[mini.mble]

So I get off work about 7pm (still light out) on the 4th of July. I'm driving down my street and ahead is a group of children in the road lighting fireworks (I have no idea why because it's not dark yet!). O.K. I slow to a crawl and they part, a couple on the left and a good group on the right. I start to go again and a little 2-3 year old kid runs out in front of me from the left. Thankfully, for my good MINI brakes, I don't hit the kid! All the parents are string from 40-50 feet away on the porch, who knows why they weren't supervising a little closer. I must say, that was the most nerve-racking thing I have ever experienced in a car while I was driving.

[minibat]

I was coming home a couple of weeks ago, and as I came around a corner, 2 houses in a kid, probably 16 or 17 comes darting out from between 2 cars. It appeared that he had a remote in his hand and was just trying to arm the alarm on his truck parked across the street. If I had not been going slow, unlike many kids today in their race cars, I would have hit this guy. It was 10:30 at night and he was wearring dark colors.

Another example"
I was driving past a middle school and was waiting to make a left turn, no on coming cars at all. 10 or so kids are standing in the middle of the street talking to a van with one of their friends in it. I sat there for like 3 minutes and they didnt clear the road so I could turn. So I then tapped the horn. It wasnt until then that they decided that they needed to get out of the road.

What is wrong with some of these kids today?

Motor on

[AmRov]

My rule is: My daughter is not allowed to be in the street unless she's "attached to a mommy" (meaning we hold hands). She's 8, and this has been our rule since she's been old enough to walk. I don't understand people who don't follow this rule, especially with such little ones.... glad tragedy was avoided!

[dansmini]

A big thing in my neighborhood is for the teenagers to walk in the middle of the road (even though our subdivision has sidewalks throughout) and then walk as SLOWLY as they possibly can to get out of the way when they notice you are coming so that you have to wait for them to move. IMO, this is ludicrous and I do not hesitate to drive by at the earliest possible moment to let them know I don't appreciate their games.

[minibat]

Quote: Originally Posted by dansmini

A big thing in my neighborhood is for the teenagers to walk in the middle of the road (even though our subdivision has sidewalks throughout) and then walk as SLOWLY as they possibly can to get out of the way when they notice you are coming so that you have to wait for them to move. IMO, this is ludicrous and I do not hesitate to drive by at the earliest possible moment to let them know I don't appreciate their games.

Until you accidentally clip one, then its court city for you. Or, one doesnt like your close drive by and the next time kicks your car as you drive by, breaks his foot and your in court city again. Its a no win.

Motor on

[tavis1]

There are alot of stupid parents out there. The ones I HATE the most are the ones that let there children trail behind them a arms length away or let them run up ahead or cut them loose in a store. Then when they get kindnaped there they are on the evening news, "(me in a sarcastic crying voice) I don't know what happened I just turned my back for a second....." Thats all it takes, for a child to get ran over or kidnaped. I was in Costco with the wife and we came around a corner on tto the isle and there in the basket was a 4 year old girl all by herself! I started yelling out on what I thought about her mother while being ribed by the wife. Here came running the mother from the next isle over and quickly scatered with her daughter. Then you have the fathers and mothers who leave there kids in a sealed up car in the middle of summer. Thats a whole other story. Some people shouldn't breed.
Tavis1

[ScottyB]

Im with Tavis on this one. I truly cant believe the things some parents let their children do/get away with. I only ever had one experience like that, in my Pulsar - kid runs out infront of my car from behind a row of bushes, I skid to a stop just missing the kid (who stands there in the middle of the road), then the Mother comes running out into the street yelling abuse at me.

No speed involved, nothing at all wrong on my part. Just an unsupervised child and a foolish parent. But had I hit the kid - gee... I wonder who'd be at fault?

[swamos]

Sometimes the little buggers can get out. However, in your situation it sounds un-forgiveable

[dansmini]

Quote: Originally Posted by minibat

Until you accidentally clip one, then its court city for you. Or, one doesnt like your close drive by and the next time kicks your car as you drive by, breaks his foot and your in court city again. Its a no win.

Motor on

I make certain they won't get clipped. And they don't have the guts to kick my car.

[MiniCooper]

If it happens with the same kid twice... FLOOR IT!!!!!!! Nah am jokin, Ive seen people nearly geting run over before and its a "cringing experience"

[lillapoyka]

the other day there is a group of kids walking down the middle of my street. now they know i'm behind them as they should be able to hear my engine and/or HK. what do they do? just keep walking down the middle of the street. Finally they moved a little over and I could get buy. I'd have like to said something but since I have the only mini on the block they know where I live.

[Rich_IX]

When I drive thru the estate ridden areas there are always a group of Chav's that think its cool to walk on the road instead of the pavement .. brainless the lot of them.

[mini.mble]

Thank you everyone for the replies!
If it's not the disrespectful teenagers, it's unsupervised and unpredictable little ones running into the street. o_0

Added:
Woah! I just noticed my rep. points!!! Thanks for those too!

[RickB]

I've found crossing in the middle of a busy street, especially when there's a crosswalk nearby, passes for "social disobedience" among some who feel a need to draw attention to themselves. It's as if they have no worthwhile impact on the world, but they can affect the lives of others by disrupting traffic. As pointed out above, you don't dare interrupt their "statement" by honking or otherwise warning them of their stupidity.

[dansmini]

Quote: Originally Posted by RickB

I've found crossing in the middle of a busy street, especially when there's a crosswalk nearby, passes for "social disobedience" among some who feel a need to draw attention to themselves. It's as if they have no worthwhile impact on the world, but they can affect the lives of others by disrupting traffic. As pointed out above, you don't dare interrupt their "statement" by honking or otherwise warning them of their stupidity.

I have a Promini intake and an R speed exhaust, so a quick tap of the gas pedal let's them know I'm there and thinking of them!