What Would You Do?
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
A friend of mine emailed me with an interesting question, and I thought I would share the story here, and perhaps get some additional input from our readers.
Her neighbour has two children aged four and eight years. She regularly allows them to ride in the front seat “as a treat”, not just while the vehicle is stationary, but also on major streets. For reference (since every state or province determines its own traffic safety laws), in Ontario, the law dictates that children under eight must be in a booster seat, and that for kids aged eight to 13, they are “strongly recommended” to be in the back seat for safety. So, the neighbour is within her rights as far as the older child is concerned, but is breaking the law with the younger one.
This brings up an interesting question. As parents, many of us feel a responsibility to protect not just our own children, but all children we encounter. However, since the threat is not as immediate, my friend is unsure what to do. Should she speak to the neighbour about the safety of her children? Should she call the police to tell them? Should she just ignore the problem? If this neighbour was hitting the children, I believe my friend (as would most people, not just parents) would intervene in some regard, either by calling the police or children’s aid, or by physically stopping the neighbour.
Have you ever faced a similar question? If so, what did you do? If not, what would you do in such circumstances? Does your relationship with the neighbour factor into consideration? Why or why not?
You can read more SciFi Dad at Tales From The Dad Side.
MrsH says...
She should impress on her friend the danger of such a practice, that it’s illegal and she may someday regret it. If I were in her shoes though, admittedly that’s as far as I would go. (sheepish)
HollyTriedIt says...
Oooo….this would BOTHER me. If it happened repeatedly I would probably find a story online about a kid who was seriously injured in the front seat and bring it up during conversation.
And it’s weird, I am amazingly protective of other people’s kids now. Maybe because I know more about the dangers than I used to. Although, even before I had my daughter I would stop my car and tell little kids to get out of the street or to stop throwing pinecones at passing cars, etc.
What can I say…I’m a meddler…Blogging helps me release that pent-up desire!
LD says...
Weird. Matt and I were talking about this yesterday because he desperately wants to ride in the front and I told him I would find out how old you have to be to ride in the front.
I’m not sure I’d say anything. My friend would ALWAYS unhook her toddler from the car seat when she freaked out (which was every car ride) about being strapped in. I kept my mouth shut until we were all in a van together and she undid her toddler - in a snow storm - and her toddler proceeded to unbuckle my baby.
The thing is she got really mad that I told her it was unsafe.I didn’t take it any further. And I’ll admit I only said anything because of my child’s safety.
As far as this lady with the car seats … I wouldn’t say anything. I always rode in the front when I was little and I was fine. My guess is she doesn’t know. or care.
Dave says...
I think I agree with MrsH… Advise on the legality and safety issues.
However, I remember laying across the back seat on long car rides with the centre belt strapped around me as loosely as possible, if at all.
Now that I have my own, he won’t be doing the same thing.
AndreAnna says...
I’m so non-confrontational that I would call the police the next time I saw it. Or I would go online, find the law, and stick it in her mailbox when she wasn’t around, maybe highlighting the statistics of kids who are killed/injured in the front seat.
I’ve called the police on cars I’ve seen with kids on laps and toddlers not in car seats.
Once we become parents, it’s almost impossible to turn a blind eye to other kids in danger, even if they’re not our own.
crazymumma says...
I would say nothing.
i know.
shocking. and I am an opinionated person. But no, it is her decision to make.
crazymummas last blog post..