Submitted By “Fedup”

Around 5:15 today, I was driving home from work. It doesn’t matter where you are in town, at around 5:00 pm during the week, the streets are very busy.

One of my least favorite spots (and also on my route home) is the corner-double fork in the road that happens at the intersections of Oakdale Street, Front Street and Prescott. Anyone that’s from Salina, knows exactly what I’m talking about. There’s so many streets merging, several blind turns and stop signs. Not a very safe area for cars, or pedestrians.

I was headed down Prescott, about to round the bend to go South on Front Street. When I rounded the bend there were 2 small children (maybe ages 2 & 4) who were running down their driveway towards the busy intersection. I was fortunate enough to catch them out of the corner of my eye and slammed on my brakes just in time. When my car came to a stop I looked up and couldn’t see the little 2 year old boy, because I own an SUV and his head probably didn’t even clear the bottom of my front bumper. He was just standing in front of my car. Luckily for me, the red truck behind me was also able to stop in time as to not hit me (which would have surely caused me to jerk forward and hit the child (thank you, red truck!).

There was now a line of several cars behind me when I finally saw the mother (or what I think was the mother) come down the driveway and pick him up and carry him away. She didn’t acknowledge me, or even look in my direction, as if it were no big deal! I was furious. I still am furious, obviously.

If people choose to be parents, they are taking responsibility over another person’s life. Especially a small child, who doesn’t know the difference between a busy street and a grassy front yard.

Fortunately for this child I was alert and paying attention, not on my phone, not messing with the radio, eating, speeding or simply day dreaming. If it were most other drivers, this child could have been killed.

So, I guess the basis of my rant is that parents need to be more responsible! Make good choices for your child. It is your sole responsibility to make sure your child is safe when he/she is under your watch! Letting your 2 & 4 year old children play in the front yard next to a busy street at 5 pm is a very poor choice.

Be the parent, that your baby needs you to be! Next time, he may not be so lucky.

 

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