Vehicle safety

  While running this morning, I was passed by a pickup with 2 kids, estimated age less than 8 years, riding excitedly in the open back.  Context:  this is a 2-lane country road with a nominal speed limit of 45 mph, on which most folks do 55.  I was appalled and instantly wanted to call child protective services.

   Mind you, the person who wants to call child services distinctly remembers riding with the kids next door on trips to the farm cooperative to deliver eggs.  We rode after the egg cartons, which were stacked right behind the driver, on the open back of a flat-bed truck. On a 4-lane divided highway.

   Farm times change -- thankfully.