Monday 23rd September 2002

Kids Kill Themselves?

Is the tide turning? Shocking survey results released today, at the start of Road Safety Week, reveal that children who are most likely to be killed on roads (11-14 year olds) are taking enormous risks, such as crossing roads when texting on a mobile. Could it be that children are to be reminded that they are responsible for their own road safety?

The message from Brake, which coordinates Road Safety Week, is a confusing one in light of the information though. "Some children are taking terrible risks, but no child deserves to die. The theme of Road Safety Week is SAFE STREETS for the sake of our children. Drivers can help to prevent deaths by SLOWING DOWN in Road Safety Week, and every week, for the sake of our kids, particularly in towns, villages, and on rural roads. Parents and teachers should also do all they can to educate children about risks on roads and the importance of crossing roads safely, and Government should invest more cash into stopping speeding."

Why is it a simple message about teaching kids about taking responsibility for their own actions is once again entwined in the 'speed' mantra. The real safety messages are being lost amongst do-gooders' venom for car drivers.

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[nonegreen]

Brake seem to have a unique ability to jump to the wrong conclusions. Anyone with even a limited ability to assess risk would dismiss this garbage as just plain wrong. The number of belligerant youths to be found crossing the road would soon be cured by the introduction of jaywalking as an offense. The reason why teachers suffer violence and abuse at the hands of pupils is beacause the government sends out the message "they can't touch you". The same message is sent out about motorists. This kind of attitude mixed with high confidence,low intelect and no experience results in children being killed on the road. Brake should be ashamed of themselves.

[Bonce]

Actually, Brake seem to be regurgitating their facts from the THINK! Hedgehogs campaign here:

www.think.dft.gov.uk/hedgehogs/index.htm

THINK! Bonce

[plotloss]

STOP PRESS:

Humans responsible for their own lives, Government no longer accountable for abject lazyness.

Read all about it!

FFS

Matt.

[Whoozit]

quote:
STOP PRESS:

Humans responsible for their own lives, Government no longer accountable for abject lazyness.

If only.

[Jason F]

I would really like to read the reports about each of the kids killed (Not for those reasons), see which ones were killed ON the road, and how many were killed when cars mounted pavements etc...

It is a shame that Speed kills is bandied about for absolutely everything to do with road safety.

[martinh]

Thing is by adopting this simplistic approach to this very complex problem these campaigners are actually hiding and therefore preventing what may be much more successful strategies for saving lives. Why are children crossing the road at all and not on a footbridge, zebra crossing, pelican etc. provided by their local authority ? Why are pedestrians of all ages not being educated to take care of themselves when placing themselves in a potentially dangerous position ? Why aren't drivers better educated in hazard recognition, anticipation etc. and more regularly checked for ability, eyesight etc.? Why arent new cars regulated to have some kind of standard for braking distance and why aren't older/unfit vehicles being systematically removed from our roads ? The answer is because all that might turn out to be quite hard to understand and implement and these idiots have to find a simple answer because that is the only sort their brains can handle. Oh and they can make themselves feel all good and green about global warming at the same time because they also accepted unchallenged all that bullshit because of the same intellectual deficiency. Meanwhile the statistics just keep going on up. When we look back historically at this period I am certain we will see that single issue pressure groups such as BRAKE represent one of the biggest threats to modern democracy the other being pure apathy. Join the ABD and at least you will be standing up for a bit more common sense and consensus on how we deal with this particular problem.......Martin

[madcop]

quote:
The number of belligerant youths to be found crossing the road would soon be cured by the introduction of jaywalking as an offense.

It is illegal to smoke under 16 and to drink alcohol under 18 but that doesn't stop them.
I thought you were against the 'Nanny state' interfering with the prolotariate nongreen, or is that only in relation to V8s'

[nonegreen]

quote:
Join the ABD and at least you will be standing up for a bit more common sense and consensus on how we deal with this particular problem.......Martin

Problem is the ABD are too reasonable. Brake spin an absolute load of illogical tosh and the ABD reply?

"The ABD would like to see some really nice people appointed to discover a really nice way to solve the problem for all the nice children yawn blaahdy bloody blah yawn...."

The ABD should respond " BRAKE kills hundreds of children by deliberately misleading the public"

"T2000 are affiliated to the KKK"

"Lottery Millions spent on Nazi sympathisers"

You know something with a bit more zip.

What we need is direct action like kidnap Mendleson and demand an end to speed camera, that sort of thing

[Captain Muppet]

I think that anyone who kills a child who blundered in to the road without the wit to check for lethal hazards should get some sort of award for enhancing the evolution of the species.

I have been hit by a child pedestrian while driving. I learned to expect random suicide attempts and he learnt that car drivers are pussies who try to help you regardless of how f*****g stupid you are.

Cull the stupid. These people are using up our resources. Get Greenpeace on the case.

[Fatboy]

quote:What we need is direct action like kidnap Mandleson and demand an end to speed camera, that sort of thing

What, and threaten to give him back unharmed if our demands are not met?

Edited cuase it should have been Mandlesen I think...

>> Edited by Fatboy on Tuesday 24th September 11:21

[scruff400]

quote:It is illegal to smoke under 16 and to drink alcohol under 18 but that doesn't stop them

It's also illegal to have sex under 16...

Oh dear.

[Bombjack]

quote:Edited cuase it should have been Mandlesen I think...

Bugrit, let's get that Mendelsson b****rd too. Damn concertos...