Comments on: Parking Lot Safety

By: Eric Meyer

Eric Meyer — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 02:32:26 +0000

Nothing in the post can or should be taken as advice to put a child on the ground next to a moving car.

Give us (both me and the readers of this site) credit for possessing some intelligence, Rob. It would be appreciated.

By: Rob Tay

Rob Tay — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 19:52:13 +0000

Give that child NO rope to hang themselves with and you will never be the regretful parent of any avoidable accident. Keep your kid strapped into their seats while you do anything else. The split second it takes for you to load one item is all it takes for a car to take that child’s life. What if they are standing on that line, following your rule while the driver of a car parking next to yours loses a grip momentarily on the steering wheel and grinds into the side of yours– with your kid between both?

Bottom line: put them in the car, seatbelts on, A/C on– then load your “stuff” into the car. When getting out– unload car FIRST, then take kids out. Never leave any child in a position of risk when you can secure them in the vehicle.

This advice might save the life of someone you love.

By: Jim

Jim — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 23:14:30 +0000

Parking garages are worse. I have to be on full alert for myself at work because of cars flying around corners and down (or up) the ramps.

By: Phil

Phil — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 16:09:08 +0000

We have employed the “feet on the line” method with good success with our kids, but I like the “hands on the car.” We’ll have to try that. We sometimes do something similar when pushing buggies in the store or in the parking lot–”one hand on the buggy.”

By: Eric Meyer

Eric Meyer — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 15:36:05 +0000

Actually, tom, it’s very much like training a dog. The rewards and punishments are (usually) different, but the overall process is quite similar: a mix of positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, repetition, and patience.

By: tom jones

tom jones — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 15:12:03 +0000

“Obviously, these require training periods”

this sound like you’re training a dog! ;)

i am obviously joking, and i’m not a parent, so it’s easy for me to be the wiseguy..

By: Benjamin West

Benjamin West — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 14:20:53 +0000

From the “When Engineers/Designers become parents” category: I love it.

Our rule has been, ‘Stand fast’, when getting out of the car. Our well-behaved son has managed to get this done VERY consistently: he has to stand still until he has an adult hand. I like your strategy, though. I will have to try that, should the current plan lose its charm.