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Parents drive toward kids crossing streets
Original post made
by Louise, Harvest Park Middle School,
on Oct 12, 2007
I have been observing this phenomenon every day for the past 7 years. I drive past three Pleasanton schools as I drop off and pick my children up from school. I see kids crossing streets as they leave school and walk home. I see parents driving cars who want to turn onto the street the kids are crossing. They turn their tires in the direction of the children. They accelerate toward the children. I see parents who point their cars right at these child pedestrians. That's bad enough. Drivers are supposed to keep their wheels straight until they can fully execute their turn. This way, if you're hit from behind, your car will not be pushed into the crossing children.
But that's not all these parents do. They turn their wheels toward the kids AND they actually ACCELERATE toward the children. They drive slowly forward, aimed right at the kids, so that they can proceed as soon as the child's backpack clears their bumper.
This is dangerous. What if the child suddenly turned around to run back for something? You would hit the kid.
In addition, how do you think it feels to have a car bearing down on you as you cross the road?
Keep your wheels straight until the children have finished crossing.
Do not drive toward children who are crossing the street. Do not put your foot on the gas until the kids have crossed the street. What is the purpose of Character Education in the schools when the parents are such poor examples?