Traffic lights to be switched off in safety experiment

A glimmer of light in our increasingly authoritarian, you-cannot-be-trusted-to-think-for-yourself society: The possibility of the removal of over 100 traffic lights from the heart of London. Whoop!

The Telegraph has this to say: 

While appearing radical, similar initiatives have already been undertaken on the continent. In the Dutch town of Drachten, where many of the lights were stripped out, the number of people injured in accidents fell because road users took greater care. In many towns in the United States, motorists approach four way junctions where there are no lights and have to negotiate priority between themselves.

"We will be creating a bit of indecision in all road users' minds to create a safe environment," said Martin Low, Westminster City Council's head of transportation.

"When lights are out we have noticed that drivers are far more considerate and show more care and attention than they are when they have the reassurance of traffic lights."

"We think there is a huge potential to reduce delay for all road users."

I confess to feeling a little gloomy that not only is a measure such as this described as "appearing radical", but also that a full explanation and illustrative examples to demonstrate its efficacy are apparently required.

Only in our NuLabourian nightmare do we doubt that the vast majority of people, if permitted to take full responsibility for their own actions, would do almost anything to avoid mowing pedestrians down, colliding with other vehicles, causing costly damage and generally risking life and limb - the warped logic being, of course, that human beings are a savage and destructive lot requiring ever-increasing control from our morally superior lords and masters, for our own good. 

This initiative also offers the potential for improved travel efficiency - a benefit that Martin Low brings to our attention only after having stated the compelling case for a safer road environment. Everyone's a winner! Oh no -

The initiative worried Brake, the road safety charity. "We would hope that they have done a full risk assessment before they start taking out lights.

"Their priority should be aimed at making roads safer for walkers and cyclists, rather than making traffic move more quickly."

That'll be "stopping the carnage, caring for the victims" Brake - the nannying charity* whose longevity can, of course, be guaranteed only for as long as we continue to be injured, maimed and killed on the roads.

*Brake is supported by (amongst others) the Department for Transport, the Department of Health, the Office for Criminal Justice Reform, The Scottish Government and the Youth Justice Board, not to mention these "affiliated partners", many of whom have made donations to Brake.

H/T @rogthornhill, who also blogs here, for bringing this to my attention.

(Alternative title: Both of my children are good babies, thank you).

I wrote the very first post for Renegade Parent when the Jenklett was 3 months old, after a particularly inflammatory incident with a rather ignorant health visitor who was already preparing to crack open the baby rice. I never published it, and I am glad.  There was scant time to cobble it together and it was rather disjointed. The Jenklett was over a year old before I was in a position to begin writing regularly for pleasure. I simply didn't have it in me.

This time, a mere two weeks in, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. I am eager to return to all that held my attention before the birth of Triple J. After hospitalisation for the haematoma, I watched from the sidelines as various debates raged across the blogosphere.  All I wanted was to rip the cannulas out of my arms and get in there to have my say. In addition, there are now four more blog posts fermenting in OneNote. I have a number of theories to explain my curious robustness this time around, particularly given what happened, but suffice to say that retaining and exercising control over one's own body and mind is a remarkably potent force for recovery.

However, I digress.  My bodily weakness - that which is preventing me from finishing my posts at this moment in time - takes the form of my babies, the two of them, who are just so delicious that, for the moment at least, any other activity is temporarily on hold.  

The Jenklett is an intense, highly strung, high-need little girl. From the moment she was born, her temperament has invited unwanted advice from the uninitiated about spoilt babies, rods and backs, routine and structure, and cry it out techniques. Aside from a brief wobble or two, we have steadfastly ignored almost everyone and instead trusted ourselves. Novel, I know. As a consequence, the Jenklett successfully continues to move towards independence at her own rather rapid rate, often shunning external assistance in achieving her goals (regardless of the frustration this causes) but nevertheless requiring continual assurance of our ability to be there for her.

This wonderful, articulate and steadfast child is the sole reason for our decision to co-sleep, use slings, breastfeed for an extended period of time and follow a baby-led approach to weaning - and we are now experiencing the joys of watching another human being learn autonomously as she masters new skills every day. Before the Jenklett, we had no idea about any of these things particularly - with the exception of autonomous learning, which both of us used (and still use) to grow the business and ourselves, but neither of us had ever consciously articulated. Our baby was the one who taught us everything we needed to know. Whilst I don't label myself as an attachment parent (or any other kind of parent) we know that we are very much attached parents.

That's not to say that I don't understand the wider benefits of some of the things we have chosen to do. I've read the research (if such research is even necessary). I can see the evidence before my eyes. I am passionate about how our choices have helped to make our family more cohesive, in the face of conventional (and often misinformed) wisdom from family, friends, healthcare professionals and childcare "experts" alike.

I can also see the likely benefits for other parents, some of whom may think, for example, that sleeping next to your child can never be safe, or that breastfeeding past a year is in some way questionable. But nevertheless those choices are not for every family. Most parents only ever want the best for their children. When it comes to matters of personal choice, all that any parent needs is accurate, comprehensive information; willingness on the part of others to share their knowledge and experience where it is desired; high quality, easily accessible support - and absolute respect for the ability of parents to then make the right decisions for their own families and unique circumstances. Because failure to trust in others to do the right thing ultimately means that you place yourself in a highly vulnerable position. 

And now we have Triple J. Well, what a revelation. For a start, this baby sleeps. Consistently during the day, and then straight through the night. Need the loo? Want a drink? Fancy a shower? You can put him down for five minutes. Even ten. He doesn't scream to be held, constantly. He is happy to lie on his back. Happy! He doesn't have such an intense need to suck that he is permanently attached to me. He is not frantic to the point of distraction when he does need to feed. Heat, noise, smells, other people and clothes do not drive to him to claw his own face. He is relaxed and comfortable in the arms of someone other than me. He enjoys going in the carseat. Ladies and gentlemen, he doesn't even poo during the night. He is, as others would say, an "easy" baby. A "good" baby.*

Sadly, the meddlers and do-gooders have scuttled into the woodwork this time round, no doubt having long since consigned us to the "no hope for these parents" pile. If only they knew! Conversely, there has been no real imperative to do any of the things that we did with the Jenklett, who vociferously required everything to be just so. Our lives are, however, much easier knowing that such options exist - and that there are real benefits to be had in choosing them where appropriate for Triple J.

This time we co-sleep because it's easy for me to feed him when he wakes, and he gets his food as quickly as possible. We both get more rest this way. We use slings because it frees up both hands and he gets more experience of the world than he would from his basket. It's also easier to keep up with an active toddler. I hold him as much as I do because it feels good for both of us, but I don't feel guilty when he naps contentedly in his basket. When it comes to breastfeeding and the introduction of solids, I see no reason for us to do anything other than take his lead - why not? Similarly with all of those exciting developments ahead - they will happen when he's good and ready. There is no expectation. That delightlyfully worrying tome, What To Expect - The First Year, has long since been replaced with my own version: Expect Nothing Like Ever Before.

I suspect, although I will have no way of ever knowing, that if we had had Triple J first, he may well have been a baby who slept through the night in a basket, and then in a cot, and then in a bed.

We may well have only ever used the buggy, and never discovered how useful slings can be.

We may well have believed that he was feeding "on a schedule", favouring as he does substantial and less frequent but regular feeds.

We may well have immediately curried favour with friends, family members, heath professionals and baby experts who would have been convinced that we were "good" parents, wholly responsible for the "good" habits of this "good" baby.  

We may well have believed that we were "good" parents, wholly responsible for the "good" habits of our "good" baby.

I may well have written my first blog post two weeks after his birth, looking down my nose at those weirdy, dependency-encouraging parents who risk the lives of their children by taking them into their beds; those strange women who breastfeed their babies past six months and bypass purees; those oddities who would rather a piece of fabric than a sensible buggy. Not to mention those negligent parents whose risk-taking children are often grubby and dishevelled, covered in bruises, and balanced on the edge of a step whilst brandishing a mouldy carrot and a handful of loose change.

Instead, I am grateful to be that little bit more free: thank goodness my first baby taught me well that children are unique individuals, just like their parents. They are not homogeneous blobs, destined to be trained by one-size-fits-all Gina Ford, or processed by one-size-fits-all Ed Balls. I am grateful that my younger child has afforded me the time to spend with my older child as she adjusts to life with a new baby. I am grateful that both of my children will have the opportunity to move towards independence in their own time, as unhindered as possible by (mis)conceptions of acceptability and age-appropriateness. But most of all I am grateful that I have been able to write this post, and not some sweeping judgement piece about the parenting of other people - whoever they may be.

When unique individuals produce more unique individuals, there is no miracle remedy, no one-size-fits-all approach. The "experts" - whoever they are - would do well to remember that.

*Disclaimer: I am fully aware that this delightful state of affairs might change tomorrow. However I am currently savouring every day and I will enjoy it for as long as it lasts! 

I'm in the process of juggling a big baby and a little baby, as well as lots of catching up and some hardcore blog administration tasks.

At Renegade Parent I will continue to concern myself with issues of liberty and more specifically (for the moment at least) the machinations of Badman, Balls et al. However, the next month or so will see the introduction of a brand new blog based on our personal experiences and observations of family life, living and learning. The two blogs will share links, and occasionally posts, but by doing this I am keeping the DCSF as separate from my children as possible, which is of course what we're also aiming for in real life.

And finally - on the off-chance that you have not seen this remarkable artist in action, I highly recommend it. See here for more information about the fate of Ukraine during World War II.



H/t Bishop Hill.