At the moment this is beginning to look like a car rant blog – but I promise it does go deeper than cars, but just for now here is another car related rant.
Travelling home last night I was travelling down the A13 at just under 30 miles an hour. Not much of concern there – it was 17.30 and I was trying to get home for work, and the traffic in Aldgate/Stepney area had just started to move again having been static for a while.
So why am I whining? When the traffic started moving it moved quite promptly, and a large MPV pulled out from a turning on the left to pull in front of me. I am good at leaving reasonable distances between me and the car in front, but this driver who pulled out was really pushing their luck. I had to throw on the breaks quite heavily and dropped from 28mph to lower than my speedometer even registers. It made me pause for breath.
So am I ranting because this driver really was pushing it? The truth is only in part. It was the driving in association with what was in the back window. A ‘Baby on board’ sign. What is it with these signs? Do the owners realise the full extent of the message these signs give out?
My first thought is who aimed at? Are they aimed at the driver or passengers of the car? If the aim is to stop Mr-Forgetful-Driver from forgetting that baby-of-forgetful-driver is strapped into the back seat then my first thought is they are a neglectful guardian and possibly shouldn’t have a child; but my main point would be the back window would not be the place to remind the people sitting in the car. If it is a reminder to driver to check back seat – then position should be on the dash board where they can see.
If the sign is for the benefit of the emergency services then there are a couple of things – firstly the sign shouldn’t be in the car when there isn’t a child in the back. If the owner of cars with these signs still insist on having these baby-on-board signs then it would be worth noting that – the emergency services would not prioritise their car because there is a child onboard. By the very fact there is a child in the car assures the services there is an adult in the car too. No baby has a valid driving licence – yet. Consequently the emergency services would treat every car equally -–based on the fact is that there someone in the car to look after the child.
If the baby-on-board sign is for those travelling behind then why bother, what is the message you are trying to portray? Do you think my standard of driving is going to change because YOU have a child. Firstly the children are your treasures and not mine, but mostly it is worth noting that my driving is not inferior and can not be improved because of a sign. I always drive at the best of my ability – my car contains my treasure – ME!
No, the baby-on-board sign seems little more than a thumb at those who don’t have kids, an announcement of virility, and if you think that is where my rant ends you are very wrong.
The truth is I don’t care you have kids, just as I don’t care that I don’t. Are you trying to upset those going through fertility treatment? The truth is some of these drivers must be extremely virile as take risks with their vehicles and passengers and expect others to make allowances for their by using the sign as a warning tool. Bad news sign owners – people don’t change their driving style and it is you that are taking chances with your treasures. Sign holders remember it’s a flawed idea that doesn’t work.– just shows drivers for what they are.
All this said I might make myself a sign, which says "Single white female". It will attract the singletons out there if nothing else, and indicates I could be alone in the cars should emergency services need to cut me out my car where some idiot with a sign forces me to take evasive actions unsuccessfully.
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