Or Just Remind Them to Be Safe
Something awful has happened here. At work my friend upstairs who usually comes down to my office for coffee had some bad news. He has an insurance business and just received a claim the night before that also hit the news.
A 17 year old boy here was hit by a car just after dark. He was wearing all black and walking WITH traffic. The driver never saw him, because of his dark clothing, until too late. The driver was neither speeding nor drunk. The driver, from eyewitness accounts was not riding the shoulder either. This kid must have been walking too far in on the road and with his back to traffic never saw what hit him.
Kids sometimes just don't realize how dangerous it is to be walking outside in the dark. Many kids nowadays like to wear black or dark clothing, and because they have yet to start driving don't realize how important it is for them to be aware of traffic during these times. They really need to know or just be reminded even that it's imperative they walk AGAINST traffic.
This accident follows on the heels of another a couple of weeks ago and a few towns from mine. A woman went out to get her newspaper in the early am before it was light out. She had to cross the street to get to her mailbox where the paper was put. She had her dog with her and she was also hit by a car. When the dog came home without the woman, her husband went out to investigate and found his dead wife on the side of the road. The driver didn't stop.
My heart goes out to both families. If I still had kids at home, you'd bet I'd be telling them about this as a reminder to be safe when walking the roads whether it be day or night.
It only takes a second to remind them of the many dangers out there as we are reminded of them ourselves.