Look Before You Back Up

Assume There’s a Child In the Side or Back

Thank you Davis Elaby on Unsplash

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I was at a parking lot once 
And I saw this happen
The woman who was backing up her car
Didn’t bother to look before it started moving

Another instance another time
My daughter was standing on the side of a car
The man started backing up 
And very quickly moved out and got going
Without looking for people on the sides
Or children 

She got frightened 
And so did I
She escaped that day by a few inches 
Thank God!

Another day I was backing up my car
When out of nowhere a child strolled casually on to the side 
It was my daughter’s preschool parking lot
He had wandered from the back of his car 

I stopped right away 
Opened the door
Got out of my car
And went looking for his mom

She was on the other side buckling up her other infant
It happens y’all
Many times 

Please look on all sides 
Before you press the reverse gear
Keep clear of obstacles 
Especially lookout for kids

Because they will be tiny 
And pretty easy to miss
Or they might just decide to wander 
To your side of the car

Please take a few seconds 
To look before you back up 
Don’t mindlessly put reverse gear in motion 
And start moving before you look in the back

Especially lookout for children 
Assume they are there always
Right before you back up 

It makes me so anxious 
Even writing this piece 

Please for my sake
And my little daughter 
Please assume she’s standing on the side of your car 
Before you start pulling out 

Thank you for listening!
Next time you back up
Remember this piece!

Peace ✌🏽 

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