Listen, we need to talk. This public service announcement might go against Southern hospitality laws, but hear me out: If you’re driving on a busy road with fast-moving traffic DO NOT STOP for pedestrians. A lot of people think they’re being nice by stopping. You’re not. You’re putting people’s lives in danger. If I could strangle you with your own stupid seatbelt I would.
Don’t be polite on the highway, be predictable.
Every day I take my daughter for a walk through our neighborhood. The way it’s set up we have to cross a fairly busy street. Cars are supposed to drive around 40 mph, but they often speed. We can usually cross within ten seconds of arriving. Sometimes we have to wait a little bit longer.
My single biggest pet peeve is when a good Samaritan driver stops so that we can cross. I hate this with everything in me.
Here’s the thing: By stopping, you’re asking me to gamble with the life of my daughter. I don’t care how good the odds are, I’m not taking that gamble and I resent you for asking me to do it. When you stop so that I can cross I have to put my faith that every other driver will also suddenly get on board with this new traffic plan. If anyone doesn’t get on board then there will be a collision. I’m especially uninterested in any type of accident, seeing as how my daughter and I are the only ones without steel cages around us.
Here’s what the whole situation looks like…
People speed. They get distracted. They miss things.
Let’s say a driver is trying to calm down their kids in the backseat when suddenly the car in front of them is stopped. They slam on the breaks, but can’t stop in time, so they swerve into the other lane to avoid a collision. Unfortunately, my daughter and I are directly in the line of fire.
Another scenario is they don’t swerve and instead ram into the car in front of them, which is then shoved forward running us over. Maybe the car who initially stopped sees the car behind them won’t be able to stop so they panic and try to get out of the way…running us over in the process. The point is, there are several ways in which we can end up being run over during this encounter.
Almost every other day someone will stop to let us cross the street. Sometimes they’re the only car around. Nothing will get me to instantly blow a gasket faster than doing this. I don’t care how nice you think you’re being, I will gladly be an asshole to keep my daughter safe.
I realize an accident in this situation is not super likely, but it can happen. Drivers do this all the time with pedestrians and cyclists. Don’t roll the dice with someone else’s life. As the driver, it’s not your call. I will wait to cross the street at a safe time of my choosing.
Don’t be polite, be predictable.
Please share this article because cars are really hard to draw and it could save a life.
Here are a few more kid-related articles you might be interested in since this one was so short and I kind of yelled at you.
Having Kids is the F*cking Worst
Santa Claus- How to Make Poor Kids Feel Like Shit
Being a Kid was Harder Than We Remember (With Illustrations)
Did you know? Sharing this will make you happy!
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