From the company page, they "cut through" rather than "press aside" fibers in the wood.

But, hmm, when you drill you're removing wood -- sawdust comes out of the hole. Doesn't look like any wood is going to come out with these, and the displaced wood has to go somewhere... they don't look hollow. So it seems like there's still going to be plenty of wood "pressed aside".

I'm thinking that the difference between 1968 and 2008 isn't the kids, it's the adults. Random serial killers aside, the fear that this brings out is "what if something were to go wrong." 40 years ago it seems we knew a kid could count on a stranger for help, and a stranger would generally go as far as getting a lost kid to a trusted authority.

I wonder if the same is true today? As adults and parents we don't seem to trust strangers. But I know I'm at least as trustworthy as my parents were, and totally willing to help ensure the safety of kids I see out in the world. I bet BoingBoing selects for that kind of person, which explains all the positive responses here.

How is it that America has lost track of how to deal with strangers and people in trouble?

XREY - This has nothing to do with cyclists obeying traffic laws. Ride a motorcycle, same thing happens routinely even though we're completely legal. Happens often enough to pedestrians and even other cars too. I think the closing quote should have been simply "when you're driving pay attention to driving." (And yay for cyclists too.)