Joni Kelley Was Careless

THERE IS A REASON THAT PEOPLE GET THEIR LICENSES SUSPENDED.

Usually, in some way, shape or form, they were irresponsible. I think she has proved that here.

She should be held completely responsible for this act of negligence that resulted in the death of that boy!

I got $10 that says they find some type of prescription substance in her bloodwork.

JUST because a medication is prescribed doesn’t mean it’s Ok to drive when taking it!!!
I have charged drivers and won cases because of this type of thinking. You can be just as DUI on your own prescription meds, as you could be if it were alcohol or meth- If the bloodwork and state crime labs have properly done their jobs.

OMG unrestrained children in cars make me SO FLIPPING MAD! How do people not understand the danger they put their kids or grandkids in when they do this? Grrrrrr!

Poor little boy-he was probably so excited at “driving” and had no idea his life was in danger-that’s why adults are supposed to be there to make responsible decisions for kids-duh-they don’t know any better!

I usually call FHP and report people without their kids in seatbelts or carseats if small enough. But lately, I have no shame. If I am at a light next to someone like that, I will get their attention and tell them to buckle their kid up or I will report them to authorities and follow them until LE pulls them over. Every time they choose to buckle that kid. And maybe, just maybe, they will buckle them up next time. It’s not that big of a town, and I could be around any corner, lol!

My, how quickly the world has changed. When I was a little kid, it was not uncommon for cars to just not have seatbelts in the back. Also, rolling around in the back of the truck was far more common.

Safe is no fun.

I usually call FHP and report people without their kids in seatbelts or carseats if small enough. But lately, I have no shame. If I am at a light next to someone like that, I will get their attention and tell them to buckle their kid up or I will report them to authorities and follow them until LE pulls them over. Every time they choose to buckle that kid. And maybe, just maybe, they will buckle them up next time. It’s not that big of a town, and I could be around any corner, lol!

I agree 100% with you on buckling kids up, but be careful who you say it to. We don’t want to read about you in the headlines because some freak didn’t want to hear what you had to say. Some people are just idiots, i’ve posted before that when I used to pick my daughter up from daycare that almost everytime I would see some kid not buckled or too many kids per seat, etc. They either don’t care or are just plain stupid to the dangers.

My, how quickly the world has changed. When I was a little kid, it was not uncommon for cars to just not have seatbelts in the back. Also, rolling around in the back of the truck was far more common.

Hey, same here. In fact, one of the games me and my brother used to play was when we would ride in my Mom’s station wagon, was to avoid the shadows as the car was moving. I still remember when my Dad INSTALLED the seat belts in the back seat of his Chevy…and a good chunk of our softball team would ride in the back of his pickup truck to and from games and practices. But even though it may have been commonplace and acceptable…even “fun”…it didn’t make any less stupid.

My, how quickly the world has changed. When I was a little kid, it was not uncommon for cars to just not have seatbelts in the back. Also, rolling around in the back of the truck was far more common.

I used to love riding in the back of a pick up truck when I was little, it was fun. I also remember my Mom seeing me one day riding in the neighbors truckbed and I was busted! Even then when they were not that popular she was always all about the seatbelts. I guess I get it from her now.

My, how quickly the world has changed. When I was a little kid, it was not uncommon for cars to just not have seatbelts in the back. Also, rolling around in the back of the truck was far more common.

I also remember being sent to the car (alone, sometimes in the dark) if I misbehaved in public (windows down and all). All alone, in the dark car. Then I knew when I got home what would be going down. Man, the waiting was the worst. I would think, please just beat me now.

Fast-forward to the 90′s: Our kids couldn’t even ride in the front seat until they were 14 y.o. by law. Very hard on the oldest who was 6’3″ in my change-of-life sports car.

But much safer now as seen by this stories. But I do miss those rides in the back of the truck. Wow. Good times. Not safe, but so much fun!

I deleted twice as I am not certain that I really want to post on this topic as I am not wanting anyone to think that I am trying to justify the fact that she was driving on a suspended license. But for some reason in my head I can’t push away the thought that maybe the grandma had a medical conditon take place while driving and the boy jumped on her lap to try to drive the car to safety and by mistake hit the gas pedal in the process of getting behind the wheel. (maybe just wishful thinking on my part)

I deleted twice as I am not certain that I really want to post on this topic as I am not wanting anyone to think that I am trying to justify the fact that she was driving on a suspended license. But for some reason in my head I can’t push away the thought that maybe the grandma had a medical conditon take place while driving and the boy jumped on her lap to try to drive the car to safety and by mistake hit the gas pedal in the process of getting behind the wheel. (maybe just wishful thinking on my part)

That could be likely, like you, I want to hope that’s the case. Make sme wonder who was controlling the wheel inthe first place. Eevn as a kid sitting on somebody’s lap while “driving”, I knew that I wasn’t really controlling the car. On a good day, my hands were on top of steering wheel, most days, it was on top of the adult driving.

On several occasions I have taken the liberty of walking up to someone I see with a child that is not properly restrained in a car seat or sitting on their lap and asking them, why their child is not restrained. I have gotten the craziest responses most which are, “who are you? and why are you asking me it is none of your business”. Oh, yeah, I say, well then you won’t mind me calling the cops. The response is always almost whatever as they walk away.
Counting to date I have called in 21 DL plate numbers to the authorities reporting that a child was seen unrestrained and or sitting on drivers lap. I have this thing about IDIOT people…their idiots! so I’ll continue to report them…I don’t give a fat-rats-ass what they think!

I grew up in a culture where easily 8 out of 10 people I knew did NOT properly restrain a baby or an older child. Many go even with a baby in their lap!

It is a *F* crying shame that an adult takes on the idiot role that puts a child’s life in jeopardy. Many cases these children are injured or die a terrible, horrific death. Get a *F* car seat! my child is almost 5, grant it a bit light on the loafers, 36lbs, and still in a car seat that I will convert in to a booster once he hits 45 lbs.

*******PRECIOUS CARGO PEOPLE!! INVEST WISELY!!!***********

I remember my kids being 5 – 11 and me letting them sit on my lap and pretend they were driving. We were out on a country road and they took turns. They still bring it up sometimes when we reminisce. Yes, a lot could have happened, but still, wonderful memories.

I usually call FHP and report people without their kids in seatbelts or carseats if small enough. But lately, I have no shame. If I am at a light next to someone like that, I will get their attention and tell them to buckle their kid up or I will report them to authorities and follow them until LE pulls them over. Every time they choose to buckle that kid. And maybe, just maybe, they will buckle them up next time. It’s not that big of a town, and I could be around any corner, lol!

Amen, Cheeky!

How fast were they going to hit a wall that hard?

sweet jesus.

I got to sit on my parents lap when i was little, but we went less than 5 mph, it was in my neighborhood, and my parents hands were holding the wheel anyways.

like jenjen said.. her license was suspended for a reason.

Question: Those of you who turn folks in for lack of proper restraint, how do you know? I mean, where I drive, I can’t see far enough into the other cars while I’m driving to see who’s in a car seat, who has a booster, who has just a lap belt. And if I’m walking around and the car is parked, maybe the child is unrestrained while they are parked.

I’m not trying to be a pain in the ass (I don’t have to try), but I’m wondering how this actually works in terms of sheer logistics. I mean, I guess I could imagine seeing it on a fluke once or twice, but you all are reporting it like you see it all the time. I’d like to understand how/where?

Thx/

I’m not trying to be a pain in the ass (I don’t have to try), but I’m wondering how this actually works in terms of sheer logistics. I mean, I guess I could imagine seeing it on a fluke once or twice, but you all are reporting it like you see it all the time. I’d like to understand how/where?

You can see kids bouncing around inside cars, standing up on seats, turning around looking at you, moving from the front seat to the back, left to the right. All while driving 55-65 down the highway.

I’ve only called the police 2 times, and followed the car until i saw the officers. It happens A LOT.

“My, how quickly the world has changed. When I was a little kid, it was not uncommon for cars to just not have seatbelts in the back. Also, rolling around in the back of the truck was far more common.

Safe is no fun.
”

I too remember a time when seatbelts and booster seats were not the norm.Nowadays kids are usually wrapped up like mummies in seat belt straps.

I remember being a mischievous little girl lying in the back of a station wagon flipping off the cars behind us.I also remember my mom telling me to”hold on to my ass” when she made turns.I am still alive…go figure

My favorite was always laying up in the back window. Especially on long vacation trips.

I have a van and a truck, and most children who are not buckled are up against the back of the front seat or bouncing around or standing up. It’s pretty obvious. Though yesterday I saw two kids that first appeared to be unbuckled, then I thought they were buckled at the waist and had the chest belt behind them…until I saw one of them slip up in between the front seats. Lap belts don’t have THAT much give. I know, I’m a big girl, lol.

I drive around a lot for my job, too, so I am on the roads a lot more than someone who doesn’t. I guess that would mean statistically I would see it more. And, maybe working in child protection and abuse/neglect prevention means I am more aware of those kinds of things.

It wasn’t as dangerous when we were young-far less cars on the roads, smaller population, and generally a more considerate society. I live in Florida-lots of old people, lots of teenagers, and lots of idiots. Every year people get more aggressive on the roads, and the area is more crowded…makes it more dangerous.

I deleted twice as I am not certain that I really want to post on this topic as I am not wanting anyone to think that I am trying to justify the fact that she was driving on a suspended license. But for some reason in my head I can’t push away the thought that maybe the grandma had a medical conditon take place while driving and the boy jumped on her lap to try to drive the car to safety and by mistake hit the gas pedal in the process of getting behind the wheel. (maybe just wishful thinking on my part)

This is why we all get to post our opinions and if we’re lucky, people will not get ready to stone us…(come on, we have all seen it happen).
Seven or eight years ago, two teens were killed at a major intersection when it collided with a school bus on the way to school. First thought, incompetent, young drivers goofing around. Any accident involving young people naturally will affect most folks deeply. Anyway, for years every time I saw the roadside memorials (we do that alot in the South) I would think about it.
Years later I began working with a 70 year old lady and in the course of conversation, I found out that the driver was her grandson. He was a severe diabetic. They have evidence to show his sugar plummeted and he went into shock/coma losing control of the car. His passenger was found with his leg over the console as if reaching for the brake.
Just thinking out loud with Cotton. Praying this may be the case here.

It does seem times have changed…

From pre-school onward, we had a VW van (that thing was awesome, wish I had it now!) and I rode inthe back and I do recall bouncing around a lot. I don’t think there was even a seatbelt back there, actually, or at least I didn’t use it.

I guess this means I’m old? LOL.

This story is so sad to me. (I’m assuming this was a “down the street” kind of thing, instead of longer distances.) Once when I was 19 or so, my mother asked me to move her car to a different part of the driveway at Thanksgiving so that my grandmother could be near the door. I let one of my nephews, about Alexander’s age, ride in my lap. He was so excited, and bouncing up and down in my lap … well, he bounced too hard on my right leg and the car shot forward and hit the garage. Lightly, mind you. Nothing bad happened. I just learned my lesson. What a terrible loss for just a bad decision.

I am a big child passenger safety advocate. Stories like this make me so ill. It happens frequently. I’ve seen toddlers riding in the laps of people on several occasions, but never the driver. That little boy should have been buckled in the back seat at least in a booster seat. When my son is 5 he will still be riding in a 5 point harness. At 22 months old he is still rear facing. You’d be surprised how many people ride around with their children improperly restrained in the car. The woman driving the car is absolutely at fault for that child’s death and should be charged appropriately for that. That poor child was crushed to death by his grandmother. Thanks to the this story I have once again proven to myself that I am a good mother. My son wouldn’t have even been in the car with someone that would pull something like this to begin with.

My youngest was rearfacing until he was 30 months, Dixiegirl. My oldest is 5 1/2 and still in a 5 pt harness. My husband drag races, and he said from the get-go that regular shoulder/lap restraints shouldn’t be used, even for adults. He’s frustrated with what he feels is the poor quality of the car seats on the market, that they don’t have to measure up to the same standards HIS seats have to meet. No one gets why I am so anal about car seat safety, because all their kids survived, we survived. But dude, all it takes is seeing what NOT restraining your kids properly can do to a kid to make you want to do as best you can.
I see people all the time with kids bouncing around in cars. I’ve called a few times as well, and will continue to call.

As for this case, I hope sincerely that Grandma had something happen to her, and the baby was trying to help. I hope she wasn’t dumb enough to let him ride on her lap. I can’t imagine living with the guilt of knowing that *I* did something that killed my grandchild. If my mom did something like that, I don’t think I could ever forgive her. It’s just heartbreaking, no matter how it happened.

OMG unrestrained children in cars make me SO FLIPPING MAD! How do people not understand the danger they put their kids or grandkids in when they do this? Grrrrrr!

People are irresponsible.. too much trouble.. takes too much time and they really don’t care or think it could not happen to them……. A majority of the people in my opinion today would not make the qualification of good parents.. My .02

I saw this video awhile ago. I’ve always been anal about carseats. Especially after being in a wreck that involved my now 25 yr. old son (he was 5 mths old at the time)..my car flipped twice and landed upside down in the median of a interstate. He was still in his car seat…hanging upside down. His glass baby bottle (remember those!) was shattered everywhere but he was fine.
After seeing this video I went out and bought my 5yr. old this carseat. Yep thats’ right. I have a 27 yr. old , 25 yr. old, 17 yr. old and 5 yr. old.
Had the older 2 when I was 17 (and 19). I started young by marrying at 16 (my parents evidentially had no common sense).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azgBhZfcqaQ

One of the saddest but most important videos I’ve ever watched. I think about this little boy every time I hear this song. So wonderful that the parents made this video.

Yeah this is rather infuriating. And like it was stated earlier, there is always a reason a person’s liscence is suspended. More likely than not, she’s prolly pulled some stupid bull-shit like this before. It amazes me how careless how people can be. I have a carseat in my car, and I don’t even HAVE any kids. My sister and brother do, and I never know when the kids might be in my car.