Baby on board signs

[supertabby]

It's for the emergency services so that in the event of a bad crash it may alert them to a baby in the car (although when they were first marketed it was meant to encourage other drivers to be safe, which is pointless because you either drive like a muppet or not imo).

When the idea first came about it was before car seats I believe, and a baby could easily be lost inside car wreckage. Nowadays with bulky car seats it'd be harder to not notice a baby but in certain circumstances it could be possible for a car seat to somehow get obscured I guess (especially if incorrectly installed) but the baby on board sign coincidentally visible). You're supposed to remove the sign when children are not in the car but understandably few people do.

There's a theory that the signs obscure view/distract driver and cause more crashes than they are helpful in but there's no firm evidence for this either way.

And don't get me started on "babe on board" "porn star on board" etc. Oh dear!

 

[Eidson23]

It's for the emergency services so that in the event of a bad crash it may alert them to a baby in the car (although when they were first marketed it was meant to encourage other drivers to be safe, which is pointless because you either drive like a muppet or not imo).

When the idea first came about it was before car seats I believe, and a baby could easily be lost inside car wreckage. Nowadays with bulky car seats it'd be harder to not notice a baby but in certain circumstances it could be possible for a car seat to somehow get obscured I guess (especially if incorrectly installed) but the baby on board sign coincidentally visible). You're supposed to remove the sign when children are not in the car but understandably few people do.

There's a theory that the signs obscure view/distract driver and cause more crashes than they are helpful in but there's no firm evidence for this either way.

And don't get me started on "babe on board" "porn star on board" etc. Oh dear!

^^^This. I'm a 911 dispatcher, these signs were made to alert first responders that there is a baby/child in the vehicle. Even though car seats are big and bulky and noticeable, you'd be surprised how many people do not install them correctly. I have worked far too many accidents with ejected car seats

 

[HBGirl]

I hate them. There is zero point to them at all. I also hate those family stickers and those infernal religious bumper stickers!

 

[sophxx]

I don't like them at all. I've just bought a new car with all tinted back windows but won't be having one. I think they look tacky.

 

[Pearls18]

I find it very hard to believe that if there was a crash and the front passengers were unconscious that the emergency services wouldn't not give the back seats a good going over, as I say if it really is that important to see a child is inside with a sign (which if it is that difficult surely the sign could have easily disappeared too) it would be legal requirement. I can't say I've ever heard a police statement saying "sorry we didn't look properly but there was no little miss naughty on board sign to alert us" I have full faith they are trained to find small passengers in just the same time with or without a sign.

 

[dgirllamius]

Someone who lives close to me has a sticker on his car saying "I love vaginas". Seriously, how more bloody lame can one get?!

 

[HoneyBee144]

Someone who lives close to me has a sticker on his car saying "I love vaginas". Seriously, how more bloody lame can one get?!

that's just awful! My friend's boyfriend had one that said '4 doors for more whores' - best thing was he put it on her car because e didn't have a car

 

[morri]

Nothing worse than having "powered by fairy dust" no dickhead it's powered by petrol/diesel if you are old enough to drive you are at least 17 and really shouldn't believe in mythical creatures lol !!

says the one with a father christmas ticker

we have a baby on board suction cup one because my oh is sure they are to advise to drive carefully. meh it always falls off any way lol.

 

[AP]

I'm another who thinks its important to remove them when the childs not in the car. But proud parents and grandparents dont realise they are more than just a "badge of honour" ykwim?
No-one should have to drive more carefully baby or not, drivers should be considerate regardless whos in the car in front.

 

[Feff]

They're used for accidents, I have one in my car when Elodie's in there and when she isn't I take it out. Some people have fixed car seats but the baby could be somewhere else like at home, if the sign wasn't up perhaps the firemen wouldn't look as hard?

 

[Pearls18]

They're used for accidents, I have one in my car when Elodie's in there and when she isn't I take it out. Some people have fixed car seats but the baby could be somewhere else like at home, if the sign wasn't up perhaps the firemen wouldn't look as hard?

If a fireman didn't look as hard because there wasn't a sign in the back of the car I think he seriously needs to rethink his line of work.......!!

 

[sue_88]

I used to hate them as I thought it was about making other drivers attempt to be safe which is pointless.

But they are designed for use by the emergency services, as others have said.

My dad's friend is a Fireman and said to get one for the back of the car. It's not about fire crews just looking into a back seat, in a severe crash the baby's car seat can become one with the other seats and a shit load of mangled metal, and not exactly obvious.

I've got the standard bright yellow baby on board, it's in when she's in the car, and removed when she's not. What irritates me is stupid fad designs or ones that just look like a stuffed animal, entirely defeating the object of being glaringly obvious.

 

[embo216]

Not a fan either!

 

[embo216]

They're used for accidents, I have one in my car when Elodie's in there and when she isn't I take it out. Some people have fixed car seats but the baby could be somewhere else like at home, if the sign wasn't up perhaps the firemen wouldn't look as hard?

If a fireman didn't look as hard because there wasn't a sign in the back of the car I think he seriously needs to rethink his line of work.......!!

^^^^^ This!

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

Never used one.

 

[Katerz]

I have one...not really sure why, hubs bought it so it went up.

I forget it is there most of the time because it's hidden behind the rear passenger headrest!

 

[lovelylaura]

If they can't find my child or a massive car seat then how are they meant to see a small little badge? I personally don't like them.

 

[JessdueJan]

I'm not overly keen on them but... We were given one of the big standard bright yellow ones at an emergency services open day last summer and I have just got into the habit of putting it up when I fasten the kids in and taking it down when they get out. If I get in alone it stays in the side pocket of the door as advised.
I agree emergency services should and probably do look anyway and aren't likely to miss a child seat but I feel better with it in x

 

[Lauraxamy]

The guy I'm seeing is a fireman, I asked him about this after reading this thread, and he said he'd never heard of the signs being used for that that they could be useful in some cases maybe, but the first thing they look for when they attend an accident is the people that are in the car or involved in the accident, not a sign in the back of a car..

 

[Yo_Yo]

Totally agree about the powered by fairy dust signs! tacky!

Hubby won't have a baby on board sign in the car. Not bothered either way personally. Maybe they are meant to stop people parking right up your ass so you can get your pram out