This is such an illuminating thread. The commercial paints a clear picture of a driver in the wrong and a pedestrian acting responsibly and because viewers don't like the way the mother "sounds," they distance themselves from the message, blame the victim, make judgments about the quality of parenting, and completely ignore the stated facts. Frankly, I think this is pure racism and classism.

Here is one version of the commercial. This woman sounds totally together, despite the difficulty of discussing her son's tragic accident. I am struggling to understand what this woman, who has put her story out there to make streets safer for your children, has done to get this kind of response from viewers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCVZqeAGY-A

She may not look or sound like you. This does not make her a bad parent, a degenerate or ignorant. Nor does it exonerate the driver. Nor does it make her or her son responsible for what happened to him.

I cannot get over how much victim blaming there is on this thread. It is really sad and sickening to me. A tragedy might have been prevented if the driver wasn't texting. Whether there were other factors in play, whether I like the look and sound of the grieving mother, is really beside the point. Just wow!

It wasn't his fault, but the point is that there are people who text and drive.

Yes we have campaigns to stop texting and driving, but people are still gonna do it! So do we surrender ourselves to getting hit by a car? No. You teach your kid that the driver is not looking out for them. Just because they are in the cross walk and legally have the "right of way" does that mean the driver is going to obey.

It was NOT the child's fault. He was crossing the street with his sister in a school zone when the texting girl ran a four-way stop sign, speeding. She never even saw X as she looking into her lap at her phone. There were no skid marks on the road indicating that she tried to stop. He was hit at full speed and is lucky to be alive. How does the mother sound like a degenerate? She talks like any other person would in this situation. There is a lot of pain in her voice. Why do they really bother you?

Anonymous wrote:In my homecountry along with looking both ways we learn to make eye contact with the driver. Not sure why you guys don't teach this here.

I do this when crossing at stop or yield sign. But drivers will often look right at me then keep going.

I've been nearly hit by cars several times while crossing legally on crosswalks. Drivers will often speed up and attempt to beat pedestrians through the intersection or will try to fly through a stop/yield in order to avoid stopping for pedestrians.

Anonymous wrote:In my homecountry along with looking both ways we learn to make eye contact with the driver. Not sure why you guys don't teach this here.

Because this used to be a 'first world' country.

Btw, I have always taught my kids the eye contact driver, to hesitate before crossing when you get the walk--and looking each way. This also stems from doing a work stint in Venezuela where they didn't even stop on 'reds'.

Op here. I'm not upset by the commercial.

Yes adults should pay attention while driving, but sometimes they don't.

It's part of the parents (yes parents have responsibility!) to make ire their child knows that people don't always stop or slow down. Teach your kids that ring in the crosswalk is not a magical safe zone. Adults have to be vigilant, but kids and pedestrians in general have to be as well.

Anonymous wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SCVZqeAGY-A

This commercial drives me insane. The woman goes on and on about how she can no longer (semi-scream) at her kid: "Go out in the yard and play".... when I can't help but think that likely caused this kid to be outside, clearly far from supervised with her attitude, and get hit by a car. I tun the radio every time it comes on.

Are you serious? This is what you got out of the commercial? The kid was in a pedestrian crosswalk right by his home accompanied by his 13 year old sibling when he got hit.

Exactly! OP is a frickin' idiot. I live in a very urban area. Cars barely even stop for the red lights and will swing out and try to outrun the pedestrian that is legally crossing on the 'WALK" sign. Add all of the texting idiots---which are abundant in this area and we see 'near-misses' on an almost daily basis.

I teach my kids not to step out in the street right when the 'walk sign' lights up---we still look for cars since 50% of just gun the turn without paying any heed to the legally crossing pedestrians.


You are upset by this commercial? WTF?

Kids make mistakes all the time , it's a part of growing up. Those kids made a mistake by expecting a grown up to be paying attention while driving. Pay attention is a 100% part of driving and you should be watching out for kids, adults , animals and anything else that may come your way. If your not willing to do that then do us all a favor and stay off the street. BTW , I don't hear a mother wanting to semi- yell at her kid. I hear a mother who is hurt and angry by what happen to her child. To say the parents should be watching their kids is absurd. That's like saying the kid deserves it because of the parent. I feel since the only people driving are adults they should be mature enough to pay attention and take responsibility . Sometimes it takes a village to raise children , meaning care enough to pay attention and don't run them over .

Anonymous wrote:Lets be honest. This commerical would pry have more impact if the mother didn't sound like a degenerate. I didn't even know what the commerical was for and my first reaction was why did they put and idiot in this commerical. It's so annoying I have to change the station everytime it comes on.

Let's be honest. This commercial would probably have more impact if the mother didn't sound like a degenerate. I didn't even know what the commercial was for, and my first reaction was, "Why did they put an idiot in this commercial?" It's so annoying that I have to change the station every time it comes on.

Fixed that for you. So you don't sound like a degenerate.

Lets be honest. This commerical would pry have more impact if the mother didn't sound like a degenerate. I didn't even know what the commerical was for and my first reaction was why did they put and idiot in this commerical. It's so annoying I have to change the station everytime it comes on.

Anonymous wrote:what are you prattling on about now?

STFU

Haven't seen this commercial and I didn't click on the link. But I can tell you that I'm tired of seeing disabled persons (especially children) used to "scare straight" evildoers as if having a disability were the ultimate frightening rock bottom that gets you to turn your life around. I've seen this time and time again in TV shows, commercials, etc. Bring on the disabled person, have them tell you that they became disabled as a result of their "bad" behavior and that their life is essentially over. How can this possibly be reconciled with the message that disabled people lead rich lives. How can I turn to my disabled daughter and explain such ridiculous messages and why disabled people allow themselves to be used this way? Is there not a better way to campaign against drunk driving, text messaging, and so forth?

BTW, no more texting or phoning while driving in VA as of July 1st. And big fines. Finally.

Thanks.

I think with technology it changed. People are watching for distracted pedestrians on their phones etc. at least i am. =]

I still nowadays make eye contact nod my head smile say thank you when a driver stops for me. It works every time.