Letters: Did this close call involve your child?
To the Editor:
This letter is being written as a reminder to all of us about the need to be more vigilant at this time of year regarding the children of our community.
I live on Walnut/Main Street and have observed from my front porch at least four very close calls between some young children on bicycles and motor vehicles. It's summertime again and kids are out everywhere enjoying themselves.
Yes, I know they had a safety program at the end of the school year. However, we all know that kids forget things easily and need constant reminders.
I'm sure you want to keep your children safe, so you make them sit in a booster seat in the car (or a seat belt, depending on their age), and you probably make them take swimming lessons before letting them go to the pool on their own. And you would never think of letting them drive a car when they are old enough without being taught how to do so safely.
I hope that when a (bicycle) safety course is offered locally you will take the opportunity so your child will know what they need to know to protect themselves. If there is no opportunity like that, please, please do it yourself!
This past weekend we had a large influx of traffic due to a basketball tournament at the high school. Many of those attending drove downtown to eat, shop, etc.
On Saturday afternoon a young boy with very blond hair and two slightly older girls were on bicycles approaching the intersection of Third and Walnut streets. At the same time a yellow pickup truck was proceeding south on Walnut. The young boy neither looked to the north or made any attempt to stop at the stop sign.
I was on my front porch and saw what I was sure was about to happen. It was so close I shut my eyes and waited for the awful sound I thought was coming. There was nothing else I could do. Thankfully the truck driver was able to stop in time. I was so relieved that I was actually nauseated.
Wheat harvest is about to begin in our little agricultural town. There will be lots of large trucks heavily loaded, hurrying to the elevator. They cannot stop on a dime.
Please remind your child, grandchild, day-care children, etc., every time they get on a bicycle to stop and look for vehicles and to ride on the appropriate side of the street and not turn into the path of vehicles with no warning.
Nothing spoils the fun of summer for all of us like losing one of our children.
If that little blonde-headed boy is yours, give him an extra hug today because you could have lost him Saturday.
Susie Schmidt
Peabody
