Child endangerment, anyone?

[LillFilly]

I was driving past a row of cars today when I saw the back hatch of a station wagon that had just pulled-into a spot opening-up. I thought it was automatic, until I saw little feet coming-out! I watched 2-little girls (6-8 maybe) get-out of the cargo compartment while 2 or 3 others got-out of the middle seats. Of course, both parents got seats & seat belts!

There wasn't even one of those partitions that you install between the cargo area and the seats to keep your dog safe; I can't imagine what would have been left of those little girls if the car ever came to a sudden stop!

[BarbieGirl]

Oh that just pisses me off to no end! some people just have no concern for their children. My dumb @@@ MIL made my husband ride in the trunk of her car because she didn't have enough seatbelts and didn't want a ticket....

[Barracuda]

It wasn't one of those older station wagons that has a seat in the back facing to the rear, was it? Some of the older station wagons had a rear facing seat where the cargo compartment would be. I used to love riding in those. It was a novelty to ride facing backwards. If it wasn't, though, then yeah. Those parents should be shot.

[Digitalpotato]

I remember those. We used to think it was reeeeealllly coool to be in the back.

[Spork4pedro]

when I was little I always wanted to ride in the back of our huge jeep..It was always kinda special to be the only one riding backwards! ( maybe that was just me?) But i get it now why it's so dangerous unless it's one of those SUVs that has that nifty back seat.

[MoxisPilot]

...I miss the good ol' days.

I used to ride in the bed of my grandfather's truck with my cousins and two dogs. There weren't seatbelts back there. One of my best memories.

Then again, it was just around the block, not down a busy highway.

I get that it's dangerous, though.

[siead_lietrathua]

man, as long as we arent going on any highways, we still climb in the bed of the pickup out at the farm. easiest way to go fetch or drop off the crew for lunch. but then again us crazy farmers drive better then ya would think.

[Dreamstalker]

I remember those. We used to think it was reeeeealllly coool to be in the back.

When I was a pup, a friend of mine in the second grade had one of those wagons. If there was a carload of kids, some of the fights over who got to sit in the "back-back" were legendary.

But yeah, nowadays (did I just say that?) I'll see kids in the backs of wagons with no seatbelts (and no, a cargo net/surrounding oneself with those "GorillaGrip" plastic blocks that velcro to the floormat doesn't quite count). Also in pickup beds with no restraints whatsoever....luckily I haven't witnessed it actually on the highway yet but I'm sure it's just a matter of time

[LillFilly]

Nope. Just empty, flat cargo room. No seats.

[Antisocial_Worker]

...I miss the good ol' days.

I used to ride in the bed of my grandfather's truck with my cousins and two dogs. There weren't seatbelts back there. One of my best memories...

...I get that it's dangerous, though.

And illegal in most places nowadays, I think. I remember doing that too and thought it was the coolest thing ever.

I can see why it's illegal though. Earlier this month in my part of the world an 11-year-old boy was killed after he was thrown from the truck bed he was riding in. His grandmother, the driver, was charged in his death.

[Ironclad Alibi]

My dumb @@@ MIL made my husband ride in the trunk of her car because she didn't have enough seatbelts and didn't want a ticket....

That particular stunt has gotten a few people hefty fines and jail time recently. Is that really better than a ticket?

Example.

[Geek King]

You know, I'm reading this thread and a thought came to me:

How do you all feel about kids getting on the school bus everyday? Not to many have seatbelts, or even enough seats for everyone on board.

[MoxisPilot]

You know, I'm reading this thread and a thought came to me:

How do you all feel about kids getting on the school bus everyday? Not to many have seatbelts, or even enough seats for everyone on board.

Never had seatbelts on my bus! LOL.

Edit to add: My bus driver was Otto from The Simpsons, too. CRAZY!

[jjllbb]

I remember those. We used to think it was reeeeealllly coool to be in the back.

yeah. I guess i should be glad I had such wonderful parents who put up with all my screaming and complaining just to keep me safe and alive.

I have to admit though, when a car gets crowded I'm still the person who offers to ride in the trunk. lol.

[McGoddess09]

You know, I'm reading this thread and a thought came to me:

How do you all feel about kids getting on the school bus everyday? Not to many have seatbelts, or even enough seats for everyone on board.

Those have high seats though, so the seat in front of you would stop you from going forward. Usually, the very front seats have seat belts. Nowadays, they can only take x amount of kids on a bus. No standees allowed.

I don't miss riding the bus,though. I was happy when I got my own car. I took my sister to school and she liked not having to ride the bus before school.