Unrestrained child, accident today

Surprised this doesn't happen more often, or it's just not reported as much (Takata recall) may have upped the ante.

https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/baby-boy-sitting-in…

I would see 5+ penalties per week for children unrestrained, all by new arrivals. I'm surprised we don't have far more fatalities.

Comments

  • +4

    when the BMW he was in collided with a Mercedes-Benz

    Can afford fancy cars. Apparently can't afford driving lessons.

    Also, dark humour so be warned, but:

    Zachariah Wafta had been sitting on his dad Peter’s lap

    […]

    Both drivers escaped uninjured.

    Hmmm…

    • +1

      Can afford fancy cars. Apparently can't afford driving lessons.

      To be fair the cars are like pre-2010 and worth few thousand.

      • This. They weren't flashy at all.

        Very unfortunate situation for all involved :(.

        I still don't understand why people have young children in any of the front seats of any airbag equipped cars. Restrained or not. It's just not safe for them.

  • The article is a little vague. Seems like the BMW might have been parked, and hence why the dad thought it was ok for his kid to play in his lap?

    • Good pick up. The article says this:

      when the BMW he was in collided with a Mercedes-Benz

      But from the photos, it's the Merc with frontal damage and the BMW's front is unscratched so it does seem it was the Merc that hit the BMW.

      This article has slightly more detail (and a video with more angles).

      • +1

        [the baby's mother] ran a few hundred metres from the family's home..

        Does sound like the dad was driving with the kid in his lap.
        Sigh.. Hope the kid is ok.

      • +2

        From your yahoo link

        His dad, Peter Watfa, was driving at the time.

  • +9

    with out knowing any of the facts I'm going to jump to wild conclusions that lead to a hot bed of discussion which ramp up this post in to a frenzy of user indignation and self righteousness (which is thinly disguised under a veil of concern for the child)

    • +7

      I will add to this conversation with unfounded commentary and racial innuendo. I will then go on an unrelated diatribe that is only remotely related to the topic and insert some anecdotal evidence backed up by unfounded sources. I will then go on to argue with anyone who disagrees with me.

      • Just as long as it won't be simple contradiction.

      • +7

        I will then suggest an MS paint diagram, for easy votes

        • +4

          I used the data found in these posts to create some graphs which will assist. https://imgur.com/a/2SM2msY

          • @bdl: I will then ask for advice because I'm uninsured.

    • Looks like both cars were driving, the bmw from the T side of the intersection and clipped the merc, this can be seen by both cars having broken streering arms on the drivers side front wheel and damage to the fender. May have been only 20 k/h as both would be (hopefully) slowing for the corner, and the bmw may have cut it due to limited steering ability of having a child on his lap.

      • Are you a communist?

        • Are you a feminist?

  • -2

    I don't judge people who leave their children unrestrained.

    They are actually doing the gene pool a favour.

    • +4

      Disagree. Just because the parent is stupid doesn't mean the child is also stupid.

    • It's a burden on medicare/ndis if the child sustains life time injuries, so the tax payer. No excuses, my child comes before me.

      • If only people were so worried about the billions of dollars that national and foreign based businesses legally avoid.

        And if only they didn't vote for two parties that claimed to be very worried about this tax avoidance but when it came time for action they applied the GST to purchases under $1000 and left the wealthiest paying no tax. Eg. every person in Australia pays tax at a higher rate than Qantas, a business which has taken over one billion in profit for years in a row.

  • +1

    I like the way the worded the article to suggest it was the airbags fault.

  • +6

    I would see 5+ penalties per week for children unrestrained, all by new arrivals.

    You got out and asked them if they were born in Australia?

    • -1

      Know, I can see when they arrived and when they got a NSW/Australian licence if at all.

      • +1

        What would be the penalty for people born in Australia?

        You know what racism is right?

        • Country of origin != Race.

          • @HighAndDry: Different laws based on race does equal racism

            • @[Deactivated]: What the f*** part of:

              Country of origin != Race.

              Is so hard to understand? By your logic, foreign investment rules are "racist". Get a grip.

              (Plus, OP's said nothing about having new laws for them, wtf are you even on about?)

              • @HighAndDry:

                Country of origin != Race.

                Is so hard to understand? 

                Well it's not even in English so yes it is hard to understand, just like OP who is also hard to understand.

                • +1

                  @[Deactivated]: Oh you actually didn't understand, my bad.

                  "!=" is short-hand for "not equal to".

        • You have not grasped what is being said.

          • @askme69: Yes your second last sentence was quite poorly worded and I misunderstood it.

  • +2

    I'll get flamed for this, but this is natural selection at it's finest.

    • I don't see why you'd get flamed. You're not the one crippling children.

      It is what it is. A parent damaging their child due to their own callousness.

  • As a parent to a young child, just wow level of stupidity. That child might have permanent injuries, that's really sad and should never have happened.

    • child has died, just heart breaking

  • Ah f*** me, news updates that the baby's just passed away.

    A baby boy has tragically died in hospital after being struck by an airbag in a minor car crash in Sydney’s south west on Monday.. Honestly didn't think it would be that bad. The dad must be feeling like shit right now, can't imagine.

    • +2

      I feel most for the mum.
      That scene where she runs across the yard keeps playing in my mind.

  • -1

    Oh no, the baby died. The driver/dad will (and should be) going to jail now. For sheer stupidity.

  • -4

    Imagine the nagging he will get from his wife for the next 10 years.

  • What age can kids safely sit in the front? (Assuming legal and tall enough of course)

    • +1

      There is no age when a child should sit in a parent's lap in a vehicle.

  • More than 6000 tickets were issued to drivers last year for unrestrained children.

    should read - more than 6000 drivers licences were suspended for 2 months last year for unrestrained children.

    people would learn pretty (profanity) quickly.

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