Most irresponsible parent?

[PaxVobiscum]

Please excuse the very poor enlargement from a mobile phone video, but you can probably see that the jeep is towing a child on a sledge on a public road.

I managed to catch a bit on film the second or third time this passed.

(Vimeo is doing odd things with resolution just now but it will play at 1080p - click on HD and select 720 or 1080p)

20 mph plus - enough to decapitate the child on the unbraked sledge if the jeep had to stop suddenly?

Unbelievable.

 

[DaleCooper]

So dangerous and irresponsible that the most important thing to do was film it.

 

[scott118]

So dangerous and irresponsible that the most important thing to do was film it.

only on the second or third time they passed though...

 

[bnm]

So dangerous and irresponsible that the most important thing to do was film it.

I'd hope it was reported to the police too.

 

[ComUtoR]

Was the child's parent driving ?

 

[PaxVobiscum]

So dangerous and irresponsible that the most important thing to do was film it.

So what should I have done instead? Rushed out onto the street and been the cause of the predicted accident?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

So what should I have done instead? Rushed out onto the street and been the cause of the predicted accident?

This would definitely be a 999 matter.

Aside from the risk mentioned above of the child slamming into the back of the vehicle, there is also the risk of someone turning out of a side street immediately after the vehicle has passed and going straight over the sledge.

It is an immediate risk to life by someone who should know better and "second or third pass" straight away adds "ongoing" to that.

 

[me123]

I'd agree calling 999 would be the first thing to do in these circumstances - I hope you did contact the police either on the emergency or non-emergency numbers. Utterly disgusted to see someone putting their child's life in danger. However, obtaining video evidence is actually a pretty sensible thing to do - it proves that this actually happened.

If the police did stop, I'd expect a whole bunch of people to get worked up about "'elf'n'safety gone stark raving mad". :roll:

 

[PermitToTravel]

Could that be made more safe? Putting the towrope through a scaffolding tube would prevent the kid from hitting the car. I don't think there's a solution to the visibility hazard other than not doing it on a public road though

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Could that be made more safe? Putting the towrope through a scaffolding tube would prevent the kid from hitting the car. I don't think there's a solution to the visibility hazard other than not doing it on a public road though

We haven't get mentioned the high risk of the thing turning over; the pole wouldn't stop that from happening.

It would also likely impale the child if there was a sudden stop.

 

[DaleCooper]

Could that be made more safe?

Yes, by not doing it although I suspect that on snow and ice the car may well take longer to stop than the sledge.

We still haven't been told if the police were informed.

 

[ComUtoR]

We still haven't been told if the police were informed.

The social media police were informed and internet justice will be served.

 

[ainsworth74]

Perhaps it's just because I'm not a parent but it doesn't look like a 999 level of danger to me? 101 to be sure but 999? Seems an over-reaction...

 

[D6975]

Could that be made more safe? Putting the towrope through a scaffolding tube would prevent the kid from hitting the car. I don't think there's a solution to the visibility hazard other than not doing it on a public road though

I'm forever telling my 9 year old son that the best way to avoid having an accident is not to put yourself in a situation where it's possible for an accident to happen. Not always possible to do I know, but I think it's a good starting point for keeping him safe.

 

[bnm]

Perhaps it's just because I'm not a parent but it doesn't look like a 999 level of danger to me? 101 to be sure but 999? Seems an over-reaction...

Someone at risk of being injured, and a crime is being committed. Seems a slam dunk 999 to me.

 

[me123]

Perhaps it's just because I'm not a parent but it doesn't look like a 999 level of danger to me? 101 to be sure but 999? Seems an over-reaction...

I could argue either way. It seems that the child is potentially in imminent danger - if that driver needs to make an emergency brake application the child will hit the back of the car at 20mph. The child could fall off the sled and sustain a serious head injury. I think you could argue that dialling 999 is appropriate, but equally I could see why one would dial 101. I don't think you'd be criticised either way.

 

[PermitToTravel]

We haven't get mentioned the high risk of the thing turning over; the pole wouldn't stop that from happening.

It would also likely impale the child if there was a sudden stop.

Having two ropes and scaffold poles would mitigate both risks but at that stage we're doing semi-serious engineering rather than having a bit of spontaneous fun in the snow

Yes, by not doing it although I suspect that on snow and ice the car may well take longer to stop than the sledge.

Unbraked?

Perhaps it's just because I'm not a parent but it doesn't look like a 999 level of danger to me? 101 to be sure but 999? Seems an over-reaction...

Low to low-moderate on my very poorly calibrated scale. The main thing I'd be worried about is it swinging from side to side bashing the kid into parked cars and the like, but that wouldn't stop me volunteering to get in it in all honesty
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
When asking for the police there's not much in it between calling 101 or 999. In most (all?) of the country your call will be taken by the same people who could decide to make an emergency response to a 101 call or no response to a 999 call. The important thing in a real emergency (won't comment on whether this is or isn't one) is just picking up the phone and getting some help

(nb: this does not reply when wanting the help of other emergency services - a 111 call isn't going to get you an ambulance, for example)

 

[me123]

(nb: this does not reply when wanting the help of other emergency services - a 111 call isn't going to get you an ambulance, for example)

Not entirely true - if you phone up 111 and clearly need an emergency blue light ambulance, they can and will dispatch one. It will probably take longer, but they will get one out to you. This is all a bit academic though, the message is really simple.

In an emergency dial 999.

 

[DaleCooper]

The social media police were informed and internet justice will be served.

Sadly there's a lot of truth in that.

Perhaps the OP could post a video of someone dialling 999.

 

[PermitToTravel]

Good to know that that's possible, though I agree very much with your bolded message.

On the topic of the thread, this is a thread on another forum that left me completely incredulous.