Growing up in the 70’s was so different than it is today — we only had three channels and one educational channel to watch on our single television and had no PlayStations or X Box games, computers, laptops, tablets or even smartphones.
Some of us didn’t have central air and were lucky if we had a single window air condition unit.
If we wanted to be entertained we had to jump on our bikes and go find the action which usually was a game of kickball, whiffle ball, hide-go-seek, four-square, box-hockey and basketball — and we were all out playing in the street.
That was until we heard that distant sound of music coming from the ice cream truck rounding the bend, summoning us all into a state of panic. We would race home to raid our piggy banks or parent’s purse or wallets as we all screamed for ice cream.
It was magical how you could hear Mr. Frosty’s truck some 10-12 houses away. It was like a dog whistle, as kids from every direction would come racing out of their homes barefoot and half-clothed with salivary glands flowing and quarters and dimes jingling around in our pockets.
Back then the quickest way to modify kid’s behavior was for a parent to make you stay on the porch and watch this whole event unfold before your eyes.
But then something all changed in many of our communities, as the ice cream trucks disappeared from our neighborhoods.
After a series of tragedies throughout the country where several children were accidentally struck and killed in the street by either oncoming traffic or the ice cream truck, many local officials began to find them to be too much a safety hazard.
Then once word got out of a handful of incidents where an ice cream truck driver had abducted, molested or attacked a child, many began to ban ice cream truck vendors from operating in residential neighborhoods.
As a risk management and safety consultant, I can now see how glaring a risk these ice cream trucks presented. Any time you introduce children to an attraction where they are extremely distracted near moving vehicles, you have a tragedy waiting to happen.
According to an LA Times article in 1990, in the late 70’s the city of Detroit had recorded had an average of 48 pedestrian accidents per year related to ice cream trucks.
Local officials with the power to make a change began to view ice cream vendors as a clear and present danger to children, and many chose to eliminate the risk altogether. It was Risk Management 101 by removing the risk altogether.
Back in my day many of the older teenagers in our neighborhood would always try to sneak behind the ice cream truck to hitch a ride from behind, either on their skateboards or bikes or by hanging off the back of the bumper.
Some communities went as far as restricting ice cream trucks from parking near schools, parks and other places where they could earn a living. Some local legislators even went as far to ban the trucks’ electronic bells or music to lower the irresistible lure to children.
To survive, many of the ice cream vendors adapted and started to make scheduled stops for businesses, birthdays, parties, employee picnics, weddings, school functions, festivals and church events, forsaking the neighborhoods. To evolve and keep up with technology some have even developed apps that will allow customers to request a special delivery.
Many communities began to require ice cream truck vendors to carry $1 million in liability insurance and provide photographs after running fingerprints and background checks for their drivers.
Those communities that didn’t ban ice cream trucks entirely began requiring vendors to install several safety features such as backup alarms, flashing safety swing arms, etc. Many set time restrictions to make sure that they aren’t operating at dusk when visibility begins to drop.
Some drew up ordinances that required that the vendor employ a 2nd adult attendant whose sole duty and occupation were to protect and safeguard customers from injury or hazards of vehicular traffic.
Many insurance companies have shied away from insuring ice-cream trucks because of the risks they pose. You wouldn’t think that they would be any different from a standard food truck that parks in a spot for two hours, but they are riskier because they are in constant motion and attract children.
Over the years several changes and new safety features have been introduced from moving the serving windows to the right side of the truck (curb-side) backup cameras, wide-angle convex mirrors on the front and back of vehicles, four-way amber flashing lights, reflective strips, watch for children signage, rear bumper covers to prevent kids from climbing on the back.
To take it a step further ice cream vendors should not operate on streets with posted sped limits above 25MPH. Drivers should also be reminded to avoid backing up an ice cream truck to make or attempt to make a sale. Drivers should also complete a daily safety inspection of their vehicles and the trucks should be painted in a white color to allow the children’s clothing to contrast, making them more visible when standing next to an ice cream truck.
Today many cities, counties, and states laws differ in their requirements for operating a mobile vending ice cream business today and as a result, they are much safer. Because of all of these new safety features and laws, many communities are starting to re-introduce ice cream trucks back into their neighborhoods.
Accidents and fatalities are still a very real possibility. Just a few weeks ago in Monticello, NY a 4-year-old boy on his tricycle was killed while he was next to an ice cream truck when it began to move, clipping the bike’s wheels and dragging the child under the truck.
Such tragedies highlight a glowing missing element to be able to experience safe ice cream truck experiences, and that is parents must get involved. Parents need to resist the temptation of the belief that your kids will be safe when they go running out to meet the ice cream truck. These children are distracted and parents must tag along and educate and them instead of leaving their safety to others.
If your children are lucky enough to experience an ice cream truck visit, educate your children to:
Never run to or from an ice cream truck, walk instead,
Look both ways before crossing a street,
Listen to safety instructions that the ice cream truck vendor gives you or any other adult neighbor in the area,
Never ride a bike, skateboard, tricycle, battery charged vehicles, …etc. near an ice cream truck,
Never stand in the street, but instead stand safely away on the curb side of the truck and wait your turn,
Never climb or play on an ice cream truck,
Never cross behind or in front of an ice cream truck; instead walk a minimum of 3-4 driveways away from the truck so that you can see vehicles coming from both directions before crossing,
Then finally, parents, go join your children in the fun and soak up this joyous memory being made, and while you are at it act as a safety observer for your kids and all the other kids in the neighborhood, because sometimes it does take a village.
Be Safe My Friend
Keven Moore works in risk management services and is an expert witness. He has a bachelor’s degree from University of Kentucky, a master’s from Eastern Kentucky University and 25-plus years of experience in the safety and insurance profession. He lives in Lexington with his family and works out of both the Lexington and Northern Kentucky offices. Keven can be reached at kmoore@roeding.com.
