R.C. Anderson
Does anyone have a soapbox I can borrow?
June 20th 2007 01:08
I seem to have misplaced my own and I know there are a number of Orblers who obviously enjoy the view from their soapbox’s elevated height.
But that’s not what I’m here for today.
I want to raise awareness of an issue that is rapidly starting to really p*ss me off and, in many ways, astound and infuriate me. It has nothing to do with diet or health … not directly. Although I suppose the potential danger that certain members of our community (not the virtual community of Orble but the real-life, face-to-face community we all live in) are putting other people in could be considered to be very detrimental to a person’s health.
I’m talking about the issue of road rules. And, more specifically, adhering to the rules of the road outside schools.
My daughter’s primary school is a prime example of the selfishness and disrespect some drivers seem to show to other parents and children using the road. For safety reasons there are “no standing” signs outside the front gates and along a small portion of the front fence on both sides of the road.
So why is it that so many parents seem to believe that they are entitled to park there?
What is their problem? Do they think to themselves: “oh, I’m just dropping my son/daughter off so I’ll only be stationary for a moment.”
I suppose the laws don’t apply to them? If you break the law quickly then I guess you’re not really breaking the law at all?
When we dropped my daughter off at school this morning (legally parked, naturally) we were stationary for only a couple of minutes and in that time more than half a dozen cars pulled up into the “no standing” zone to let their children out, holding up traffic behind them and potentially putting lives at risk.
The signs are there for a reason; in this case, to ensure the safety of all our children. So, yes, you selfish people, you are breaking the law and you are putting our children in danger. Stop being so bloody lazy and park another fifty metres up the road … legally.
Parking in the “no standing” zones isn’t the only issue that gets me angry; there is also the issue of speeding. Motorists need to understand that the 40 km/h speed limit in place outside schools is there for a damn good reason; safety. And at school let-out time in the afternoon, when there are upwards of two hundred young children, plus parents and younger siblings, milling around, getting into cars and crossing the road, 40 km/h could even be considered to be too fast.
I am constantly amazed by the speed some drivers obviously consider to be appropriate for this situation. And, please, don’t get me started on the idiots that speed through with one ear glued to their mobile phone.
SLOW DOWN you bloody imbeciles. I can’t say it any clearer than that.
My daughter’s school isn’t the only example of this irresponsible behaviour displayed by supposedly mature adults who should know better. Sometimes I wonder how on earth they managed to pass their test. There are many schools all around the country with the same issues and selfish parents with the attitude that they are above the law.
The laws are there to protect the safety of our children. They do apply to everyone and, if you are one of these irresponsible and self-centred sh*ts who insist on breaking the law and putting our children’s lives at risk, I bloody hope that, one day, you get caught and punished.
Because it’s no more than you deserve.
But that’s not what I’m here for today.
I want to raise awareness of an issue that is rapidly starting to really p*ss me off and, in many ways, astound and infuriate me. It has nothing to do with diet or health … not directly. Although I suppose the potential danger that certain members of our community (not the virtual community of Orble but the real-life, face-to-face community we all live in) are putting other people in could be considered to be very detrimental to a person’s health.
I’m talking about the issue of road rules. And, more specifically, adhering to the rules of the road outside schools.
My daughter’s primary school is a prime example of the selfishness and disrespect some drivers seem to show to other parents and children using the road. For safety reasons there are “no standing” signs outside the front gates and along a small portion of the front fence on both sides of the road.
So why is it that so many parents seem to believe that they are entitled to park there?
What is their problem? Do they think to themselves: “oh, I’m just dropping my son/daughter off so I’ll only be stationary for a moment.”
I suppose the laws don’t apply to them? If you break the law quickly then I guess you’re not really breaking the law at all?
When we dropped my daughter off at school this morning (legally parked, naturally) we were stationary for only a couple of minutes and in that time more than half a dozen cars pulled up into the “no standing” zone to let their children out, holding up traffic behind them and potentially putting lives at risk.
The signs are there for a reason; in this case, to ensure the safety of all our children. So, yes, you selfish people, you are breaking the law and you are putting our children in danger. Stop being so bloody lazy and park another fifty metres up the road … legally.
Parking in the “no standing” zones isn’t the only issue that gets me angry; there is also the issue of speeding. Motorists need to understand that the 40 km/h speed limit in place outside schools is there for a damn good reason; safety. And at school let-out time in the afternoon, when there are upwards of two hundred young children, plus parents and younger siblings, milling around, getting into cars and crossing the road, 40 km/h could even be considered to be too fast.
I am constantly amazed by the speed some drivers obviously consider to be appropriate for this situation. And, please, don’t get me started on the idiots that speed through with one ear glued to their mobile phone.
SLOW DOWN you bloody imbeciles. I can’t say it any clearer than that.
My daughter’s school isn’t the only example of this irresponsible behaviour displayed by supposedly mature adults who should know better. Sometimes I wonder how on earth they managed to pass their test. There are many schools all around the country with the same issues and selfish parents with the attitude that they are above the law.
The laws are there to protect the safety of our children. They do apply to everyone and, if you are one of these irresponsible and self-centred sh*ts who insist on breaking the law and putting our children’s lives at risk, I bloody hope that, one day, you get caught and punished.
Because it’s no more than you deserve.
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Comment by MelissaA
Fun Facts
the amount of times I've seen cars come close to kids crossing those driveways, or entirely blocking those driveways so no-one can walk past infuriates me.
Most of the time they're trying a do a 3 point turn in a place that's full of traffic to begin with and it's dangerous all round for people and other cars.
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
That pisses me off when people think that the law doesn't apply to them. Why are you such a special case? The rest of us abide by the law, so it's not that hard to do!
Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
Okay...this is a major 'burn' for me.
...the mobile thing...I've seen cops doing it.
It's the P-platers that worry me...they're actually texting while driving.....
I guess they think the 5-second rule applies to more than just chocolate on the ground.
I've seen it happen. And it continued to happen when the 40k/h rules were first brought in.
We don't live far from the childrens schools so they've always walked home but when the youngest was younger I would walk to the school to pick him up and see parents speeding through the lights right outside the school and then park in the No Stopping zones.
And then just sit there.
...and what really gets me is that the ones who seem to be the biggest culprits are 4WDrivers...and I'm a 4WDriver (but I have reason)!
The primary school got very strict with the rulings and even asked the cops to patrol. Then the cops sat in th No Stopping zone.
No, I'm kidding about that!
It certainly stopped the No Stopping starters.
...as for the soapbox Cara....mine got too slippery so I gave it away.
I occasionaly go horse-riding (no this is not a Brumbies/Larkham innuendo)...but get embarrssed by how high I sit....
Unfortunately I don't think there are any spare soapboxes. They're all in use.
big hugs and much love Cara.
Actually...this is a relevant and important issue. You should put it in the Breaking News category. To inject some real issues there.
Dusk
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
I actually feel safer parking 50 metres away. I wish we lived close enough to walk to school so I wouldn't have to put up with this rubbish.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
Says it all for me...
Lilla ...
Comment by Portsmouth
Good for you. This one certainly struck a nerve with a lot of people and needs to be said loud and clear. This doesn't only happen in Australia (as you know) and despite accidents happening outside of schools these selfish people just will not get out of their cars and walk a few yards. Perhaps if a few more people got on their soapboxes like you something would be done. And as for people on mobile 'phones when driving......
Lots of love as always from Pompey
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
How could I have forgotten that! We have a crossing outside my daughter's school and the amount of people that don't even wait until they've cleared the crossing before attempting their three point turn or using a driveway to turn around is unbelievable.
Good to see you Mel.
A.
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
Unfortunately there aren't enough police available to have a regular police presence outside every school in the area. I'll tell you what, though, they could make a fortune in fines if they dropped by every so often.
Thanks KW.
A.
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
Okay, first and formost, chocolate never spends more than a split second on the floor in my house. If I don't grab it quickly enough then there are two little bugs who can sniff out dropped chocolate at a distance of 100 paces. Little Buggers!
Our primary school also had to resort to requesting regular drive-bys from the police which should never have to happen. Parents should know better.
Much love. xxxx
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
I agree totally. I much prefer to park a bit further away too. Actually, if I wanted to park close by I'd have to get to school around half an hour before the bell went since that's when parents start arriving there in the afternoon.
Too lazy to walk that extra 50 metres, I guess. They'd rather sit in their car for half an hour instead.
Then again, I could be like those idiots that double park right outside school. Once again ... they're not there long so they're not breaking the law, are they??
Thanks Mrs M.
A.
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
Thanks for stopping by and lending your support. Sometimes I feel like banging on their car windows when they finally stop and shouting those very words at them. Unfortunately, I don't think they'd bother listening.
A.
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
Always good to get your comments and support, you know that.
It's an ongoing problem everywhere, I know, and something that needs to be addressed. Unfortunately it's just a minority of people making life difficult and potentially dangerous for the rest of us.
Like I said ... don't get me started on the mobile phone issue! I'll never stop. Dusk hit the nail on the head when she said:
Love as always,
A. xxxx
Comment by Sarah White
coolgirlsar to the rescue
One Too Many Chocolate Bars
Don't get me started on drivers, grrr!! I wonder how some people have managed to pass their test, I could drive better and I don't even have a license. Apart from the obviously speeding, my other pet hate is people who don't indicate and then get abusive at you when you go to step out to cross the road and they have to suddenly brake!!! I won't say what I want to call them but it's not very nice. It seems that some drivers just have no consideration for others and mostly pedestrians.
And you're right, being a parent with a child at the school does not allow you to break those rules, what are you showing your child by doing so. Over here in the UK they're trying to get less parents to drive their children to school and have implemented various ways of doing so, one such one is where the school has a few weeks each year titled "Walk your child to school week" and each child gets a sticker if they've walked to and from school each day. Also free bus passes for children under a certain age have been introduced which I think is working really well.
Thankfully there are some considerate drivers out there that abide by the laws.
Now I'm going to go and throw stones at all *wink*.
Take Care.
Sarah. xxx
Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner
don't you wish we could carry like twin 30mm cannons on the hoods of our cars in times like that?
LOL
Great post!
Take care,
Nick
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
Thanks for stopping by and sorry it's taken me so long to reply. Well, you know what it's like with a baby in the house!
We also have a 'walk your child to school' day over here where the child gets a sticker if they've walked to school that day. It is a good idea. Unfortunately the type of people who will knowingly break the law by parking in 'no stopping' zones and exceed the speed limit outside schools are not the type of people who will take part and walk their children to school. They still insist of driving (and breaking the law).
The school and the police really need to take a stand.
Take care, Sarah.
A. xx
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
I'd love to be able to carry a big, burly police man on my car, ready to jump off whenever he saw one of these idiots breaking the law.
I'll tell you what ... he'd make a fortune writing tickets and collecting fines!!!
Thanks for stopping by.
A.
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
And don't you just love the mum's and dad's who pull up in the kiss and drop zones then proceed to talk incessently on their mobile phone for the next 10 mins. Then, when someone finally vents their feelings - they fein a lip-inc'ed apology and an indignant wave.
PS: DuskDevi - with you totally on this one. Was rear ended 12 months ago by a P-plater texting while driving. $12,000 damage and 5 weeks later - I got the car back.
Saving grace was the tow bar on my vehicle - which saved my neck - literally.
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
It's good to meet you and thanks for stopping by.
Mobile phones are a bloody pain at times. Unfortunately the police don't seem interested enough in upholding the law to pull people over who are using their phone while driving.
Not enough revenue to be earned, maybe?
I noticed that the recent road safety ads on TV have specifically targetted people who text while driving, indicating the potential danger involved. Let's hope people start to listen.
Take care and drop in again soon.
A.