Would you pull over if you saw a child on the ground crying?

[pontipinemum]

Driving home last night I saw a 10yr old child lying on the footpath clearly very upset.

Two cars in front drove on I pulled over. It's a residential area near 3 schools, 30km speed zone so wasn't hard to spot him in lots of time.

His friend was with him (similar age), he was very upset that he has lost his 5 year old sister. I asked where his mother was he said down the town, he didn't know her number. He didn't know his dad's number, but we tried to call his older brother twice. After a few minutes I was starting to think I'd need to call the local police station not 999 or anything. Then a lady came along, he said it was his aunt. She smiled/ nodded when I asked her if she was his aunt. I asked him was he happy if I left, will you and your aunt find your sister? He said yes. So I left - I had my toddler in the back of the car.

Sorry that filler wasn't really needed, but would you stop your car for a child on the ground? Maybe the two in front had gone by and saw I had pulled in so didn't turn back.

It was odd. And that's the only reason I was starting to wonder about calling the police.

The aunt was very calm and the boy was confused. So I thought maybe crossed wires somewhere. If she (aunt) hadn't turned up I would have called the police.

There has been nothing in the news/ local news/ SM and there would be if a 5 Yr old was missing

I would stop and have stopped as has my Hubbie. The one time I didn’t stop was a fight between 6 teens that were all nearly a foot taller than me. I pulled in up the road and called the police instead.

I found a two year old girl crying in the street on my way home from work the other day. When I rang the doorbell of her house her mum turned absolutely white. They’d been out and she’d shut the front door thinking her daughter was inside with her siblings.

I don’t think anyone on the thread is a busybody. Just kind and decent.

I'd have cautiously helped but be suspicious of a trap.

Once I went to a relatives house, not a bad area at all and on the edge of the town area. There was a group of about 4 older teens 18 or so. A male was holding onto a female around her neck and up a lamppost- the others seemed oblivious to him shouting in her face.

I could have walked to the house without them seeing but I knew this wasn't right so I approached them asking what he was doing. He smashed the end of the bottle he was holding then came at me 🙈

I'm wary now.

Absolutely have to stop.

I have. Once when a tween/young teen had come off his bike and was lying on the verge with his leg stuck between the frame and the chain. I managed to release him. He was unhurt, thanked me in polite (but embarrassed) teenage grunts and cycled off. Another time when I saw a toddler in a T-shirt and nappy toddling down a residential street not far from my home. I wasn't 100% sure where she lived, but walked her towards the house I thought was her home. The front door was open. Just as I was about to ring the bell a frantic woman rushed down the stairs. I recognised her as the child's mum (I had seen them together previously). She grabbed the little girl and shut the door in my face. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I always stop for dogs but I’ve never seen a child alone who is upset so can’t say how I’d react

I might if it was one child.

I probably wouldn't if it was two.

There's not a single thought of it being a trap that would run through my mind.

Surely no one would leave a child laying on the floor?! What has the world come to 😦

I would, but agree if I was a man I might be more reluctant. Dh was in a similar situation and he came running to get me.

Yes, I have either stopped, intervened or observed until I deemed it safe far more times than I can remember.

Sometimes you don't need to intervene but hang back and observe and make sure that person is safe

Yes I would always stop however if it was a dodgy/ isolated area or I felt it could be a trap of some kind. I would stay in my car and dial 999

Yes I definitely would. Slightly different but once I was driving down a country lane towards our village and a man (early 20s) and a young woman (about 19 / 20) were walking down it. The woman looked upset and the man was acting quite aggressively, blocking her way and it just didn't look right. I slowed down and asked if she was OK but, she said she was but didnt look sure. As I drove away I looked back and it still didn't look right so I stopped again and asked if she wanted a lift and she then said yes and jumped in the car. She didn't say much when she was in the car and I dropped her in the village (I offered to take her home), she said she was OK to make her own way and her mum was at home. So glad I did it, she was obviously in a bit of a situation which she needed to get away from.

Of course. I even pulled over for a grown man who had fallen off his bike and was a bit shaken up. It's just being a decent human.

As long as it was safe to do so yes. I did see a child of 5 or 6 sitting alone on a pavement the other day actually and asked if he was ok, he said yes and he just felt a bit tired and he lived around the corner. He didn’t seem distressed so although it was a bit strange I left him to it.

That has always happened, I heard of it when I was quite young.

My instinct would have been to go over but I probably would have phoned the police, especially if I had a child in my car.

I am glad all turned out well in the end and am sure the boy's sister will be found.