Lignieres and Traffic

Traffic, the bane of civilization. When in California we expect to be in long lines (queues) at every stop light and intersection. We have grown not comfortable with it there and know when to take on the worst of it. Here we have differing expectations. Here at The Ruin at 35 Marechal Joffre we have a situation that needs some explanation. Hereabouts are fields of every sort of grain; colza, sunflowers, wheat, barley, linseed, soybeans. In the beginning of each rotation there are seeding equipments, trailers of seed, fertilizers, and all else in support of the growing plant life. Each vehicle traverses our fair village at whatever speed it deems necessary to reach it's destination in a timely and appropriate manner. In it's travels it must exit thru our portal at the Croix Verte (green cross) intersection. Our abode lies right there, smack dam at the point of the crossing of 4 streets major to our town. The stop sign that faces our front door is purely advisory to the majority of the French, Belgian, Dutch and any other driver faced with it. Rare is the personage that actually stops and LOOKS to see the old people, persons on bycyles, cars, trucks and large farm implements forthcoming into the intersection at the Croix Verte. Every morning we sit in our dining room and eye the cars, trucks and tractors that invade the intersection, they see, they slow, they drift through at whatever speed they believe acknowledges thier degree of compliance with the aforementioned stop sign. I have witnessed gendarmes watching this parade of fools yet no action is ever taken. They, these police officers, are on a mission from some god, not the one of traffic compliance. This stop sign cannot be a joke I think. This IS a dangerous intersection, yet in our stays here I've seen only near misses, no accidents. There are rubber marks on the pavement, but no glass or mirror shards. Why not? Apparently the traffic simply ignores this technical requirement to their progress towards La Chatre, St. Hilaire and points south. I actually am afraid of crossing the street in front of my house. When seen by an approaching car I cower and hurry up and hope that whatever stupor the driver is in isn't deep enough to disclude my frail body from their view and responsibility not to hit. Then we have motorbikes.
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At 14 a young person (male mostly) can ride a motor scooter without a license from the government, really. Ok, maybe they need the transport for schooling in a distant community. Maybe a job at a farm some distance from home or the school. Maybe a medical appointment, a dental appointment, a date. Sure. Any of these could be a reason. But AFTER the school hours these self-same CHILDREN are running amok on their gas fed charges. Up and down the narrow streets of Lignieres, chasing their own shadows into the dusk and then into the night. No guidance, no caution, nothing. They buzz into the night doing LAPS around the sectors of the village. I wait for the crunch, the yelp, the screech of tires, the dead thump of a body against a hood or pavement. Parents? They seem immobile, the bikes run without heed alongside sidewalks, corners, bicyclists, trucks, cars and other motorcycles.
Are they in training? What can possibly allow this risky driving? Is this the same activity as those who do not stop at the intersections so marked? It seems so as they fly through the same intersections without slowing 1 kph. I find it hard to understand. Why would I willingly allow my 14 year old to loose himself on a 50cc motorbike to go at full throttle through small village? A life insurance policy BET?
I want to push a wheelchair? You HAVE to be kidding. Not my kid! Never happen. I'd put the law down, stop the speeding, racing and traversing the village at high speed or else the moto is history. Why don't the parents CARE about the action of their children in our fair village? Why?