Policing by sarcasm :(

Originally Posted by Gmonsta

My 7 year old had some local plod at her school the other day pulling over speeding drivers. They were directing them into the school carpark and the drivers had to answer questions from the kids - i.e. do you know how many kids have been killed or injured outside of schools in britain...

Oh that's just f**king stupid.

Yeah, guilting an insignificant number of motorists into keeping their speed down for a while, that's a great use of police time. So when a kid steps out in front of them they might get lucky and only get horribly maimed instead of killed.

Certainly never see the green cross code campaigns like the ones that were around when I was little. The police should be educating kids that the roads are very dangerous places and to avoid getting hit by cars in the first place

Originally Posted by Flamin_Squirrel

Oh that's just f**king stupid.

Yeah, guilting an insignificant number of motorists into keeping their speed down for a while, that's a great use of police time. So when a kid steps out in front of them they might get lucky and only get horribly maimed instead of killed.

Certainly never see the green cross code campaigns like the ones that were around when I was little. The police should be educating kids that the roads are very dangerous places and to avoid getting hit by cars in the first place

I dont see your logic here? I thought it was a great initiative considering the location of the school on a busy semi-rural road and the number of speeding cars that go past. Not only does it educate the kids as you pointed out but also the local idiots that use the road. Seems to be a great use of police resources if they can do both at the same time.

If I was speeding and had the option of answering a few questions from kids or copping the 3 points and a fine I know which option i would choose.

Originally Posted by Gmonsta

I dont see your logic here? I thought it was a great initiative considering the location of the school on a busy semi-rural road and the number of speeding cars that go past. Not only does it educate the kids as you pointed out but also the local idiots that use the road. Seems to be a great use of police resources if they can do both at the same time.

If I was speeding and had the option of answering a few questions from kids or copping the 3 points and a fine I know which option i would choose.

I didn't say it educated kids. In fact, quite the opposite. It gives kids the impression that the driver is soley to blame for any accident, especially if they're speeding.

How is it in the slightest bit constructive to teach kids to apportion blame on others, when all they need to know is how to avoid the accident in the first place.

Originally Posted by Flamin_Squirrel

I didn't say it educated kids. In fact, quite the opposite. It gives kids the impression that the driver is soley to blame for any accident, especially if they're speeding.

How is it in the slightest bit constructive to teach kids to apportion blame on others, when all they need to know is how to avoid the accident in the first place.

Whilst I'd personally opt for a bit of guilt tripping over points (if I was actually caught), I agree that this might have the unhealthy side effect of suggesting to kids that it's okay to be in the road. Seeing as the govt's own figures show more accidents are caused by lemming pedestrians (that's more accidents in total- not a higher proportion of accidents involving pedestrians) than speeding, I'd say the emphasis should be on the pedestrian crossing the road properly.

As someone who has hit a child (no I wasn't speeding, inatentive or doing anything dangerous) that literally ran out in front of my car without looking (either way), this is something I feel very strongly about. I was lucky; The kid was comparatively unhurt, all witnesses bar one were sympathetic and backed me up, the kid's parents weren't opportunistic a***holes, the police weren't angling to stitch me up for it, etc. I'm constantly aware that next time I might not be so lucky and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it, short of drive round at literally 5mph on all roads other than 50s and NSLs.

Yes, as a nipper I played football in the road, but as soon as we heard a car turn into the road (much less before it got to where we were) the ball was picked up and we all ran onto the pavement. Without wishing to sound like an old fart (I'm only 25), these days kids lack this sort of respect for traffic. I've had kids continue a game a rugby in the road in front of my car whilst I waited to get past and after I beeped my horn, they just swore at me and motioned to kick the ball at the car.

2 days ago I came round a bend in a 40 to find a group of 5 kids walking side by side (rather than single file) taking up the whole of the lane walking along the road (yes there was a pavement next to the road) rather than crossing it. Luckily I try to leave enough space to stop in the distance I can see to be clear. A lot of drivers do not.

[Supervox]

A slight derail here (sorry !!)

<rant>

But what really bugs me at the moment is that they're re-showing that ad on tv where the little girl says ". . .if you hit me at 40mph there's an 80% chance I'll die, etc etc. . ."

WHAT WERE YOU DOING IN THE ROAD TO START WITH, KID ???

I remember the Green Cross Code ads from when I was a kid - & although we (those of us of a certain age) all took the mickey out of them I'll lay money that the message sunk in !!

As has been stated already some money should be spent on educating pedestrians & cyclists (& disabled scooter drivers) about the dangers of roads - not just on ads blaming the driver for everything !!

</rant>

Originally Posted by Supervox

A slight derail here (sorry !!)

<rant>

But what really bugs me at the moment is that they're re-showing that ad on tv where the little girl says ". . .if you hit me at 40mph there's an 80% chance I'll die, etc etc. . ."

WHAT WERE YOU DOING IN THE ROAD TO START WITH, KID ???

I remember the Green Cross Code ads from when I was a kid - & although we (those of us of a certain age) all took the mickey out of them I'll lay money that the message sunk in !!

As has been stated already some money should be spent on educating pedestrians & cyclists (& disabled scooter drivers) about the dangers of roads - not just on ads blaming the driver for everything !!

</rant>

+1. The same thing happens here, pedestrians walking on the wrong side of the road, side by side, hidden behind blind curves, and still testiculate if you beep your horn at them...

Originally Posted by Flamin_Squirrel

I didn't say it educated kids. In fact, quite the opposite. It gives kids the impression that the driver is soley to blame for any accident, especially if they're speeding.

How is it in the slightest bit constructive to teach kids to apportion blame on others, when all they need to know is how to avoid the accident in the first place.

You said they should be educating the kids. My point which I think you missed in that was they were educating both - which made both parties consider the consequences of their actions - i.e. The kids learnt why it was a dangerous place to be and why it was necessary to think carefully about crossing the road beforehand.

Originally Posted by Gmonsta

The kids learnt why it was a dangerous place to be and why it was necessary to think carefully about crossing the road beforehand.

But they don't. If they did they'd just be learning how to cross the road safely - look both ways etc - green cross code stuff.

As it is, they're just being taught to regurgitate government statistical ******** and how to blame things on other people.

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by Flamin_Squirrel

But they don't. If they did they'd just be learning how to cross the road safely - look both ways etc - green cross code stuff.

As it is, they're just being taught to regurgitate government statistical ******** and how to blame things on other people.

Hear, hear! Kids should learn to cross the road safely as a 'life skill' so they can go out and play, meet other kids and have a life. Oh sorry, the namby pambies say the world is too dangerous for kids.....

[Stu]

So should they learn to judge on coming traffic at 30 or 40?

runs, hides