• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Chandler's Ford Today

  • Home
  • About
    • About Chandler’s Ford
    • Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research
  • Blog
    • Blogging Tips
  • Event
    • Upcoming Events
  • Community
    • Groups
    • Churches
    • Schools
    • GP Surgeries
    • Leisure
    • Library
    • Charities
    • Eastleigh Basics Bank
    • Community Food Larder at Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church
  • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Site Policies
You are here: Home / Community / Be Safe: The Story Of Fred And Jim

Be Safe: The Story Of Fred And Jim

February 22, 2014 By Ben Williams 7 Comments

Note: The writer of this post is 13 years old.

Today’s post isn’t going to be a coherent one, but – as you guessed, a rant. But it’s a rant I’m sure everyone can agree with, especially drivers.

As I can’t drive, I don’t know many problems about driving and silly motorists, but I do know that so many people crossing the road and riding bikes are not paying attention when they go on the road. Not everyone is like this I know, but it’s an issue I’ve wanted to talk about for a long time.

Cyclists in London staying safe by wearing high-visibility jackets. Image by Garry Knight via Flickr.
Cyclists in London staying safe by wearing high-visibility jackets. Image by Garry Knight via Flickr.

Silly cyclists

So, let’s talk about silly cyclists first. Normal bicycle gear is: a bike (obviously), a helmet and a high-vis jacket if it’s night time. So why do people feel the need not to wear a helmet or reflective clothing? Do they find that helmets look silly? Well Superman looks silly and saves people’s lives, the Doctor looks silly and saves the universe, bicycle helmets look silly but they save people from serious injury and death. If someone falls on their head while cycling, two things might happen:

  • They wear a helmet and the helmet protects their brain and head from damage.
  • They don’t wear a helmet and crack their head, go to hospital and have to spend months having their head stitched together.

It’s even worse on the road. Lots of cars drive at night and in winter it gets dark quickly. A bright green jumper will not help drivers see where cyclists are. A reflective jacket will let the car headlights pick up where people are. It’s just common sense!

Silly pedestrians

BUT, silly pedestrians are even worse. Sometimes when I’m in the car, I see people run across roads right in front of a car. I used to run across roads but that was when no cars were around. When there are traffic lights, people still run (or even walk casually) across a road without using traffic lights. I’m sure wherever they need to go isn’t SO important that they have to endanger their lives. Just imagine what their friends think.

St. John volunteers: wearing high-visibility jackets.
St. John volunteers: wearing high-visibility jackets.

The story of Fred and Jim

Let’s get some examples. We’ll call them Fred and Jim. Fred is the stupid one, Jim is the smart one.

Fred: Oh man, I HAVE to get the newest football magazine even though I could buy it later!

Jim: Well, there’s the traffic lights. Let’s cross!

Fred: But they’re all the way up there!

Jim: It’s thirty seconds to walk up there though!

Fred: But it’s easier to run across the road where lots of cars will be going quite fast!

Jim: But the traffic lights will mean we can cross safely.

Fred: BUT, we’ll waste thirty seconds walking up to the lights, another ten seconds waiting for the lights to go green and then walk across!

Jim: But it’s safer. I’m walking to the lights!

Fred: BUT I DON’T WANNA WAIT 40 SECONDS TO CROSS THE ROAD!

Jim: Well, it’s your problem if you get whacked by a car.

Fred: Well, I’ll run! WHEEEEEEEEEE SPLAT!

A bit extreme I know, but people need to pay more attention when crossing the road and cycling, otherwise something serious is going to happen and there will be dire consequences.


Editor’s note: The original version of A rant on silly pedestrians was published on 22nd February 2014 in Ben Williams’s World.

Never miss out on another blog post. Subscribe here:

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email

Related posts:

Why Don’t Cyclists Use Cycle Lanes? What has Chandler's Ford done for me by Allison SymesWhat Has Chandler’s Ford Done for Me? Eastleigh Park RunNews from Eastleigh parkrun growing up in Chandler's Ford Martin NapierGrowing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: My Passions with Bikes and Boats (Part 9) growing up in Chandler's Ford Martin NapierGrowing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Bikes, Boats, and Adventures (Part 10)
Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, cycling, health, road safety, sports, storytelling, viewpoint, walking, weather

About Ben Williams

Ben is studying film and English at University of Southampton. He writes cool stuff - science fiction, Doctor Who, film reviews, and history.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Janet says

    February 22, 2014 at 9:52 pm

    On Hursley Road, a lot of people ignore the traffic lights near Lloyds Pharmacy, and would cross the road dangerously. Near the bend at Mead Road and Hursley Road junction, some pedestrians would cross the road there to try get to get to the train station. I agree with you that some people are not very sensible.

    Reply
  2. Hazel Bateman says

    February 23, 2014 at 8:33 am

    The council does what it can to keep people safe by providing crossing points and zebra crossings but you cannot protect people from their own stupidity. I have seen people cross Winchester Road 15 feet from the zebra crossing.

    As for cyclists and children on scooters, they whizz along the pavement seemingly unaware that many cars have to reverse out of driveways!

    Reply
  3. Dave Bowring says

    March 31, 2014 at 12:20 pm

    On behalf of Eastleigh Lions Club, I agree wholeheartedly, and believe the youthful contributor is likely to be a future candidate for our “Young Ambassador of the 21st Century” awards in the future. One of our club’s recently sponsored entrants became the youngest female to have climbed Everest, and is now at University!

    Reply
    • Janet says

      March 31, 2014 at 6:28 pm

      Hi Dave,

      Thank you for your very kind comment and encouragement. I’ve passed it on to Ben (who happens to be my son 🙂 ).

      We have visited the website of the Lions Club of Eastleigh, and learned about your young ambassador Rebecca Bellworthy. Thank you for sharing this inspiring story with us.

      We’d love to learn more of the Lions Club of Eastleigh, so please continue to share stories and events with us. Thanks.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Cycling: Eastleigh - Chandler's Ford - Chandler's Ford Today says:
    March 31, 2014 at 11:06 pm

    […] footway / cycle path so be a considerate cyclist and give way to pedestrians. And pedestrians – be a considerate pedestrian and give way to cyclist. That way, everyone is […]

    Reply
  2. Weird World Of Game Shows - Chandler's Ford Today says:
    April 10, 2014 at 6:46 pm

    […] CBBC turned into CBeebies and started showing shows purely for the younger children, leaving a mature 13-year-old like me out of my comfort zone and forcing me to resort to game shows. But, to my surprise, they are some […]

    Reply
  3. How safe are the roads in Chandler's Ford? Chandler's Ford Today says:
    November 21, 2014 at 4:14 am

    […] Be Safe: The Story Of Fred And Jim […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to Chandler's Ford Today blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Archives

Top Posts & Pages

Why Write Fiction

Categories

Tags

am writing arts and crafts books Chandler's Ford Chandler's Ford Today Chandler’s Ford community charity Christianity Christmas church community creative writing culture Eastleigh Eastleigh Borough Council education entertainment event family fundraising gardening gardening tips good neighbours Hiltingbury Hiltingbury Road history hobby how-to Joan Adamson Joan Adelaide Goater local businesses local interest memory Methodist Church music nature news reading review social storytelling theatre travel Winchester Road writing

Recent Comments

  • C. Klingler on Gladly, the Cross-eyed Bear and Other Mondegreens
  • Robbie Sprague on VE Day – Thursday 8th May 1945
  • Mike Sedgwick on VE Day – Thursday 8th May 1945
  • Chippy on VE Day – Thursday 8th May 1945
  • Allison Symes on Review – The Chameleons – Sudden Death at Thornbury Manor
  • Janet Williams on Review – The Chameleons – Sudden Death at Thornbury Manor

Regular Writers and Contributors

Janet Williams Allison Symes Mike Sedgwick Rick Goater Doug Clews chippy minton Martin Napier Roger White Andy Vining Gopi Chandroth Nicola Slade Wellie Roger Clark Ray Fishman Hazel Bateman SO53 News

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

Reviews of local performances and places

Reviews of local performances and places

Copyright © 2025 Chandler's Ford Today. WordPress. Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.