M
Mr R@T \ -Lsqco
Guest
/*CAUTION*: The two expectant mothers on this group and others of a sensitive disposition may not
want to read this post. Due to the nature of what I was dealing with I myself found investigating
the statistics behind my post heavy going, and at points felt *physically sick* and just wanted to
stop, but this is something I felt has to be publicised more./
Also I am *not* a professional statistician (although I do work with some), but what I saw in the
figures seems to match up with my own awareness of "society" today.
* several blank lines follow, those who wish to read please scroll down*.
Anyway, I thought I would compare some child safety stats from the NSPCC with those DfT provide on
KSI (killed/seriously injured) figures of children in road traffic collisions. It was just back of
an envelope calculations comparing the total figures and the figures are unfortunately from
different years (although this should hopefully not make much difference) but I came to the
following conclusions (which I admit are contentious ones)
1. the danger to kids from the roads (bad as they are) is only slightly more than the danger from
these kids *staying at home*, especially in households where various pressures lead to stress and
violent behaviour from parents (although more kids are killed on the roads, at least half of this
terrible toll occurs due to abuse from elders).
2. whilst parents worry about "stranger danger" and their kids safety - 78% of child deaths are *at
the hands of their own parents*.
3. I *hope* our society isn't that bad and that most of the parents, even those who commit terrible
crimes, do *not* produce children only to murder them later; but in many cases parents are driven
to these acts by stress triggering family breakdowns and underlying mental ilness - much of this
exacerbated by current social culture which champions "bigger! faster! NOW!"
4. Those who champion "car culture" to the point of advocating higher speed limits even in urban
areas (mostly childless single males in high-income brackets), are frankly, asking for the /right
to kill and injure children/ (or at least force them off the roads as "not strong enough to
handle it") - IMO they are /as bad as child abusers/ - although naturally they do not see
themselves in this manner - after all if their agressive driving is creating a climate of fear
amongst children (which it is in some areas) is it not as bad as the "stranger round the corner?"
5. Also IMO the "climate of fear" from RTCs and perceived "nonces round every corner" is maybe
keeping kids and parents crammed together leading to the very arguments that can lead to the
bulk of child abuse (I am discounting to an extent predatory sexual abuse, which AFAIK is still
thankfully rare despite what the media puts across). Family life *is* stressful these days,
especially with kids from 11-16 age group. I can still remember several times where myself and
my Dad could have come to blows had he not been too ill to fight - and we were otherwise a
traditional middle class family. A safe(r) environment for kids to play and give their parents
some space (or vice versa) could alleviate a lot of the domestic pressures. Cycling also gives
pre-teen and teenage children valuable lessons in independence and responsibility (road safety,
maintenance) as well as being good for them physically and mentally! I still remember the
wonderful sense of freedom I got in 1977 when my stabilisers were removed, and in 1981 when I
was allowed to cycle where there were busier roads, and I still get that childlike sense of
freedom *today*.
Perhaps If Mum and Dad can let the juniors go round the block on their pushbikes with their friends
without worrying [1] all the time to give them space after a stressful day at work ,or better still
they could ride to school every day as well without worrying they are also saving the stress of
getting the car ready for the morning school run, fighting for parking spaces with all the other
mums/dads and the cost of keeping the car running - instant lowered stress levels.
OK I know most of the parents on here do this anyway, but you would be surprised how many parents I
speak to who are worried to let their kids cycle because of the "climate of fear". As for stranger
danger, how many nonces could out-run a kid at 15-20mph (especially after he/she has just whacked a
bar end into their stomach...)
I know you can say anything with statistics and I admit my views are perhaps biased - perhaps those
with a strong mind could come up with something better/more accurate- but I have felt strongly about
this for some time.
Incidentally I am a single male with no children (nor do I particularly want any!) - but I *am*
prepared to make concessions, pay taxes and even suffer minor inconveniences if it makes life safer
for children and families. Isn't that what "society" is all about?
Alex
[6] OK, parents *will* always worry a bit - my Mum always says "be careful on your bike" - and I am
*30*. But I do think the climate of fear has got too much recently.....
want to read this post. Due to the nature of what I was dealing with I myself found investigating
the statistics behind my post heavy going, and at points felt *physically sick* and just wanted to
stop, but this is something I felt has to be publicised more./
Also I am *not* a professional statistician (although I do work with some), but what I saw in the
figures seems to match up with my own awareness of "society" today.
* several blank lines follow, those who wish to read please scroll down*.
Anyway, I thought I would compare some child safety stats from the NSPCC with those DfT provide on
KSI (killed/seriously injured) figures of children in road traffic collisions. It was just back of
an envelope calculations comparing the total figures and the figures are unfortunately from
different years (although this should hopefully not make much difference) but I came to the
following conclusions (which I admit are contentious ones)
1. the danger to kids from the roads (bad as they are) is only slightly more than the danger from
these kids *staying at home*, especially in households where various pressures lead to stress and
violent behaviour from parents (although more kids are killed on the roads, at least half of this
terrible toll occurs due to abuse from elders).
2. whilst parents worry about "stranger danger" and their kids safety - 78% of child deaths are *at
the hands of their own parents*.
3. I *hope* our society isn't that bad and that most of the parents, even those who commit terrible
crimes, do *not* produce children only to murder them later; but in many cases parents are driven
to these acts by stress triggering family breakdowns and underlying mental ilness - much of this
exacerbated by current social culture which champions "bigger! faster! NOW!"
4. Those who champion "car culture" to the point of advocating higher speed limits even in urban
areas (mostly childless single males in high-income brackets), are frankly, asking for the /right
to kill and injure children/ (or at least force them off the roads as "not strong enough to
handle it") - IMO they are /as bad as child abusers/ - although naturally they do not see
themselves in this manner - after all if their agressive driving is creating a climate of fear
amongst children (which it is in some areas) is it not as bad as the "stranger round the corner?"
5. Also IMO the "climate of fear" from RTCs and perceived "nonces round every corner" is maybe
keeping kids and parents crammed together leading to the very arguments that can lead to the
bulk of child abuse (I am discounting to an extent predatory sexual abuse, which AFAIK is still
thankfully rare despite what the media puts across). Family life *is* stressful these days,
especially with kids from 11-16 age group. I can still remember several times where myself and
my Dad could have come to blows had he not been too ill to fight - and we were otherwise a
traditional middle class family. A safe(r) environment for kids to play and give their parents
some space (or vice versa) could alleviate a lot of the domestic pressures. Cycling also gives
pre-teen and teenage children valuable lessons in independence and responsibility (road safety,
maintenance) as well as being good for them physically and mentally! I still remember the
wonderful sense of freedom I got in 1977 when my stabilisers were removed, and in 1981 when I
was allowed to cycle where there were busier roads, and I still get that childlike sense of
freedom *today*.
Perhaps If Mum and Dad can let the juniors go round the block on their pushbikes with their friends
without worrying [1] all the time to give them space after a stressful day at work ,or better still
they could ride to school every day as well without worrying they are also saving the stress of
getting the car ready for the morning school run, fighting for parking spaces with all the other
mums/dads and the cost of keeping the car running - instant lowered stress levels.
OK I know most of the parents on here do this anyway, but you would be surprised how many parents I
speak to who are worried to let their kids cycle because of the "climate of fear". As for stranger
danger, how many nonces could out-run a kid at 15-20mph (especially after he/she has just whacked a
bar end into their stomach...)
I know you can say anything with statistics and I admit my views are perhaps biased - perhaps those
with a strong mind could come up with something better/more accurate- but I have felt strongly about
this for some time.
Incidentally I am a single male with no children (nor do I particularly want any!) - but I *am*
prepared to make concessions, pay taxes and even suffer minor inconveniences if it makes life safer
for children and families. Isn't that what "society" is all about?
Alex
[6] OK, parents *will* always worry a bit - my Mum always says "be careful on your bike" - and I am
*30*. But I do think the climate of fear has got too much recently.....