I would love to have one of these signs for around our house. We live on a very busy road and even though our yard is gated the kids can open the latch. I have to keep padlocks on both of my gates anytime the kids are outside. I think this sign is a great idea because it would at least let people know their is a possibility that a child could dart out in front of them. I have learned from experience that my child is a runner and it is part of his autism. It doesn't mean that I don't watch him it simply means that if I even turn my attention from him for a split second he can be gone. Maybe it depends on what kind of neighborhood you live in. A thought crossed my mind about it might attract weirdos or it's like announcing to the world that your child is "different". But then again, it can possibly save a child's life who tends to wander or is impulsive. It probably just depends on the individual situation. That thought crossed my my mind too. but I agree with Matty. Plus the signs are not big enough. Most people do not even notice them while they are driving.
Yeah, I'm a little worried about it attracting weirdos. My neighborhood is very close..at least our street is so everyone already knows to kind of watch out for my little Quincy. I never let him outside without either me or his dad anyway but when he gets older, it may become an issue. He's only 4 now and hasn't been diagnosed yet.
Karman
On the street where my brother lives, there are 2 deaf children. Because of this, there is a traffic sign on their street indicating that a deaf child lives in the area. What do you think about having a similar sign for autistic children? One has gone up in Western New York.
http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=49190
On a side street near the library we frequent, there is a traffic sign that states
Caution
Autistic Child
in area
I think if you call your local traffic department, they can tell you what you have to do to have one put up in your area.
And, better yet, depending on your municipality, how about asking them to add a "sleeping policeman," also known as a speed bump, to each end of your block, as well? I think you;d need more than one family to request it ...
We have thought about doing that for my block as people use it for a "short cut" a lot, speeding through even though it is a back street.
I'm sorry but I don't get this. I understand children may inadvertently escape the house and wander but a sign will not really do any good. I agree with other posters - a parent should be with a child at all times.
We have 4/5 yr olds on our corner who routinely play at end end of their driveways, go back and forth across the street to the other's house. I have had to slam on my breaks twice to avoid a young girl running in front of my car. I don't see the parents, or they are cutting their grass, etc. The mother once put a yellow stop/construction workhorse in the middle of the street.
I immediately called the police. This merely teaches the children they can run wherever they like. Yet if I hit one of them, it's my life-long trauma and then luckily the parents would have someone to blame - me. Not themselves. I am constanly amazed at people. The day I'd allow my 5yo to play in the street, well...
Oh, I think the signs might help. At least local people who see the sign repeatedly are more apt to be aware of the possibility of a child darting out in front of the car.
I am not sure ... but, do the signs change the driver's legal liability at all, in case an accident does occur?
I don't think it's a bad idea...no matter how well I watch Mason he can still get away from me in the blink of an eye! And has no awareness of street safety as much as we have tried!
And I wouldn't be so concerned about weirdo's...just that no one would pay attention to it anyway...I live on a back street, but there are a lot of teenagers in our neighborhood and they fly through here!! I bought one of those orange children playing signs last year and it didn't even phase them!
And unfortunately we live on a corner and don't really have a "backyard."
I don't know if Twins statement was directed at me or not, but I never meant to imply that I let Mason run amok and in the street...I bought the orange sign for the teenagers in the area that have a tendancy to speed...I want them to be aware that my children are playing in the yard...and under NO circumstances is Mason ever allowed to play in the street!!
I'm simply stating that there are times that I am playing with Mason and if I turn my eye for a second he can run...and he can run fast...if a ball goes into the street he will follow! I've tried and tried to get him to understand that the street is unsafe. And he doesn't respond to a car horn, the same as a deaf child might not respond...I don't think it would hurt for driver's to be more aware of the area and that there is a child that doesn't quite understand safety the same a NT child might...that's all!
The sign seems kind of strange. I mean, toddlers are impulsive and do not understand that the street is dangerous. Do we need signs that say toddler in the area? Or ADHD child in the area? Or mentally handicapped child in the area (they may have these)? I don't know, I just don't let my son in the front yard without me. I suppose it can't hurt. Also, speed bumps are a good idea for all children's safety.