Lazy driver drops child unattended in traffic

[P_Dalen]

This happened on my commute from work today:
A motorist (the girl's father, I guess) drops a little girl unattended from the car's passenger's door. The girl, grasping her teddy bear, appears to be about 7 years old. A reckless cyclist undertakes without paying attention to the little girl. An accident is avoided by the little girl's attentiveness.

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=d4-pBFx7A00

 

[funnymummy]

Why do people do that...???
I see it everyday at my sons school, parents just pull up, child leaps out parent drives off..Ok so finding a parking space can be tricky, but surely the few minutes it takes is worth it for the most valuable thing you posess...?

 

[corshamjim]

I like the design of the door on that car - no opportunity for dooring there - although in that situation a normal car door might have afforded some protection to the child had that previous cyclist who was going way too fast been a second or two later.

 

[asterix]

You have to give the parent credit for stopping the car before dropping off their child. Time is money.

 

[Noodley]

I suppose the topic titled could have been "Reckless cyclist almost kills small child"...

 

[Wankelschrauben]

I can't see what the other cyclist did wrong, he was moving at a constant speed and was travelling within good space.

By the looks of that video, the door had slid open only when the OP arrived.

 

[Wankelschrauben]

I've just watched the OP's other video's, I'm amazed how one person can possibly be the victim and witness of so much bad driving.

 

[BentMikey]

Are you suggesting it's his fault? *snigger*

 

[Angelfishsolo]

+1

I can't see what the other cyclist did wrong, he was moving at a constant speed and was travelling within good space.

By the looks of that video, the door had slid open only when the OP arrived.

 

[John the Monkey]

On holiday, back in 2007, I saw a chap "supervise" his children (who were enjoying the same playground mine were) from the drivers seat of a Ford Galaxy parked adjacent.

To reinforce the stereotype, he spent a fair amount of time eating a burger and chips too.

 

[wiggydiggy]

Different incident but this is a copy of the same situation been discussed here:

https://www.cyclechat.net/

 

[Camgreen]

The only issue that I would have is the driver stopping on what appears to be a busy road, when pulling up to the pavement would've been far more responsible.

As to the "near miss" ? Pure supposition; looks to me that the child could well have been aware of the cyclist's presence; after all she didn't exactly leap out and then leap back.

Regarding the undertaking cyclist, I don't think there manoeuvre was any worse than the cyclist following behind with the helmet cam.

 

[Bicycle]

I find myself unable to get too excited by that.

The door was opened as (or before) the first rider approached.

As it doesn't extend beyond the door mirror, the door itself was unlikely to present much of a hazard.

The first cyclist didn't even slow or wobble as he approached and passed. I didn't see his line as too aggressive.

The child's head appears to peep out to check the horizon before stepping out (it's hard to tell because the head is just a dancing white dot).

Our cameraman stops well before the child steps out.

It appears that the child was looking for a gap or waiting for a gap.

The cameraman offered that gap and the child emerged.

The cameraman's stop didn't seem particularly hasty or grabbed.

It may not be what I'd want my children to be doing, but the child does OK.

She heaves that door closed without losing her grip on her teddy.

The first cyclist seems to be pretty aware (if we can judge that from this footage) and riding in a way that we see regularly from urban commuters.

I believe we all see worse than that daily.

 

[Wankelschrauben]

Are you suggesting it's his fault? *snigger*

I'm suggesting that he makes a meal out of a light snack, a minor wrong made out to be far worse than it really is, I really can't see what was so wreckless about the other cyclist.

 

[Melonfish]

Why do people do that...???
I see it everyday at my sons school, parents just pull up, child leaps out parent drives off..Ok so finding a parking space can be tricky, but surely the few minutes it takes is worth it for the most valuable thing you posess...?

QFT, there's no WAY i would do this, i mean your kids are your life you know? you wouldn't just let em out and then drive off thats like horrible you'd at least see em through the gates safe!
i'm more shocked by the driver doing that then the fact that he did this in the middle of traffic!
pete