Please Read -- Could save a life

[S. C.]

 

[disneyaggie]

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?

Anyone ? ? ?

 

[S. C.]

Givng this a bump.

 

[S. C.]

Givng this another bump.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

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).

It would never occur to me that the person was backing up. If I hear a horn in a parking lot, I autmoatically assume it is one of a few things:

-somebody has lost their car and is using their remote to find it or they accidentally hit the panic button.

-they are honking to express their irritation at somebody

-They are some obnoxious teenager hailing their friends.

At no point it time would it have ever occurred to me that the person was backing out and I must therefore get out of their way. As I cannot recall ever hearing a car honk before backing up, my guess is that most people would have no idea what it would mean and would probably ignore it, or stop where they are to figure out who is honking!

I wonder if the honking even alerted the woman to the fact you were backing out, or if she simply ran over once she realized you were starting to back up.

 

[Carys]

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.

Just want to second this one - is also taught as a safety technique, always leaving yourself space to pull out in case of an attempted car jacking at a red light. Applies more in trouble spots but is a good habit to get into.

 

[OctMtnWoods]

She probably had to keep her hands free to use her cellphone. Unfortunately, they don't administer IQ tests to become parents. Or hand out owners manuals.

Oddly enough, I don't think a honking horn would make me think someone backing up either. I would probably think I was being recognized & waved to. If you laid on the horn, then I would get it. "Move your butt out of the way!" lol

 

[Green Tea]

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.

You are backing up 50% of the time still. I don't understand why doing the backing on the front end would be safer than the back. I am thinking about my local stores. The spaces are angled. So backing into a space would seem to be more dangerous because you would be going against the natural flow of traffic.

 

[sunnyday123]

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.

I was such neurotic mess too when DD was a baby, I was convinced I would leave her somewhere in her seat, either outside of the car or inside. I've encountered people with infants on the ground too, and I understand the reasoning but it still worries me. I usually will make a fuss over the baby and they probably think I'm some whacko and I hope it reminds them to put the kid in the car!

DD is 11 and still know you hold hands in a parking lot. It's automatic. When her and my niece ( same age) were little ,they had to put their hands on the car until I was ready. It looked like they were ready to be frisked, but I knew they were talking about why I made them do that, and not running amok in the parking lot. My SUV has the back up sensor too, but I never assume it's right and always check and double check.

 

[swald91]

This is a great post-worst thing is that kids tend to dart & if it looks clear you start to back up & they dart... I always try to back into or drive through a parking spot. We usually say kids are bad, but sometimes adults are just as bad. They are looking at a list, rummaging through their purse, chasing their child etc. I know a friend who just backed over their new puppy.

 

[englishteacha]

My driver's ed instructor told us that backing up was dangerous, and we should avoid it if we can. I'm glad someone told me this as a young driver, because it stuck with me. He also taught us to turn on our headlights when it rains for safety. It wasn't law at the time, and now it is and I never forget.

 

[momof1princess]

this really hits home for me-a local family just buried their 23 month old son after his daddy accidentally backed over him. i have friends who went to the funeral and they said the family's grief was so deep and painful to watch. i can't imagine what they're going through. please be careful, everyone.

 

[Bluestars]

That must have been very scary!

You made a great suggestion to honk the horn before backing up in a parking lot. Not everybody pays attention to the cars when they are walking, so it makes sense that a little tap on the horn will be noticed.

 

[Feralpeg]

Great suggestion, OP! I will definitely be passing this along to my DD who recently started driving.

We have a particularly challenging situation here. We spend a lot of time at DTD. That is such a busy lot and there are so many children walking through at all times. I am so careful there and always try (although many times cannot) to pull through so that I can pull forward when it is time to leave. It never ceases to amaze me how oblivious adults are to where their children are. So many people walk through Disney parking lots with their children trailing somewhere behind. I've watched kids many times to make sure they were okay because they were a good ten yards behind their folks in a busy lot. It really amazes me that no child has been hit and killed in one of these lots.

 

[WDWorBUST]

Great tip. I think the other part of this is teaching our kids the danger a car backing out poses. My 5 year old has been told since she was old enough to understand that she ALWAYS holds my hand in the parking lot...if we are trying to get in or out of the car she keeps her hands on the car. Also she is never allowed to walk behind a parked car without my express permission at that moment or unless I'm with her. This is a daily lesson in our case and I will probably be teaching it forever.

 

[Kit'smommy]

It would never occur to me that the person was backing up. If I hear a horn in a parking lot, I autmoatically assume it is one of a few things:

-somebody has lost their car and is using their remote to find it or they accidentally hit the panic button.

-they are honking to express their irritation at somebody

-They are some obnoxious teenager hailing their friends.

At no point it time would it have ever occurred to me that the person was backing out and I must therefore get out of their way. As I cannot recall ever hearing a car honk before backing up, my guess is that most people would have no idea what it would mean and would probably ignore it, or stop where they are to figure out who is honking

I agree with this post.

My DS is 5. His hand gets held from the second he gets out of the car until we get out of the parking lot. At home we don't back out of the garage unless he is inside the house or the car. I am always facinated at the lack of concern I see people give to safety of children in parking lots.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

I've never honked, but have always gone slow for the fear of something like this happening..
I dated a guy who's mom backed over his brother in their driveway. This was 30+ yrs ago, and he is severely ******** and disfigured... he was 18months at the time it happened...

 

[happygirl]

I don't honk. I just back slowly and watch out really closely. If I heard a honk I would assume someone was waiting for the spot and it would make me go faster to get out of the parking spot

 

[minniecarousel]

Amazingly old thread!

A good reminder to be very careful in parking lots, though.

 

[Maddykins06]

I actually give my three year-old a piggy back ride in parking lots cause I'm so neurotic.

Love the idea of having her put her hands on the car while waiting to get in!