Toddler run over, killed by SUV in Fla. high school parking lot (Evil SUV alert)

MSNBC ^ | 4/28/12 | NBC

[The Antiyuppie]

“One of the best things I ever did when they were very little was train them to STOP immediately in their tracks when I said STOP. Even a crawling baby can be taught to stop.”

Ironically, this is supposed to be the first thing you teach a dog. If you are going to teach your dog only ONE THING, this would be it.

I know what you are saying about day care. The world is a dangerous place. Although I am all in favor of maintaining childhood innocence, I really think you have to balance that with certain death or horrible injury from the dozens of potentially bad things that can happen everyday. This is how children develop reason and judgement. Hmmm...well, I guess that explains a lot.

[docbnj]

What is a one-year-old child doing on the pavement in a parking lot?

Is there any reason to suppose that the unfortunate child would have fared any better if merely run over by some other (non SUV) automobile?

It’s a tragedy, but the cause was inattention, partly by the driver, but mainly by the adults who were not watching the child. You cannot let a youngster that age out of your sight. In a parking lot, you should have the child by the hand at all times. It is not a safe place.

Changing the subject somewhat: we need better drivers in this country. We seem to regard a driver’s license as a right, but it is not a right which can be given to incompetents. One of my pet peeves is special parking places for the handicapped. If you cannot walk a few extra feet and need a special place, chances are very, very good that you are not qualified to be driving at all.

People should be retested for driver’s licenses every five years beginning at age 60.

I do not believe in blaming the vehicle, but the driver. I see almost every day people who have oversized SUVs and cannot drive them. Example: they don’t know how to park. They talk on the phone while driving, which statistically is as dangerous as driving after drinking alcohol. You want safety? Train better drivers, and don’t license those who are unqualified.

[bethelgrad]

THings were different back then. I remember riding my little hot wheels all over while my mom was inside. I couldn’t have been more than 3. It was one of my earliest memory. Later, after I got a bike, I rode it everywhere. Across busy roads, 5 or 6 miles away from home. All this by the age of 8 or 9. My boys are 10 and 12 and I’d never let them ride as far away as I did. When I was growing up, everyone I knew was out all day, riding, playing baseball. No one worried. Today, no one, including me would ever let our kids out like we were. I guess I remember all those close calls when I almost bit it and ruined someone’s life!!