dunno why this pissed me off a little (children and trafic)
 

As I was driving home tonight, as I turned into my road I could see this kid running ahead of his dad and messing around coming up to the junction, so I was watching him.

Sure enough, without looking the kid (aged 5 or 6) runs into the road right in front of me, so I slam on the brakes... it wasnt especially close cos I could see he was going to do it.... but what pissed me off is that the father just strolls up, strolls right in front of me, walks on by without even glancing in my direction.

I mean, Im not expecting the guy to come up and shake my hand or anything, but since basically his kid wasnt run down cos I was watching him when he wasnt... its kind of fucked up that he doesnt even seem to NOTICE.

Well, maybe Im ranting.... just pissed me off a little is all.

Could be worse. When these things happen to me, the parent usually gives ME a dirty look like it was my fault.

I think we are more hostile in our criticism of jay walkers in this country (UK).
I won't post exactly what I'd expect a driver to say to me if I was the parent of that kid but something like this: *&^%&!!!!! £$***&^ ******** ! *****'

Some people are dumb asses.
maybe he was too embarassed to acknowledge you?

Stats show it's dangerous out there:
Estimated 6,328,000 traffic crashes occurred in the US 2003 (Traffic Safety Facts, National Center for Statistics and Analysis, NHTSA, 2003)
Estimated 2,889,000 people were injured in traffic crashes in the US 2003 (Traffic Safety Facts, National Center for Statistics and Analysis, NHTSA, 2003)

dude, I live in Ipswich :)

I hear ya!

The other day a girl (15-18) and her dog on a leash were walking towards me.
The dog bit me on the leg. She knows her dog. She could have tightened the leash.
She could have said something. She walked on, ignoring what happened.
I was really upset but did not say/do anything. If I had, it probably would have only amused her.

Some people!

oh you poor sweet lady :(

I really feel for you now, that really sucks! :p

you've cheered me up though. And I thought I lived in a hole. There's always someone worse of than me!! :thumbsup:

I'm from England as well.

oh and UK stats

Estimated 15 traffic crashes occurred in the UK 2003 (Traffic Safety Facts, National Home for UK Statistics and Analysis, NHUKSA, 2003)
Estimated 7 people were injured in traffic crashes in UK 2003 (Traffic Safety Facts, National Home for UK Statistics and Analysis, NHUKSA, 2003)

that's how safe it is here. These stats are genuine :p
I didn't just make them up, honest :rolleyes:

Strike two, StrangeFamous is a man. :p

I'd be pretty pissed off if that happened too. There's alot of kids around here too, and they do exactly the same. The parents don't take care of the kids so when they run into the street and in front of a car, especially mine, and I slam on the brakes because sometimes I don't seem them, like at night, the parents give me a bunch of shit because of the way I broke (I slam on it hard cause the kids run in front of my car at the last second). Me, being a nice guy, don't yell at the parents but rather take it and leave it. Although next time, I'm just gonna bitch at the parents, telling them to take care of their kids or I'm not gonna be able to slam on the brakes one day. Fortunately, I haven't ran any kid over.

hey, that isnt a picture of me, its a sociologist called Hannah Arendt

Off-topic: thanks for the chuckle, JJ :lol:

Back on topic: Some parents are entirely so clueless, it boggles the mind how that little sperm even made its way.... I have called out to one lady who had a little girl on her lap in a convertible, 'you trying to kill that kid on purpose?' and told another at my yardsale that those 5 kids in the back of her Toyota and one on her friend's lap are going to get her a ticket...she just looked at me...
yea, it pisses us off, but not much you can do about it.

Although I don't truly believe what I'm about to say...or at least I realize the logistical difficulties encountered...it does make one think about the whole "needing a license to make the babies" thing.

:lol:

my picture is not of me either. I don't have a beard and am not Lenin :D

Yep, some people are just asses. Like the people who park in handicap spots for no apparent reason *cough*anyasianmallintoronto*cough*. The people who decide to park their car in the middle of a lane so they can "quickly" run out and return their video while blocking 1 lane effectively leaving 1 lane open.

Yup, some people just need their cars keyed beyond recognition. Perhaps you could actually key the message into their car. "Hey asshole! Don't park in the handicap next time!"

The young kids round where i live just walk out knowing your coming! you have to slow down to let them pass or even stop, they just stroll across as casual as F**k look at you like your in the wrong.Its a good job im chilled out.


Mr Honest Im from the uk as well nr Preston, is that as bad as Ipswich :hmm:

...
 

The area of Stanford Campus I live on has many kids ages 5 -10 playing and crossing streets frequently. It's expected. First of all in a residential neighborhood you should be driving a little slower than you would on a main road. Maybe in a perfect world every parent would be watching their child close enough so that you wouldn't almost hit one, therefore, causing you to make this thread.
I'm with the parent who didn't even glance your way... maybe you should slow down. Kids will be kids after all right?

Part of it may be that kids aren't afraid of anything anymore. If their parents (even bother to) tell them that the roads are unsafe, and to be careful, they just do it anyway, knowing that since it's unsafe, their parents will protect them anyway.

I get really mad with kids on the road too, but a lot of that is directed at teenagers who are just being asses rather than kids who have clueless parents. Especially now that I live on university rez right across a busy street from the actual campus... Thousands of seventeen-year-olds crossing every day against traffic makes for some pretty stupid situations.

As for the parent in your anecdote... I think you definitely should have been acknowledged. People don't give credit for anything anymore, be it to the rare acts of kindness (or hell, competance) that occur, or to something truly great. they expect it, and spend life pissed off when they don't get it.

Bah. Everything upsets me.

But the problem with this is that, some people actually do slow down and yet still have parents bitching and complaining about how they almost hit their kid, even when they're doing 10 km/h below the speed limit. I'm not saying that all people drive slower than the speed limit in a children-dominated residential area but some people do. It gets on my nerves when I get parents bitching at me even though I'm being as careful as I can, and also I can tell when parents discriminate me because I'm a young driver so that gets on my nerves even more. So, words to the parents. Watch your kids, tell them not to run on the roads, look both sides, and seriously, if it's your fault, don't bitch and complain at the driver. But if it's the driver's fault, feel free to do whatever you please. Cause there are some dumbass drivers out there on the roads.

I am doubly irritated with parents who allow their kids to do this sort of thing without apology. I get pissed at my kid if she runs in front of a car, pushes past someone in the store, or even bumps someone without saying excuse me. These parents give all parents a bad rap. I try my utmost to keep a tab on my daughter and any other kids that I have with me when I am out in public. Kids will be kids but they still need to be considerate of others, polite, and respectful. Kids can still have fun without being disruptive. I'd like to think my daughter is at least somewhat trained. She's said 'excuse me' to more than one person in the store without my prompting. I see parents like this as to lazy to care for their kids or about what their kids are doing to others.

well, clearly I was going slowly enough and paying enough attention, since I didnt hit the child.

If I was a parent, I would rather take responsibility for my own child if he or she was too young to behave safely, then just hope the expect that driving down down the road within the speed limit manages to react in time when my kid runs in front of him.

Were this a perfect world that is the way it would be. As it is I think, most of us try to be careful and responsible to protect us from those that aren't (careful and responsible) more than we do because it what is only right.

Edit: What do you think that paren'ts reaction would have been were you to hit their child?

And you didn't help the dog along with a boot to the butt? If someone's dog bites me, you can bet it's going to remember, if it lives, that it shouldn't do that.

damn right, I think it is unlikely any dog is ever gonna bite me twice!

one mouthful will be enough to satisfy even the biggest mutt with the worst taste in what it eats methinks ;)

If that happened to me, i'd just laugh and call them a crappy parent for not even watching their kid cross a busy street.

Agreed. I'd say i'm a bad driver. But sadly enough, i'd say i'm one of the safer drivers in my group of friends.

Hmm... Actually, I'll use that line next time it happens to me :P
And the same goes for me. I'm one of the safer drivers in my group of friends. Aggresive, but safe.

offtopic: What part of Toronto do you live in? Just noticed your location tag.

I don't say I would agree with the kids, and I certainly avoid doing such things... But in the end, you arnt in the wrong, and neither are they. Pedestrians do have the right of way...

should have hit him......

....but you are right, you deserved some sort of acknowledgement. I would have recomended the wave.

True. True.
But, that doesn't mean that it's ok for kids to dart out into traffic. Just as it's not ok for pedestrians to cross against the light. Crosswalks weren't painted onto the ashalt to brighten up street corners. So, while pedestrians most certainly do have the right of way, some common sense and good judgement needs to be excercised.

Prolly too embarrased.

That doesn't excuse or account for idiot spawn who dart into traffic and their even more idiotic parents for not having taught them it's a bad idea to jump in front of something that outweighs you by a few thousand pounds, no matter what the traffic laws are.

I'm not young and athletic. Only thing I know about the dog is it's aggresive.
I played it safe. My anger was with the owner who I felt was sub-human.

I have almost mastered the "shhepish Boy-am-I-stupid shrug/teeth clenched and bred" apology thing. Not only would it have been appropraite here, it works to cover a multiutde of sins.

Following in the footsteps of many, I have to say that this is where I am reminded of momentum. Equals mass x velocity. My big ass 1/2 ton car going 30-45 mph (60 - 90 kph?) vs. some pedestrian weighing in about a buck fitty (150 lbs or 60-70 kilos?) going almost nothing = splash, your ass just got creamed, stuffed and all kinds of broke up. You are perfectly within your rights to step out in front of the car, and hopefully I can stop. If not, you are gutter butter. C'est la vie. Is it really worth it to be right? When I'm walking around, I don't trust anyone in a car not to hit me. Period.

edit to the OP - this is when I wish I had a bunch of pennies. Basically worthless American coins...but damn good for throwing at people when they piss you off.

Don't let me give the impression that i dont agree with you, because, honestly I do. And while we can sit here and cuss the parents out, and yell about how its wrong, it isn't going to make the parents do anything.

Bottom line, crosswalks or no, responsible parents or no, you simply can't run over someone. We may love to, and even talk about it, but in today's world, if you hit that person, be it adult, or child, you are going to have one hell of a rough time for it.

I keep visualizing a can of mace. Not sure which I'd have used it on.

Good philosophy. I once had a mother yell at me because I came within about 30 yards of her kid on a bike.

It was morning, and there was a lot of glare, so I didn't see them until the last minute. It didn't help that she and her kid were both riding the wrong way, down the sidewalk. Both are illegal here.

I was too startled by her kid appearing out of nowhere to call her a moron.

Clearly the embarrassed shrug/grin or the "Fuck man, I'm sorry,my kid is a dumbass" gesture was in order. Acting like nothing happens makes a dad look like the kid has him by the balls.

I wonder how amused she'll be when her dog is put to sleep after it bites a child's face off.

Morons, they were lucky you were paying attention, with half of the crap people are doing in cars these days it's a wonder that more people aren't struck. (cell phones, eating, drinking, smoking).