Set the Example. It’s up to all adults to reinforce what is expected of children every day, so they may grow up to live happier, healthier lives. Setting the right example early will not only benefit children as they navigate life, but will filter the right attitudes when they’re ready to drive, hold jobs and find their significant other.
There is obviously a variety of parenting styles, but can society really ignore road safety like some parents do. Are we willing to admit that some parents just aren’t teaching their children how to stay alive, or perhaps they think their style of road usage is safe enough, or even out of their hands? One must consider, understanding the devastation involved when loosing a child, that it is time for a universal teaching method that can be taught to all children, to ensure they have the basic set of rules that will guide them safely into their future.
What do they do? Run, ignore walk signs, ignore cross walks, don’t look both ways. because they’re kids. and they’re thinking of one thing, get to the other side of the road and to where they need to get. Encourage muscle memory and habit by always doing the right (and safe) thing.
Why no running across a road? When a pedestrian walks it gives more time for vehicles to see them and slow down, and, it gives the pedestrian a chance to look both ways.
Why look both ways? A vehicle could be backing up, a bicyclists could be riding the wrong way, could mistake a two way street for a one way street, or a pedestrian could think a one way street is going the other way and simply not look towards oncoming traffic.
Why use a crosswalk? ‘Parked cars’ could move, backup or pull forward and the driver could be looking at traffic and not towards the curb and just not notice you, or a fast moving vehicle could smash into parked cars. Drivers traveling fast can’t really see people standing between vehicles. Besides standing in the middle of the road, it’s the second most dangerous place to be.
Crosswalks are where drivers expect pedestrians. By not using a crosswalk you become a distraction to a driver who might run into someone else because they were watching out for you. Use crosswalks when there is traffic on the road, and be the hero by saving someone else’s life.
The things you say and do, set the example. Teach your kids. Encourage your school to reinforce safety. Encourage other parents to be not only considerate, but follow the law. That means no double parking, no blocking cross-walks, no driving over the double yellow line, no u-turns and no speeding.
The white circles, the innocent, those in need of direction, in need of leadership, in need of attentive parents and an attentive community. Set the example now. Don’t let those white circles fade into nothingness.
3:25 Parent stops in road (next to a parking space), and has their kid get in on the road side of the vehicle.
3:31 Dad can’t get his vehicle next to the curb, and the Mom leads their kid into the road where they proceed to jay-walk.
3:35 Double parked Mom lets kid out on street side of vehicle. Double wrongs are closer to death than doing things right, and you can tell this Mom loves her child.
3:45 Mom stands 15 feet from a crosswalk that has a ‘Walk’ sign, cradling her new born baby. Taking this short cut lost her time. Standing behind a big truck is not smart.
3:54, Mom pulls out her growing baby, on the street side of the vehicle.
4:04 Mom pushes stroller out against ‘Don’t Walk’ sign. I honk to alert her, she waves ‘thanks.’ Bike rider thinks I’m being a jerk.
4:23 Kid runs unattended by Dad who has their hands/shoulders occupied.
4:32 Mom jay-walks with kid.
4:36 Kid walks behind Mom, she can’t see him and is trusting he won’t be in danger. At least he’s walking his scooter.
4:41 Mom jay-walks kid. Kid seems more concerned with traffic than Mom.
4:46 Mom busy texting while kid, behind her, is riding his scooter, instead of walking hand in hand.
4:51 Kid unattended busy with ice cream cone is trusting turning vehicles will notice him. Adult, who’s holding the hands of two smaller children, is too far away to intervene if something bad happened. The second turning blue car was aggressively driving around the white van on the outside.
Video created by YouTube channel, ProjectRoadRush and KnowTheFundamentals member ‘DontDentMyCar’