I hate to be that firm about things but I don't want the responsibility of someone getting hurt on my watch or while on my property.

I had a parent not only leave their car idling but left their son, who did not attend my daycare, in the car and laughed when he got behind the wheel and moved the car. I told her that can not ever happen again, she laughed at me and rolled her eyes and all I could think of was what if someone was walking up the driveway to get to the daycare entrance and her child ran them over. I was going to tell her that she could not bring her son who did that with her to my daycare when she was dropping off anymore, but I did not think that I had the power to be able to tell her who she could bring in her car or not. I think I am definitely going to have to get tough and tell them what you said because that scares me so much

[BaileeB]

I’m not sure I could have tolerated that. I would be giving DCP the contents of their child’s cubby and telling them to find new care. Safety is priority #1 with a house full of children, if you can’t respect that then you are not a good fit for my daycare.

[DeeDee]

I have to agree with BaileeB
I would have had to terminate care. That's too much liability that I'm not comfortable with that situation at all, on top of the disrespect and complete disregard she showed when she laughed and rolled her eyes at such a serious matter. Nope I wouldn't want a lawsuit on my hands, if I couldn't afford the financial hit I would start looking to replace. Once I found someone to take the spot I would terminate.

[Decadense]

I do not understand why they need to leave their cars running anyway

[e.j.]

Laughing when her kid moved the car and then rolling her eyes when you told her that couldn't happen again would have sent me over the edge. If I didn't term her, I would have at least warned her that she would be termed if it ever happened again. Wow! Maybe I'm just getting old and cranky. How old is her other kid - the one who moved the car?

[Decadense]

Laughing when her kid moved the car and then rolling her eyes when you told her that couldn't happen again would have sent me over the edge. If I didn't term her, I would have at least warned her that she would be termed if it ever happened again. Wow! Maybe I'm just getting old and cranky. How old is her other kid - the one who moved the car?

He was only 9 at the time

[Decadense]

BaileeB I totally agree.. I should have been more active towards setting her straight because it really would have been my fault if someone got hurt

[Decadense]

That's why I am going to do exactly what Blackcat31 said so I will make sure that no one ever has the chance to get hurt because of my lack of backbone

[SandBox]

I understand the 9 year old issue. But an idled car with no one else in it is a safety concern? Do cars randomly go into N/reverse or drive on their own? Asking sincerely, not being funny.

[Blackcat31]

I understand the 9 year old issue. But an idled car with no one else in it is a safety concern? Do cars randomly go into N/reverse or drive on their own? Asking sincerely, not being funny.

It does seem funny but the idea that someone “could” steal your car or that something “could” happen leaving you liable is enough to have a policy about it and I would personally not be willing to take that risk. I think my licensing g rules also state something to do with mandated reporting etc in regards to leaving a child in a running vehicle that is unattended.

“Aside from direct criminal laws against leaving a vehicle running while unattended, there is also a possibility for civil liability. Insurance coverage might not apply to a vehicle stolen because the owner left it running while unattended

Anyone injured, or any property damage occurring as a result of someone operating the vehicle who should not have been but was able to simply because it was left running may have a claim against the owner of the vehicle (or the person who left it running unattended) for negligence. In some cases it could even be considered grossly negligent and could result in greater liability and even punitive damages.

Regardless of whether there is a specific law prohibiting the practice, there will always be a chance for significant civil liability resulting from leaving a vehicle running unattended, so it is unwise simply from the standpoint of opening oneself up to a lawsuit. Moreover, insurance may not apply to damages or injuries caused by an accident that occurred only because the owner (or insured driver) left the vehicle running unattended.”

https://www.hg.org/legal-articles/is...attended-31777

[SandBox]

It does seem funny but the idea that someone “could” steal your car or that something “could” happen leaving you liable is enough to have a policy about it and I would personally not be willing to take that risk. I think my licensing g rules also state something to do with mandated reporting etc in regards to leaving a child in a running vehicle that is unattended.

“Aside from direct criminal laws against leaving a vehicle running while unattended, there is also a possibility for civil liability. Insurance coverage might not apply to a vehicle stolen because the owner left it running while unattended

Anyone injured, or any property damage occurring as a result of someone operating the vehicle who should not have been but was able to simply because it was left running may have a claim against the owner of the vehicle (or the person who left it running unattended) for negligence. In some cases it could even be considered grossly negligent and could result in greater liability and even punitive damages.

Regardless of whether there is a specific law prohibiting the practice, there will always be a chance for significant civil liability resulting from leaving a vehicle running unattended, so it is unwise simply from the standpoint of opening oneself up to a lawsuit. Moreover, insurance may not apply to damages or injuries caused by an accident that occurred only because the owner (or insured driver) left the vehicle running unattended.”

https://www.hg.org/legal-articles/is...attended-31777

Okay gotcha. So it’s more liability issues. Didn’t think about theft since most you can take the keys out while running now. But probably not everyone does anyway.

When I googled it, I saw a lot of environment concerns leaving cars on too.

[Momboss]

Ive never thought about this. I always thought it was funny seeing parents turn their car off, grab their purse and walk 10 ft to my door for 2 second “have a good night “ and turn back to their car. Lol

[Annalee]

Years ago, dcm let dcg2 climb in the car before dcm got there. dcg2 locked the doors and dcm could not get her to unlock them......dcg2 was climbing around in the car. Not sure if dcg2 really knew she had locked the doors and/or she knew how to unlock? Either way, we had to call the police to assist getting the vehicle unlocked while another dcm parked their car behind the locked car and another dcd parked in front of the car to avoid the car going anywhere if put in gear. Very scary and a very noticeable community event as we are are near a public highway and brought much attention. I do have my parents hold their child's hand but after that I STRICTLY enforce it. No child left in the car.....no cars left running.....