Why are parents so stupid?

Question

Why do people not put their children in car seats? I really don't get this. I drive the roads everyday and see people whose kids are bouncing around the back of the car or sitting in their passenger's lap or otherwise not safely strapped in--even when I can clearly see a car seat.
I'm an EMT and I see people who've been in accidents all the time whose kids haven't been strapped in. It only takes a few seconds to protect your child, and people are like "oh, it's only a little short drive nothing will happen" when most accidents happen closest to home.

Why are parents so stupid, closeminded and selfish that they can't strap their damn kids in?!?!

Answer 1

I feel you jeep, I work for CPS and it drives me crazy too. I get calls All The Time about this issue. The law in MO won't "make" parent's buckle kids in, they say they can't harass on that issue, even though it's a Federal Law? I don't understand either. The only thing I can say is "job security" and at a time like that a lecture is necessary and may actually be heard.....Hang in there and thank you for the hard work you do in your service. I am grateful for all of you EMT's out there.

Answer 2

Because they are lazy and irresponsible and there is absolutly no excuse for it. I don't care if a child comes out of the straps and gets out stop the car and put them back in, if a baby is screaming pull off and change it and feed it instead of holding it. You might be driving dafe but what about all the other idiots on the road. A child is an innocent creature that is not capable of protecting itself so someone has to and it should bne the parents. I am also a paramedic and I personally am tired of pulling up to the scene of an accident and pulling an innocent child out of a windshield because the parent was in to big of a hurry to take two minutes to secure their child in a safety seat. If the ones you are taling about would have to work one of these wrecks and see what happens to a child projected into a dash or windshield at 70 miles an hour I think they would be a little more cautious. I have three kids and everyone of them were in car seats until they were old enough to be in a seat belt and we have been late more than once because have had to stop and make them rebuckle.

Answer 3

Because they either don't care, don't know (and yes, there are really people that ignorant), or don't think it will be a big deal. After our own head on collision, in which both my kids were strapped in (and walked out with no more than some sore spots), we refuse to move the car until they are belted in. If they aren't, we will stop and pull the car over immediately until it is put back in place. Someone my sister in law knows lost an infant because the seat was not properly installed. I cannot imagine the grief they must have felt then and even now.

There is SafeKids (which my aunt works for) a program that gives out FREE careseats and boosters, and even shows you how to install them. There is just no good reason not to keep your kids safe. =(

Answer 4

I'll never understand that one, Of course with children services letting certian celebs get away with it it's no wonder. I've pi**ed off MANY people by saying something or even climbing in my friend's cars if I see their carseat isn't installed right. It only takes a few minutes to install it properly. Even if your kid somehow climbs out thats when you should pull over like NOW and sit until they realize they aren't going anywhere until they are strapped in. Unfortunatly in most states the police have to actually witness it to do anything about it. I truly believe that Britney Spears should have been cited for child endagerment no matter what the situation. I'd rather have my kid's picture taken by a paparizzi than a coroner. Maybe that would have sent a message, but ....

Answer 5

I've seen lots of cases as you are describing all the time when I am on the interstate. They'll be driving 70 mph down the interstate and the kids will be standing in the back seat, holding on to the head rest of the driver seat and passanger seat. Or the kid will be in the actual back dash, up in the window part, curled up. Usually the parent is busy talking away on the cell phone too. Some people are just invincible I guess. Nothing will ever happen to them..... well... at least that's what they think.

Answer 6

I can understand your frustration, especially with the particular work you do. As a father of 7 kids, it aggrivates me that SOME parents are so foolish as to NOT make sure their kids are properly secured before their vehicle is moving. Such people are just ASKING for trouble, and they may as well tell their kids to go "play in traffic". That being said, I would only disagree with your assertion in that you have made such a "broad brush" statement, because in so doing, you imply that ALL parents are "stupid", which is an insult to those of us who aren't. Rather than saying "parents", may I suggest that you do as I have done and insert the word "some", thus making what you say accurate rather than bigotted by implication! Parents generally are NOT stupid, though I know there ARE exceptions.

Answer 7

i have an answer ( by no means im on the side of the offenders,) in this day an age many parents live in a fast pace world. and taking the time to see that their children are safe sometimes, is not in the agenda, . (I do not understand why there are not seatbelts on school buses.) time management for parents have gone out the window. in wisconsin there was a law past that any child who is under 4'9" and is now 8 yrs of age and younger. it use to be 4 yrs of age. people must check with there local authorities for any new laws in reguards child safety restraints.

Answer 8

Good question. I've had fights that have made me late for things because my kids didn't want to sit in their car seats. And if there not strapped into their seats my car doesn't move.

Answer 9

don't forget some kids escape from there straps i kno people who strap therechildren in as soon as they shut the door the kid unstraps itself i dont drive now i wont go iin a car due to a bad accident with a 2 week old baby who was strapped in correctly any one that has her now i make sure they no how to put her in as i found out how important properly fitted carseats are now so it not always the parent not strapping them in

Answer 10

i agree completely my son is always in his seat belt but when he was a baby well not a baby like 2 he kept climbing out of his carseat would never sit in it i tried the booster seat it didn't work either he would unbuckle himself but now that he is big enough to wear a seatbelt i don't have a problem why not instead of calling them stupid help them give them pointers on how to keep kids in them pull them over if u have to lol