To absolve her of all blame and to even allow her to seek alternative employment would send out the signal to maids that ignorance is the best excuse when tragedy strikes.

A few months ago, as I was driving into the carpark of my block, a child of about four or five years old dashed into my path.

As I have a five-year-old of my own, I have always made it a point to slow down and even stop whenever I see children nearby. Had I not done so, I would have knocked him down.

In the meantime, the child's maid was chatting on her mobile phone several metres away, oblivious to what had happened. She made no attempt to stop her conversation or to chase after the boy.

I could not resist telling the maid that it was wrong of her to leave her charge to cross the road on his own. Had an accident happened, as the driver I would most certainly have been taken to task. But then again, are we going to excuse the maid as she is also not criminally negligent?

Many children are taken care of by maids. Parents should teach their children about road safety, and remind their maids constantly to be cautious when taking their charges across the road.

Elizabeth Ng Boon Kwan (Mrs)