Conference moira::parenting

Would it be better to have your daughter wait until the bus left before crossing
the street? Would she be able to see oncoming traffic better and vice versa? I
was hit when I was about 4 1/2 when I crossed a street from behind a garbage
truck. Fortunately, the oncoming driver saw me with enough time to hit the
brakes (and was not speeding to begin with!), so did not hit me that hard. I did
go sailing through the air for 10-15 feet. I only suffered a few bruises and a
cracked collarbone, but I could have been killed, all because the garbage truck
created a blind spot.

Be sure to teach your daughter that just because people are *supposed* to stop,
that doesn't mean they always will, and she can't assume it is safe until it
really *looks* safe to her. After all, you don't blindly start through an
intersection when the light turns green without looking around, right? Teach her
defensive caution.

Did you get a car color and/or model?  Report it to
the police anyway - they might have other complaints
they could tie this to.

And, the police decide to be nearby for a couple days
just in case the idiot is around that time of day....

Pat

	I would suggest asking you neighbor to wait for the kids on the side
	of the street that the bus stops on.  Then they would have an adult
	walking with them across the street.

	This might not have changed anything in the situation you described,
	it sounds like even if an adult was with them, even the adult might
	not have seen the car (since it was going so fast).
  	But at least if the adult is with them, it's another set of eyes, ears,
	etc.. that might see the next dangerous situation and be able to
	avoid it.

        I'm glad the kids are okay, I can imagine how worried you must be,
	maybe just taking this small step will help you feel like you've done
	something about it. (since you can't track down the car)

	Karen T.

    Perhaps continue to look for the same car at/near this location at
    the same time on other days - there is a possibility that the 
    person was driving the route as a part of their daily routine.  
    I agree with the previous noter to have the mother wait on the
    opposite side of the street and cross over with the children.
    
    Scary!
    Carol

    
    Thank's for the suggestions.  We've allready decided that she will wait
    for them across the street and cross them herself.  
    
    The bus stops at a 4 way intersection - the car came down the cross
    street and made a left turn onto the st. that the bus was stopped at
    and flew right past it.  The car didn't even slow down to make the
    turn.  
    
    I wasn't there so I didn't see it happen.  My neighbor witnessed it and
    the bus driver.  Neither one recognised the car - the bus driver also
    lives in our neighborhood.  I'm sure they will both be on the look out
    for it!
    
    We've thought about writing a letter to the local paper.  Maybe the
    person who was driving might not see it but maybe it make someone be 
    a little more cautious.  
    
    I just wish I could get the image out of mind of them being hit....
    
    Kirsten
    

    You can call the local police and have them run radar in the area of
    the incident to help slow down traffic.  Also, you can file a complaint, 
    Yes, you don't have the plate, but you do know what the car looks like.  
    It is possible the police may know who you are referring to, especially 
    if you are in a small town.  
    
    Good luck.
      

    (just catching up on notes here.. during a build..)
    
    I noticed that one of the neighborhood school buses stops partially
    into the 4-way intersection a few houses up the street.. One morning I
    was coming up to the intersection and I could see that what the driver
    was TRYING to do was stop all traffic (and, having a 7-year-old, I
    would have stopped anyway), but I could also see that, from some
    approaches, it's not at all clear to the non-thinking that you HAVE to
    stop.. 
    
    I don't think it's a good idea to have the bus stop in the intersection
    like that.. it would seem better if they didn't stop within, maybe,
    100ft of an intersection so that it's always clear.. 
    
    Just musing..
    
    ...tom