These signs are proliferating in Preston Hollow and I’ve seen a few in the Park Cities. Anyone seen them? They are the creation of a Wethersfield, Ct. woman, Petulia Pugliares, who lives between two elementary schools and a high school and thinks people there drive too fast. She has witnessed several accidents and was even struck by a car herself.
Well Petulia honey, if they are driving too fast in Ct. let me tell you what they are doing in Texas, where we have a highway that lets us hit 120 mph. Drivers are on speed steroids here in Dallas. Not that it makes a difference, any fast-moving car is dangerous, but we drive bigger cars that are like missiles — trucks, SUVs, and Hummers. And she’s right — people DO drive too fast, endangering people and stray pets. Petulia’s creation attempts to create an empathy campaign to solicit or elicit empathy in the viewer of the sign. It sort of reels them in, reminds them of what’s really important, like their kids, and hopefully makes them slow down.
So much nicer than what my sign would say: “Slow Down You EFF*#@!! IDIOTS!”
“Cars go by way too fast, especially during the morning and evening commute,” says Pugliares, who has witnessed numerous accidents, and was even struck by a car herself as she walked the neighborhood. Frustrated, she came up with a simple campaign to try to get drivers to slow down.
Her message, printed on bright, red lawn and street signs reads “Drive Like Your Kids Live Here.”
Pugliares’ words seem to work. “It has that hit-home effect. It really resonates and makes them slow down,” she told ABC News.”
The idea is catching on now even in Dallas. I’ve contacted Pugliares, who works as an insurance agent by day, to ask her who the first Dallas sign recipient was. And also, how many more requests she is getting from car crazy Texas? ABC News says has “sold and donated 4,000 of the signs to cities, community organizations and schools.”
Well, that’s a start. Have you seen these signs? Do you think they will make people slow down? Would they be a great gift to a homeowner from a Realtor?
In my opinion, the Soccer Moms are the worst offenders because they are racing kids off to lessons and practice, trying to get there on time. I know — I was one of them!
