Brake for Kids!

[Christina McCallum]

Just got off the phone with my middle schooler, who called after being hit by a car while riding his bike to Garfield this morning. He is okay but very shaken up, as you can imagine.

While he crossed a side street on Detroit very close to school, a car rolled through a stop bar and hit him. The woman stopped, as did the person in the car behind, to check that he was okay. He probably has a bruised leg, and at this point I don't know about damage to his bike.

HERE IS MY REQUEST: PLEASE STOP AT THE STOP BARS, NOT AT THE SIDE WALK. The stop bars are set back for a reason, one of which is the safety of people on the sidewalk.

I know LECPTA will be distributing its Brake for Kids signs soon, but in the meantime, keep your eyes out when traveling between 7:45 and 9:15!

Thank you.

[Grace O'Malley]

Make sure you report this to the police. Didn't anyone call them?
Whether he was seriously injured or not, this was a serious incident and needs to be documented. The driver deserves a ticket.

[Christina McCallum]

I have a call into the police to take a report this afternoon after school.

I do not believe anyone at school offered to call, my son did not say if they offered or not. Being a true 12 year old, he wants no fuss and to move on, but I agree a report is warranted.

[Danielle Masters]

Glad he is okay, I am sure you must be very shaken though. I know you guys walk and ride bikes a lot and understand how dangerous it can be out there. I really wish more people would heed your advice and please stop far enough back and take a few seconds to look around.

[Missy Limkemann]

I hope he is ok. Poor kid is probably more scared than hurt. I hope nothing serious happened and he is not too injured.

[Meg Ostrowski]

Yes, we need to get those Brake 4 Kids signs up around town. I think they are a great reminder to drivers to slow down and pay attention this time of year.

Poor guy's going to be sore tomorrow.

[Stan Austin]

I heard the Lakewood Officer's report on the scanner. Kid's a tough dude, no prob.

[Grace O'Malley]

Was the person who hit him ticketed?

I witnessed a girl hit a kid on a bike in a crosswalk a few years back and the officer, who I called, never ticketed her. I found out later that the mother of the boy that was hit was pretty upset that they let her go - I don't even think they had her name and insurance info and the bike was totaled.

It is no joke when a car hits a pedestrian or a person on a bike. The officer should ascertain who had the right of way and if the driver was in the wrong the driver should be ticketed.

[Christina McCallum]

Hi,

I should amend my first post in this thread to include being careful between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. as well, kids have to get home from school, too!

No one was ticketed as no police were called to the scene in the a.m. and no witnesses stuck around. I did have an officer come over this afternoon once my son was home from school, to take a report. Unfortunately, no ticket can be issued really unless a police officer witnesses the accident or someone else indicates fault. Even then, the driver has to be known, and all my son could identify was a new(er) white Chevy Suburban. Could have been much worse with a car that size!

Regardless, I thought it was important for my son to file the report. Someone did call the police after it happened, but I think they called the non emergency number as the caller saw the driver get out and check on him and saw my son get up from the pavement.

Thanks for all the concern. . .he will live to ride his bike again (just not tomorrow, he'll be sore!)

[marklingm]

From the front page at http://lakewoodobserver.com/read/2011/09/07/2011-brake-4-kids-campaign:

2011 Brake 4 Kids Campaign

Pedestrian/motor vehicle incidents are a problem, with more than 80 kids being hit by cars in the U.S. every day. Lakewood Early Childhood PTA (LECPTA) is sponsoring its ninth consecutive year with our annual speed awareness program titled Brake 4 Kids™. This program aims to remind drivers to slow down now that school has resumed, by asking residents and businesses (especially those near schools) to post Brake 4 Kids™ tree lawn signs. The City of Lakewood has seen a reduced number of pedestrian/motor vehicle injuries since the inception of Brake 4 Kids™. We believe the Brake 4 Kids™ signs have contributed significantly to this decrease.

Where can I get my sign? The signs are free and can be obtained at the Lakewood Community Festival at Madison Park on Sept. 10, at Lakewood elementary and middle schools on Sept. 6, or at Geiger’s Sporting Goods and Steve Barry Buick.

When & where should I post my sign? Brake 4 Kids™ signs may be posted on tree lawns beginning on the first day of school and may remain there for the entire month of September, thanks to City Council Resolution #7782-03, declaring the month of September as “Speed Awareness Month for the City of Lakewood.” After that time, please remove the signs from your tree lawn. You may continue to display the signs on your lawn proper or save your sign to use next year.

This program is made possible by LECPTA and Lakewood Council of PTAs. Many thanks to our generous sponsor donations from Geiger's Sporting Goods, Steve Barry Buick, Pillars of Lakewood, Garfield Middle School PTSA, Grant Elementary School PTA, Harding Middle School PTSA, Hayes Elementary School PTO, Jen Williams, Jim and Amanda Pido and Family, Kristine Pagsuyoin for Lakewood Schools Committee, Lakewood City Council Member Brian Powers, Lakewood City Council Member Tom Bullock, Lakewood School Board Member Betsy Shaughnessy, Lakewood School Board Member Ed Favre, Lakewood School Board Member Linda Beebe, Mayor of Lakewood Michael Summers, Proud Lakewood Parents Matthew and Katie Markling and Madison Graphics. Tax-deductible donations to Brake 4 Kids™-LECPTA are greatly appreciated. For further information, contact LECPTA Health, Safety, and Welfare Chair Maureen Koopman at brakeforkids@gmail.com or visit our website at http://www.LECPTA.com.