Saw something scary today, share with your kids.

[KingGlamis]

What a shocking thing I witnessed today. I watched a (stupid) kid almost get killed!

I'm sitting at a red light, the second car back from the crosswalk. There are three lanes of traffic going each way on this street. The light turns green and the cars in the front row release their brakes and start to go, then I see him... a kid, about 12-13 years old, on a bicyle, riding in the crosswalk from my right to my left. Luckily all the cars on my side saw him and jammed on the brakes.

While it all happened so fast it kind of felt like slow motion. I thought to myself "surely he will stop on the median and wait for the traffic to pass." Nope. I had a clear view of him and of the oncoming traffic. The kid kept pedaling and NEVER LOOKED for the cars headed straight for him!!! Apparently the car in the first lane never saw him because that car never slowed down. At that moment I thought he was a goner. I honestly thought I was about to see this kid die or at least get seriously hurt. He went right in front of that first car and the car missed him by inches (THEN the car hit the brakes, an alert driver would have seen the kid coming before it got that close). Thankfully, miracle of miracles, there was no car in the middle lane or he could have been toast.

But STILL the kid was only looking straight ahead, heck, maybe he was even looking down, because what happened next was wild and blind dumb luck for the kid. In the lane by the curb was a work truck. The truck must have never seen him because he was driving at normal speed and the kid RAN INTO THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK!!! He hit near the back, almost to the rear bumper. The kid fell off his bike and then got right back up, appearing unhurt thankfully. By another miracle all of the cars behind what happened saw it and stopped so he didn't get run over. All the drivers on that side pulled over to check on him and I could tell he was fine, so I kept going.

But what a HUGE shock that was to witness. I thought I was going to see someone's child die right in front of me.

So please, remind your kids about safety once more. Tell them it is better to be late for school than to DIE. And give them a hug.

 

[Magnethead]

our neighbor's kid (10 i think) has one of those electric razr scooters. More than a few times we've watched him run out of the driveway on it without looking. Couple weeks ago one of our other neighbors almost hit him, he didnt look to see her coming.

Some kids have to learn the hard way.

 

[HoneyBadger]

Too many people tell their kids "Pedestrians have the right of way and they have to stop for you" and leave it at that. Parents are leaving the responsibility out of it, they need to be telling their kids that they need to look both directions and be smart about crossing the street.

I can't tell you how many times I've nearly run over someone in the middle of the night wearing all black clothing. Even with high beams, it's very hard to see them. Either people are incredibly stupid or people don't want to be seen because they're up to something.

 

[wilson89]

Alot of teenagers do it to and even adults. I notice it almost everday in some fashion or another now. Earlier today some lady about 5 foot tall steps in between two parked cars and walks right out in the street as the cars are driving at her she just missed getting hit and the thing that made me scratch my head the most was she spent no effort to get accross the street in a hurry. She walked as slowly as she possibly could making cars going 35 slam there brakes on and wait for her to pass.

 

[Magnethead]

I can't tell you how many times I've nearly run over someone in the middle of the night wearing all black clothing. Even with high beams, it's very hard to see them. Either people are incredibly stupid or people don't want to be seen because they're up to something.

The other day, I turned my HID fog lights (my girlfriend calls them my blinders) off for a bit on the way home.

Never doing that again. I'm spoiled- high beams alone are no longer enough.

 

[kkfan91]

Too many people tell their kids "Pedestrians have the right of way and they have to stop for you" and leave it at that. Parents are leaving the responsibility out of it, they need to be telling their kids that they need to look both directions and be smart about crossing the street.

I can't tell you how many times I've nearly run over someone in the middle of the night wearing all black clothing. Even with high beams, it's very hard to see them. Either people are incredibly stupid or people don't want to be seen because they're up to something.

I know what you mean its even worse when they don't walk on the sidewalk even when there is one. I just know I'm going to hit someone eventually, especially being a delivery driver in a college town on weekends they just run right out in front.