She Almost Hit My 6 Y/o and I on School Crosswalk, Intentional or Accident??

Call the police and ask for an undercover officer to come sit outside of the school, in view of the crosswalk.

Pedestrians have the right of way in a cross walk, until they are across the entire lane, not just past the vehicle.

ETA: Oh, and if you start to cross, and see that the 'sister' is the first car in line. Wait. Stand back from the cross walk so that she will move through before you start to cross.

Take down their license numbers, report the incidents to the local police. The police "might" station a patrol car a little out of site and catch them in the act.

I do not recommend you confronting them, if what you say is true, this is a case for the police, not the principle or teachers. However, you could ask for a crossing guard.

I would tell the principal and ask that either he or another staff member be out there. The school is responsible for the students as they arrive and leave school. Just the presence of a staff member might make the difference.

I suggest you call the police and tell them that each morning you are crossing the crosswalk and have been observing the same car speeding up and driving very closely to your child.

It is against the law to enter a crosswalk with your vehicle while anyone is inside it. It is against the law for them to drive down the street while you are crossing. They HAVE to stop or they could get a ticket if caught.

Have a police officer come each morning and afternoon for a while and just sit there watching so they can see if she does this again OR they can silently send a message to her that she has to obey the law.

If I was a wishful person I'd wish that she did this while the police officer was sitting right there, her not knowing it's against the law...then she'd get a ticket and know she had to stop and wait.

From the horses mouth...or the state of California pertaining to pedestrian right of way.
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/right_of_way.htm

Report it to the principal NOW. I would leave out the drama of the "dirty looks" and just report that twice now, a car (with the same driver) has hit the gas while you were in the crosswalk. Admit that the first time it could have been a timing issue as you were just stepping in the crosswalk when she hit the gas but that the second time both you and your child were in the middle of the crosswalk.

i think all of the assumptions on the dirty looks could make you look crazy. leave all of that out because that may be you reading into things that arent there

there are speed limits in school zones if they arent obeying them call the school and give the scenarios where they almost hit you.

Call the principal and the police. Only discuss the unsafe behavior. You would feel horrible if something happens and you did not report it, your child or someone else's child.

Leave the "dirty looks" venting for us.

Who knows what in someone else's mind?

I would report them to the school. I might even mention it to the police department. Where my kids go to school, there is always at least one police vehicle parked and monitoring traffic both before and after school.
They watch for speeders, people not stopping for children in crosswalks, etc.

There ARE laws pertaining to crosswalks and who has the right of way.
Nobody has any business peeling out or punching the accelerator within so many feet of a school zone. Arm yourself with knowledge. Ask your local police department. Talk to them about the two incidents. I wouldn't focus on the fact that you feel targeted, the true fact of the matter is that they could be a danger to ANY PERSON using those crosswalks.

The police may decide to monitor the situation for a while. If the sisters get caught, they can get ticketed. If the police presence stops their behavior, that's great too.

Do NOT confront the women. You don't know what they're capable of.

Just my opinion.

where is the crossing guard in all of this? I would think the crossing guard would have blown their whistle at ANYONE driving while someone is in the crosswalk....if you don't have a crossing guard - your school needs to get one - PRONTO!!

if you confront them angry - it will go down hill fast. Get your facts in order and then go to a neutral 3rd party (principal or school board). That means documenting incidents and recording anything you can.

Bring your phone with you today and record any incident that happens.

You said your daughter has changed in the last few months as well. You need to talk with her about any problems she might be having with the daughter (or niece) of this W.. Call your daughter's teacher and ask if she is having problems with any students. DO NOT tell her what is going on - just ask in a general tone.

Talk with the school principal about your concerns. Have someone from the school observe the interaction(s).

Do not confront angry. It will make you look bad. Get your facts and history and then present your case to the principal. Get the crossing guard on board as well. they need to document anything like that.

Good luck!

Just have your cell phone ready to make a video of this, and make sure you get the license plate. It will be hard to ignore that kind of evidence.

Wait -- someone's legs were crushed in front of the school last year and you STILL have no crossing guard?!

You're not seeing the forest for the trees here. Your own incidents should not be getting you riled at these idiots -- they should be prompting you to get yourself down to the local police department and demanding that they get a POLICE OFFICER in front of your school. Every day.

Our school is on a street where the school drop-off creates backups both ways. Just a fact. The street does not lead anywhere, not to a business district or shops; just to homes, and those who live in the area know about the daily backup times. Not a big deal except for the nitwits who end up o that street many days and don't know that and just have to zip past the lined-up cars. IN the street. Crossing over double yellow lines. Blasting over crosswalks. We also had issues with a crosswalk where parents and others would blast past too fast or without really looking.

The school asked the town and now there is a police officer, car and all, at that crosswalk every morning and afternoon. We already had a police-affiliated (not an officer) crossing guard at a different crosswalk. It did not take someone's legs being crushed for the school and the cops, together, to deal with this. We still have issues with violators who cross the yellow lines and blast past two or more cars that are waiting in the street to turn into the school lot, but I hope that's going to change.

Drop the ire at these two women -- you are taking it all too personally (what you think is a "dirty look" may have zero, zip, nothing to do with you at all). But they ARE driving dangerously. That incident last year alone should have resulted iin a crossing guard! Now, take your own experience-- you should not try to name or shame these women, you don't even know their names anyway -- and get other parents involved; get a petition going; attend PTA and school board and town council meetings -- whatever it takes. People are driving recklessly over and over -- do you want that to continue next year?

Turn the anger and the focus on yourself into something else: Turn it into energy and a focus on the bigger issue. Do that and everyone will benefit including you and your child.

The cops and the school are utterly asking for a serious accident if they don't get on the ball.. Demand a traffic study. Demand that someone come and observe driving patterns around the school at dropoff and pickup times. But don't make it about you and your worries regarding these women. You can prove nothing. But you CAN get other parents together on the larger idea of dangerous driving around school.

I would be talking to the principal. It's her job to make sure your campus is safe. Driving that way through a crosswalk is dangerous for ALL kids. You would be doing them all a favor. At the very least, they need someone watching specifically for this woman. it would be best if they talked to her, not you.

Document it with facts. Just the facts

Tuesday April 16th 11 :15 am Car matching X description seemed to press the excelator while my child and I were walking across the street.

Wed April 17th. 11:18 am Car matching X description seemed to p
ress the excelator while my child and I were walking across the street.

Do not add anything like you think it is the aunt to a girl in your daughters class. However if you have the lisc plate, color make model description of driver. The pricnpal would like to have that.

I would think that the police should be involved. Think if this happened at the park what would you do? Would you want another child to possible get hit by this vehicls/drivers actions? etc..

Good Luck and becareful.

Is there a crossing guard there? If not, I would request one due to this very issue. When my kids were younger, we had a major issue. No crossing guards and the drivers would go through when the kids were crossing the street. Enough people complained and corssing guards were brought on. You are actually not supposed to drive through a crosswalk if someone is in it--even if they are done with your lane. This is especially true near schools. If anything, maybe the police will send someone to monitor for at least a little while.

Perhaps ask your daughter's teacher if she has noticed any tension between the kids? Get a feel for that. And mention to the principal that this person is zipping through the crosswalks. You don't have to mention the backstory, but if she is obviously zipping, other people will notice it and/or keep an eye out for it. Unsafe behavior is just that - so just report that. If there's a history of it, you'll be adding to it. If it's new, then they may send out a blanket e-mail or whatever about proper driving in school zones, etc. Good luck!

So this is a school crosswalk? Doesn't the school have crossing guards (either students or adult volunteers)? If not, they should look into having some. At least you could let the principal know that there have been reckless drivers around the school and they should send home a notice to the parents to drive safely, no cell phone usage, yield to pedestrians, etc.

ETA: The principal's answer about not having any control over any of the non-school crosswalks is a bunch of BS. My elementary school had the school patrol--6th graders who had blaze orange vests and STOP sign flags. They'd accompany the walkers to various places in the neighborhood, and there was also a team dedicated to assisting at the crosswalks near the school but not on school property. Where there's a will there's a way.

Find out she she is and get her license number/car make. Then write a note to the principal and the police. Let them know you are sending it to both. They will definitely follow up with her.

The best thing to do is not to make accusations about dirty looks or other (what I call) Hysterical Chick Sh*t that men hate. Just lay down the facts and let them take action. If it happens again, do it again. Make a stink. You have the right. School parking lots are insane. People driving the wrong way or in a hurry. Ridiculous!

Good luck.

I have not read other responses yet so forgive me if I am repeating.

No, I would not stoop to her level. You don't know if she is a crazy person or what. Sounds like she has some issues. You don't know if she is targeting you... all you know are dirty looks. You are an adult... be the adult.. Mature adults don't fight, especially in front of children at a school.

Has your child ever talked about anything going on in the classroom with this other child? I don't understand why someone would randomly pick someone to hate. It is also hard to believe that someone would try to run you over in front of everyone.

ALL that aside... do you have a crossing guard?

Next make sure you get the tag # and make of the car. snap a pic with your smartphone and she'll know you are onto her.

I would notify the school as well as the police. What if she does not miss you next time or hits someone else? There should be school speed zones as well.

I would not wait and see what happens. I would notify the school administrators today before school is out so they can possible get a teacher to watch that area.

I would call the principal on this one. Give a description of the vehicle, no names, no kids names and say you are concerned and request a letter be sent to parents to be more cautious when entering the crosswalk via car. Then I would call the police station and advise them that help is needed and see if there is anything they can do.

Do not confront the mom/sister.

ETA: I also don't understand you said you've never spoken to them...but "they just that kind of women"? Not sure but if you can't understand why they have made judgement about you, you are making judgement about them as well. I know that probably stings and you're upset but really...how do you know what kind of women they are if you never even spoke to them?

Mom drama of she likes me, she's friends with so and so just bugs me. Last week I had a mom tell me she thought I didn't like her because once four months ago she saw me somewhere and I didn't say hi to her. WTH? I didn't see you, and you saw me, why is my job to say hi first? SEE?

your 6 year old is already measured by A's and B's and honor roll?...

Is this on school property?
If so--alert the pricipal to cars disobeying the crosswalk/drop off area. Our school has a local cop monitoring the parking lot/drop off area several days per month (randomly).
If not--call your local police to request extra patrol support at the crosswalk area due to the incidents that have happened there.
This isn't a peer-at-school issue. This is a safety issue.

Hmm... what kind of school is your child in that they do honor roll and letter grades in Kinder?

Anyway, can't you cross somewhere else, or wait until this lady has already left the area? I am not sure if I think she has it out for you, but YOU can take steps to avoid her if she is a dangerous driver. Why seek her out? I would avoid, personally.

You don't even know her and she has no reason not to like you. You have made judgements about her based on I don't even know waht. Maybe she's like that with everyone. Some moms are crazy and self absorbed and don't care about anyone else. I think unless you have proof, you may not get that far with administration and it will seem like bored mom drama.

If I were that scared I would find another way to get my child home. You don't have to use that particular crosswalk, you don't have to walk your child to/from school. Drive or have your child take the bus. Stop playing games.

Call the cops. Why aren't you handling this? This is about you & your daughter's safety.

Maybe she's a terrible driver, inattentive, playing on her phone and didn't see you?? Or maybe she has it out for you, but I seriously question that given that you don't have any direct contact with her. Definitely ask your daughter if there has been anything ( at all ) between her and the other girl. Maybe its something your daughter has never mentioned to you.

I agree with your husband in that you don't want to cause a scene unnecessarily. The woman might just look at you like "huh? what are you talking about?" what would you do if she denied the whole thing? will you lose your cool?

I would report both incidents to the school, at the very least this woman is an unsafe driver. If they can't do anything, then maybe the police. Just tell them someone has almost hit you in the crosswalk in front of the school twice now and you're concerned. Maybe they could have a cruiser out front a few times to keep an eye out.

listen, avoid 'confront' but do approach the woman. start with, 'listen, i may be totally off here but...' and then list the events. not in accusatory tone. then stop. let her talk. then take it from there. i can't imagine involving anyone else before giving this person a chance to explain or deny, whichever. she may tell you you're nuts and you are imagining things but at least it's a starting point.

Crossing guards are provided by our city, no the school. Maybe someone should contact the city, or take up a petition and get the city to provide crossing guards.

1. You are way tooooo nice and taking things way tooooo personally. Drop the she' giving you dirty looks. She has issues and is probably disgruntled about something happening in her life and you just happen to be in her way.

2. Never confront someone like this. It will go down hill quickly.

3. Pedestrians Have The Right Away. Please memorize that. It's a law. We all learn it in drivers ed. She is disobeying the law. Not you.

4.. Ditto all the great advice here, already...read, and reread.

Seems crazy to me that your school doesn't have a crossing guard! At our school, drivers may not even come close to the crosswalk until everyone has cleared on both sides. If you were to even attempt to drive thru while someone was still walking in the crosswalk, the crossing guard jumps in front of the car, holding up his STOP sign and I've even seen him yell at drivers - yes he's aggressive and we love him! Actually, your schools principal is responsible for your child during school hours while they are walking to and from school. Therefore, you should take this up with the principal. If you've got a good, responsible principal he/she will take action!

In most states, by law, drivers have to yield to pedestrians in a cross walk-whether there is a crossing guard or not. If it happens again, I would contact the police.

These women sound like they're mentally ill. I don't mean that as an insult, I mean it as a diagnosis. But they shouldn't be behind the wheel.

I don't think it really matters whether this was accidental or intentional -- it's dangerous as hell. I think it'd be more than appropriate to report them -- and you can do it anonymously. Chances are that if they have a weird vendetta (as opposed to just being dangerous drivers), you're not the only target.

In other words, please do as Gamma advised and notify law enforcement. You might also check in with the PTO, the superintendent of schools, the mayor's office, etc. about the lack of a crossing guard. That sounds like a tragedy waiting to happen.

I agree with Mommy of 1 about getting the license plates, and above all start making a log, of all the stuff this woman is doing. You need all the ammunition you can get, if you have to go any further. I once had a neighbor like this, although she would swerve at my kids, and not when I was around. What goes around comes around, just try to be the mature one. You are right when you say if you confront her it will escalate, because if she is so bold as to almost hit you and your kids, then nothing else will faze her to do something else.

Call the school, the school division and the police department about the need for school patrols or crossing guards at all crosswalks/intersections in the vicinity of the school. We have grade five students with flags and vests at the corners to cross students. When there are pedestrians crossing the school patrols hold flags out to alert drivers that they need to stop until pedestrians have crossed. The students are trained by the police to do this job. At schools in higher traffic areas there are adult crossing guards.

Our principal is always out at the crosswalk and always sending home letters about safety. We also have some teacher and parent volunteers at the crosswalk. Since yours isn't the first incident, this needs to be addressed. You can also talk to the city council and request that guards or stop signs be put there to help protect the people crossing. Good luck!

It's a shame your school won't provide a crossing guard, but it can do something about it. Organize at school, perhaps through your PTA an get parents out there to volunteer. We have a yellow vest and stop sign the school lets us borrow, and we've had time slots
per classroom for parents to sign up for. You can also have he
Police drive by occasionally to watch for safety and speeding.

I agree that you are taking things too personally with these women. Focus on the safety issue and make the changes you'd like to see.

Sounds like it would be safer to have kids take the school bus home. If you do not want to do that, contact the police. School cannot do anything since it is off school property.

Most police departments do. It have the extra manpower or money in their budget to have a cop watch crosswalks etc.

Have you asked your daughter about the girl, if she likes her, if they are friends, if there has been some animosity? Start there.
If your daughter likes the girl and has no issues with her I'd be tempted to call them up for a play date. Seriously, reach out and see how they react. I can't believe adult women act like this out of jealousy of a little girl but who knows.