I just read this story on CNN today about a guy who fell to his death while attempting to slide down the banister of an escalator.
Moms of small children, this is the story you can pull out of your hat when admonishing your youngsters to not screw around on the escalators in the mall (or wherever). This was one of my pet peeves as my children were growing up. Probably one that I was a bit overzealous about at times. You must respect the dangers of the escalator. So much can go wrong. A shoelace stuck in the crack between steps can surely drag you to your death. A mis-step as you step onto the contraption, or off of it, could send you tumbling and land you in the ER. And good lord, keep both feet planted firmly on the steps and DON'T TRY TO SLIDE DOWN THE HAND RAIL.
I'm not sure where this fear came from in me. I don't remember ever having a bad experience on an escalator. But I sure wish I had this story to point to when my kids complained that I was being a psycho about escalator safety!