Please Read -- Could save a life

[disneyaggie]

Years ago I learned from a friend of mine to honk your car horn before you back out of any space, no matter where you are, or what you do or don't see.

Good thing God's angels were watching from above . . . the other day I was getting ready to back out of a space. I looked all around and saw no one, honked my horn, and right before I backed up, a girl in her late teens/early 20's came running out from behind the back of the truck next to me (she was on the other side so I did not see her) and reaches down behind my car.

I watch in horror to find her grabbing the arm of a 3-year-old child that was behind my car! He was so little I did not see him, and she was no where close by holding his hand. And they were in a parking lot full of cars!

What truly amazed me is that once I finally pulled out, I saw the idiot walking with another child (about 2 years old), but she still did not have the hand of the 3-year-old! The little boy was several steps behind her, fiddling around with a piece of paper, with his head down. And yes, they were still walking behind more cars!

Oh, and did I mention that this was all just a few yards away from one of the busiest roads in Dallas?

Such lack of intelligence boggles my mind!

Since then I definitely honk, especially since I call on a lot of medical facilities that have small children and those in wheelchairs that are hard to spot.

The incredible thing is, this whole incident did not scare me, as much as it shocked me. I was pretty much numb the rest of the day thinking that I could have accidently hit (or worse) an innocent child. And that someone could be so stupid as to not know how to properly care for a child in that dangerous setting.

Just wanted to pass this tip along.

 

[Chicago526]

Great post! I don't honk, but I litteraly i n c h s l ow l y out of parking spots, not just because of pedestrians but because around here, the speed limit for parking lots seems to be about 40 MPH, you can get nailed around here backing out of a spot if you aren't carefull.

 

[pozey]

I back in to every space that I can. If I can't back into a space, I find a space where that when I do leave, I can drive straight forward.

I know, people roll their eyes or shake their heads when they see me do this, but I believe it is much, much safer. When you go to park your vehicle, you see everything there. Then when you go to back out, there is a big chance you haven't been to the back of your car.

I drove a UPS truck for several years some time back. That was one of the things that is taught over and over. Backing up is a bad thing. Don't do it if you don't have to. Always leave yourself the ability to drive forward.

One of the other driving techniques I learned was to leave enough space between you and the car in front of you at stop lights - just in case the car in front of you dies. I have seen MANY times a car will pull right up on the car's rear bumper, only to have that car not be able to go. Then they are stuck!

 

[Tigger_Magic]

I rarely, if ever, pull into a parking space where I must back out simply because of this situation. I usually find some way to park so that when I leave, I just pull forward. If I must back up, I do tap my horn as a warning. Good advice.

 

[mrsv98]

Thanks for this reminder. Two years ago this May, my DDad was hit by a woman backing out of her driveway. He was on the sidewalk, minding his own business and she just barreled out without looking. Broke his leg and then he ended up with DVT and a PE, scary for a bit there.

It has made me extra careful everytime I back out and I also try to pull forward into a parking space even if I have to go to the end of the row.

 

[AmyJ of Ca]

We had a Mom at my DD preschool back over her son and killed him. It was the most heartbreaking thing. She was taking her older children to school and her nanny was staying home with the little boy. The nanny ran out to give mom one of the kids lunches and didn't notice the little guy had come out with her. After that I bought a car with a back up sensor and I am also extra careful when backing up.

 

[Kimmumum]

My DH and I always honk when backing out of our garage.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

We had a Mom at my DD preschool back over her son and killed him. It was the most heartbreaking thing. She was taking her older children to school and her nanny was staying home with the little boy. The nanny ran out to give mom one of the kids lunches and didn't notice the little guy had come out with her. After that I bought a car with a back up sensor and I am also extra careful when backing up.

This is so sad. When I was in middle school, a classmate's parent did the same thing, ran over and killed her little brother. I still remember that family's horrible grief.

I also try to back into parking spots when I can, and when I can't, I inch out very, very slowly, sometimes annoying the pedestrians who saw me starting to back out and stopped to wait for me to go. But better to make them wait a little longer, than to hit one of them who wasn't watching.

ETA: Thanks to the OP for posting this. Honking before backing out is a great idea.

 

[Angela Kay]

Wow, some very sad stories. I'll definitely be honking my horn when I back up, now.

 

[DawnCt1]

Wow, what a great post. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[S. C.]

Years ago I learned from a friend of mine to honk your car horn before you back out of any space, no matter where you are, or what you do or don't see.

Good thing God's angels were watching from above . . . the other day I was getting ready to back out of a space. I looked all around and saw no one, honked my horn, and right before I backed up, a girl in her late teens/early 20's came running out from behind the back of the truck next to me (she was on the other side so I did not see her) and reaches down behind my car.

I watch in horror to find her grabbing the arm of a 3-year-old child that was behind my car! He was so little I did not see him, and she was no where close by holding his hand. And they were in a parking lot full of cars!

What truly amazed me is that once I finally pulled out, I saw the idiot walking with another child (about 2 years old), but she still did not have the hand of the 3-year-old! The little boy was several steps behind her, fiddling around with a piece of paper, with his head down. And yes, they were still walking behind more cars!

Oh, and did I mention that this was all just a few yards away from one of the busiest roads in Dallas?

Such lack of intelligence boggles my mind!

Since then I definitely honk, especially since I call on a lot of medical facilities that have small children and those in wheelchairs that are hard to spot.

The incredible thing is, this whole incident did not scare me, as much as it shocked me. I was pretty much numb the rest of the day thinking that I could have accidently hit (or worse) an innocent child. And that someone could be so stupid as to not know how to properly care for a child in that dangerous setting.

Just wanted to pass this tip along.

Thank You for posting this. I just copy and pasted it and sent it to all of my email buddies.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I guess-I am aware of my surroundings (look everywhere for any people). It didn't occur to me to honk.

On my new van I have a warning signal that alerts me if there is something behind me.

I do not always hold my hands children in the parking lot--but I'll be darned if I will do my nails--read a newspaper (sarcasm here!) while walking in the lot with my little ones.


I did the horn thing 2 times once in high school and once in a grocery store parkin glot in the last year. It did not prevent another car from backing into me in either case .
I think some are immune to horns. (actually the grocery store lot--the guy just didn't here it---but people were coming out of the store to find out who was making all that racket).

 

[ElizaB39]

Thank you for this reminder. Such sad stories. Makes me glad I always park to pull forward at CCD, not always at the shopping center, but you can bet I will change my ways now!

Thank you!

Also reminded me that a woman I know ran over her child in the driveway and he was fine, it was his leg I think. Also, my mom ran overand killed our puppy when I was in grade shool.

 

[HaleyB]

Scary stuff. I remember when my kids were in those infant seats that pop onto a base in the car I was terrified I would put the baby down behind the car and forget. So I never ever let that car seat touch the ground. Whenever I see someone put one down behind a car (mostly at the grocery store) I cringe.

I still hold hands with my kids in parking lots and they are 8 and 11. I figure I will keep on doing it forever, at some point it will be for my saftey instead of theirs.

 

[DawnCt1]

Wow, what a great post. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Marseeya]

I wish I would have heard about this a few weeks ago! I hit my son when I was backing up.

I usually pull my car into the driveway, then back up so the car is even with the end of the house. DS came running out of the house to help me bring in the groceries and he forgot that I back up and I ran right into him. Luckily he wasn't hurt, but I honestly didn't see him run out like that! It shook me up pretty badly. He thought it was cool.

Teenagers.

 

[disneyaggie]

On my new van I have a warning signal that alerts me if there is something behind me.

Does anyone know if this warning sensor can be added to cars that are not brand new? I would love to get one!

Anyone know the answer to this?

 

[MsDisney23]

Great Post! When working in construction all the equipment and trucks must have backup alarms on them. Again Great Post!

 

[Freyja]

Great idea!

 

[disneymac]

This is a good idea.

Also, if you have those back up alarms, still be careful. My SIL had one, so she was a little careless & backed up right into our truck! Poor woman, she'll never hear the end of that one! But I guess they are fairly low on the vehicle - good for kids behind the car, bad for high trucks!!