How to Tell Another Mom She Has a Lead-foot

Updated on June 26, 2011
E.S. asks from Sunnyvale, CA
14 answers

Hi Mamas-

Is there any polite way to tell a Mom that she is speeding around our school? She drives between 35-40 mph in a residential school zone (25mph). She's actually not yielded the right away while I was in the crosswalk. I see her every morning, it has to be well handled.

Some ideas I had, were to preface it with something like: "Wow, your car sure has kick!" then what? Or, I could just report her and let the authorities figure it out.

Thanks in advance for your words of advice.

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Thanks everyone!

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T.R.

answers from Orlando on

I would let law enforcement know that there is a habitual speeder in the school zone. They should send a squad car and try and catch her. That way, you won't have to get involved. If you just say something to her, she may not respond well, and then still do it anyways.

5 moms found this helpful

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Hey! Suzy! Glad I caught you. Just a heads up... they're going to be putting in a speed trap here at the school. Since I know you're always in a rush, and fines are double in school zones, I wanted to let you know.

ALSO, a phone into your non-emergency number police station to let them know that a few people/parents are doubling the limit in your school zone, and ask could they please send someone out for drop off and pick up times. Cops not only have kids they SEE kids who've been run over.

Feel free to skip the first, or do that in reverse order.

OR

Hey Suzy, I know you're always in a rush, but I don't think you even SAW me the other morning. You nearly took me and a few kids out in the crosswalk.

14 moms found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Tell the school.
Report her. Anonymously.
Tell them you don't want your name mentioned.
It is safety.
They wouldn't want any kids getting run-over now would they? ON their campus.
It is a big hazard. She is.

My Daughter's school, sends out memos to parents reminding them of safety etc.
AND the school could, very nicely tell the Mom that her speeding has been observed and that she has been complained about, and that she needs to slow down.

Or, you just get her license plate number, tell the cops. They send out a "warning" letter or just ticket her.

I would not deal with her, personally or directly.
Use the proper channels.

6 moms found this helpful

L.A.

answers from Austin on

I witnessed one of the dads in the hood speeding down our street. Imagine my surprise when i realized his daughter was in the car with him.

I actually spoke with him.. ha made some excuses about not wanting his daughter "to be late for school". I also asked him if he knew the actual speed limit on my street. He did not so I reminded him..He was actually surprised it was 10 mph slower than he thought.

He also acted a little pissy.. So I made him a "deal" "If he promised not speed down our street, I would not speed down his street in my pick up.. "

I can be a Biyatch like that.

4 moms found this helpful

J.S.

answers from Hartford on

If she doesn't yield right of way and she speeds in the school zone, I think you should report her. You know who she is and you should be able to easily get her license plate number. You can file the report and request that your name not be revealed by the police.

I would also ask the police if they would consider putting a speed trap there. She's likely not the only person driving like this in the school zone.

4 moms found this helpful
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T.V.

answers from San Francisco on

Just report her...she's not going to change until the authorities step in and stop her. Above all, don't allow your child to ride with her and YOU don't ride with her either.

Blessings...

3 moms found this helpful

V.C.

answers from Dallas on

I hope you are able to get something done about it.
We had several moms who would speed in the school zone near us. When the crossing guard, whom one almost ran over tried to get her to slow down, she flipped him off!
One mom was speeding and tailgating me on the way to drop off my boys. She was behind me in line. I got out and went to her window and said, "You must not realize we were in a school zone. She just gave me a dirty look.
Unfortunately, these kind of people are not educate able.

3 moms found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I would not address the speeding mom. I would contact the non-emergency line of my local police dept and let them know when, where this is happening.

We have a couple of 4 way stops in our neighborhood and I it is rare to see someone stop. I have complained to the police about it, told them when and where they could get some revenue added to our city.

They come out about once a week or so, sit back and write tickets to those who disregard the stop signs.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

If I saw her doing it I would do the 'slow down' sign with my hands while smiling. I have done this in our school parking lot in the hopes it would embaress the person enough to slow down next time. I don't really care what speeding moms think of me. If I did care I would probablly talk to someone in the school...whomever I thought would have enough balls to say something to her.

2 moms found this helpful

C.C.

answers from San Francisco on

I like Riley's approach. We live just down the block from my kids' elementary school, and every so often the police set up a speed trap. They pull over a LOT of cars, and usually for several months afterward, people do observe the speed limit and stop at the crosswalks. I would definitely notify your local police precinct no matter how else you decide to handle this. She's breaking the law and small children could be injured or killed because of it. The police need to be aware of this so they can correct this issue.

2 moms found this helpful
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N.A.

answers from San Francisco on

I would tell her in a nice way that you over heard a few parents consearned about her car going over 25 mph in a school zone and wanted to give her heads up before anyone complained about it. So then it is not just coming from you.There are probably others feeling the same way and not saying anything.

Have a good day.

N. Marie

1 mom found this helpful

G.K.

answers from San Francisco on

I would tell her, and I wouldn't necessarily be nice about it. If it was just one time, I could give her the benefit of the doubt, but repeated offenses are unforgivable.

When I drove a van for the YMCA, I actually got a ticket, and I wasn't even IN the school zone yet!!!! If she doesn't listen to you, then tell the principal, the cops, whoever has the authority to make her slow down. A few tickets, and she may learn her lesson....

1 mom found this helpful
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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Report her if she won't know it was you. She is endangering the lives of anyone in a crosswalk or any place that she needs to not be speeding. She won't change until she has had to part with much that is important to her, money for fines and raised insurance rates.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.B.

answers from Sacramento on

I know I'm late on this post but I would meet with the principal of the school with the name of the woman, her license plate number and the vehicle description. The principal should be made aware of the situation and can notify the school's Resource Police Officer. The schools in our area each have an officer assigned who handles truancy and other school issues.

We had a similar problem at our school. The resource officer stood across from the school with his radar gun and radio and several people were cited. News travels fast among school families and things got better for a while. Once people started speeding again, the principal would stand outside during pickup and drop off as a visual reminder.

1 mom found this helpful
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