Buckle Up!

Posted Mar 21, 2006 by Clarisa Gerlach

Updated Mar 21, 2006 at 10:11 AM

Summer went to Orlando last week to spend a few days with my sister, Rebeca. I was a little nervous. It was the first time I let her ride in the car with someone else driving on I-4. That roadway really scares me. I read story after story of wrecks on that interstate. People complain about the cost of the high-speed rail, but I would be willing to pay for that vs. making that dangerous trip on I-4 with my family in tow.

This fear is why I find it just mind-boggling when I drive around town and see kids not wearing their seat belts. I can’t count how many times I’ve stopped at a red light and seen kids standing up or moving seats in a mini-van or SUV. In the past couple of months, I’ve also witnessed an adult holding a toddler in the passenger seat – twice! I’m not trying to be preachy, but what’s going on here? If you don’t want to wear your seat belt - fine. But not to strap your kids in? I just don’t get it.

Recently I was in a parking lot and a car pulled into a parking space in front of me and the passenger was holding a little girl who appeared to be about 18-months-old. (I didn’t see a car seat in the back.) I wondered whether I should approach her and tell her how dangerous that was, but I decided not to say anything. I’m still questioning my decision to remain silent.