Transportation, Children and Traffic

         

  

I've had this photo in my head since my first day on the streets in Guangzhou.  On that day I saw a father taking his son for a ride on an electrified Razr Scooter sort of contraption (Small skateboard with a single handle).  It was odd because the child could barely stand – maybe 2 years old it seemed and the child was squatting at the front holding on to the handle bar post with both hands and looking around as though he did this every day (he probably did).  The terrifying part of this was that about 18 inches to the left of them was a huge truck tire (passenger side on the truck) which was turning towards them and there was no way the truck driver could possibly see the father and son.  Traffic was moving maybe 20mph, and the father/child on scooter were calmly zigzagging through the traffic.  Of course, the only personal protective equipment seemed to be the father's sandals.

Now if you're reading this from outside the USA and wondering what the issue is, it might help to know that stateside, young parents aren't ALLOWED to take their own child home from the hospital without producing an incredibly engineered car seat… and that in my helmet state of NJ, I don't ride my scooter without a helmet and riding jacket.  I'm not preaching – just noting the differences.

Of course each time I've come across such an "I can't believe this" sort of moment, my camera wasn't ready, but today I caught this father daughter combo on a scooter.  There have been many moments like this.  Kids on scooters, 2 or 3 kids on a motorcycle (older kid behind the driver, younger in front), kids hanging out of car doors while the car is in motion, a 4 year old girl sitting on a small bench in the back of a pick-up truck addition to a motorcycle (and sliding around a bit as the vehicle turned).  I'm sure each of these have been born out of necessity as even here it's not the norm.  I'm just puzzled as to why it happens as nobody else seems to notice – are we being too careful with our children or are they being too careless?