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So I was driving home from the general aviation FBO and pulled into my neighborhood. In the center of the neighborhood is a 6-way intersection that looks like this:
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Well, a neighborhood child thought it was a good idea to try and jump in front of every oncoming car in each direction of the intersection to try and get their attention to sell cookies. I was heading west and this kid jumps right in front of my car with an upside down sign. I slammed on the brakes so hard that one of my first officer epaulettes snapped off my pilot shirt. I've never been so jolted before.
Please, please, please pay attention to what your children are doing in the street.
How can parents let their kids stand on the side of a busy street selling stuff without any supervision? If they are not doing what the OP describe, how about some pedophile decides to snatch them.
How can parents let their kids stand on the side of a busy street selling stuff without any supervision? If they are not doing what the OP describe, how about some pedophile decides to snatch them.
OP, were the parents no where in site?
Nope, they were not in sight. I was so shaken that I just drove straight home. Even my roommate must have seen the expression on my face, as he asked me what was up.
I didn't bother to ask where the parents were but I just knew that the apple doesn't fall from the tree. The kid who jumped in front of my car looked 8-9 at best. The other kid looked about 10. I didn't know if they were related or not.
Nope, they were not in sight. I was so shaken that I just drove straight home. Even my roommate must have seen the expression on my face, as he asked me what was up.
I would've called the police right then and there. Even in places where this is allowed, people selling/begging for things on the side of the road/median are not allowed to impede the flow of traffic (get in the street in any way.) And that's really beside the point as they were in an unsafe situation not being supervised properly by their parents. Having the kids dropped off in a squad car would probably be a wake up call.
This is in your neighborhood? You shouldn't be driving fast enough to squeal the tires even if you stand on the brakes.
There's a gaggle of kids that play on my street. Sometimes they put out one of those "children warning" traffic cones. I wish they'd put them out all the time; people drive through residential streets too damm fast.
We're some of the youngest people in our neighborhood, but we recognize that we're piloting a quarter-ton death machine in an area where young kids are playing. Keep it below 15mph, pay attention, put down the cell phone, and stay alert!
And yes, the parents SHOULD be keeping their kids out of the street. Good job not making them pay for failing to. Still, you can't do anything about irresponsible parents. You CAN do something about lowering the risk to their unfortunate offspring, by altering your driving habits. Do so, today!
I would have called the police. I have called the police for something similar. I once saw kids running back and forth across a four lane highway, playing chicken, in the evening when it was dark (not that it would have been better in daylight.) I was blown away they would do something so stupid. I dialed 911 from my cell phone so the police could go have a talk with them.
Yes op, you could have called the cops. I understand you were shaken up though. No blaming you. If you see it again call the cops.
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