Restrain your young passengers, fool

I noticed one of these irresponsible driver/parent on Sunday, en route to a sports event.

In front of me, at the intersection of Great North Road and Mercury Street, a woman was driving a car with three young occupants (three to four years old, I suspect) who were sitting and standing on the back seat of the car.

Needless to say, they were not strapped in and were, from what I could see, given free rein of the back seat of the car.

At a stage, two of the children hung their heads out the car, with a half wound down window keeping them in check.

The driver of the car drove with these two children hanging out the car, for about 5km, before I turned off the road.

Now, my question, is the driver of the vehicle stupid or has she “flogged” her rear view mirror along with her brain?

How can you even think for a minute that your behaviour, or lack thereof, is not endangering those children’s lives?

A sudden need to brake or an accident will probably result in the death of the unrestrained children.

It is a common fact that seat belts save lives – so, why are you not enforcing it and adhering to the rules of the road?

Please, people, be responsible – especially when innocent lives are at stake.

According to www.everydayhealth.com, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) more than 15 000 lives are saved annually in the United States of America because drivers and passengers wore a seat belt.

According to the website, the seatbelt protects occupants in these ways:

1. Keeps the vehicle’s occupants inside the vehicle

2. Restrains the strongest parts of the body

3. Spreads out the force from the collision

4. Helps the body slow down

5. Protects your brain and spinal cord.KvdL