An elderly woman bumped into the back of me
Discussion
A couple of weekends ago I was towing my empty car trailer to the garage. Sitting stationary at a traffic light I observed first an elderly woman in a Mazda and then a few more vehicles queue up behind me. I focused my attention forwards again and a few seconds later received a gentle nudge from behind. It was obviously the elderly lady in the Mazda so as I got out to inspect the damage I expected that since she had hit my trailer there was unlikely to be any damage to my property- I supposed I’d just have a quick word with her, tell her it’s fine, maybe take a photo to cover my arse and then continue on our way.
Anyway, I jumped out and sauntered over demonstrating the least intimidating and confrontational body language I could muster. She sat frozen with a white knuckle grip on the wheel, obviously very tense but doing her utmost to avoid noticing, looking at or in any way acknowledging the man who’s trailer she just drove into. She clearly had no intention of rolling down her window and talking to me but must’ve been aware that she had hit me.
Although her car was still in firm contact with my trailer, I decided that there was probably no damage to it. Without wishing to stress the elderly woman out or delay other motorists, I just took a few photos, got back in my car and drove on. I’m sure she was shaking her head as I was doing this. I like to imagine this was out of bemusement at her own driving error but I suspect it was actually annoyance at me for foolishly allowing her to drive into me and then not immediately getting out of her way afterwards.
18 days has passed but I now wonder if I should’ve taken any action? Worth a call to 101? On one hand I think it unlikely that she is going to claim that I reversed into her etc, on the other she clearly demonstrated a lack of control and awareness and had a poor attitude so I’m kind of annoyed that her bad driving will continue unabated until the next time she uses something – or someone- as a handbrake.
Anyway, I jumped out and sauntered over demonstrating the least intimidating and confrontational body language I could muster. She sat frozen with a white knuckle grip on the wheel, obviously very tense but doing her utmost to avoid noticing, looking at or in any way acknowledging the man who’s trailer she just drove into. She clearly had no intention of rolling down her window and talking to me but must’ve been aware that she had hit me.
Although her car was still in firm contact with my trailer, I decided that there was probably no damage to it. Without wishing to stress the elderly woman out or delay other motorists, I just took a few photos, got back in my car and drove on. I’m sure she was shaking her head as I was doing this. I like to imagine this was out of bemusement at her own driving error but I suspect it was actually annoyance at me for foolishly allowing her to drive into me and then not immediately getting out of her way afterwards.
18 days has passed but I now wonder if I should’ve taken any action? Worth a call to 101? On one hand I think it unlikely that she is going to claim that I reversed into her etc, on the other she clearly demonstrated a lack of control and awareness and had a poor attitude so I’m kind of annoyed that her bad driving will continue unabated until the next time she uses something – or someone- as a handbrake.
s
t happens.
A woman drove into the back of me once whilst I was sat waiting at a red traffic light, I was late for work and I didn't think there would be much damage so I just carried on without even getting out.
She was initially sat patiently waiting behind me, then decided she'd like to drive forwards....into the rear of my car, women eh?!
t happens.A woman drove into the back of me once whilst I was sat waiting at a red traffic light, I was late for work and I didn't think there would be much damage so I just carried on without even getting out.
She was initially sat patiently waiting behind me, then decided she'd like to drive forwards....into the rear of my car, women eh?!
Hard one, but look at my story:
Our neighbour in his late 80s had shocking driving.
I mentioned it to his daughter..... She was quite worried that he was still driving as the DVLA had recently revoked his license.
His car is now immobilised in his garage and no I won't be helping him fit a new battery to it either
Our neighbour in his late 80s had shocking driving.
I mentioned it to his daughter..... She was quite worried that he was still driving as the DVLA had recently revoked his license.
His car is now immobilised in his garage and no I won't be helping him fit a new battery to it either
I had a similar situation, the lady was however not old.
We were queueing and she bumped into my car, as there was a parking I pulled over only to see her drive by...
I followed her until she parked -I guess where she lives-, I went to talk to her and it was quite amusing that first she said she didn't notice, then it was not possible to her to stop, then finally she probably lost patience and quite angrily asked if I had any damage...
I didn't, but how good was replying, "I don't, but your bumper has cracked" and leaving looking at her face
We were queueing and she bumped into my car, as there was a parking I pulled over only to see her drive by...
I followed her until she parked -I guess where she lives-, I went to talk to her and it was quite amusing that first she said she didn't notice, then it was not possible to her to stop, then finally she probably lost patience and quite angrily asked if I had any damage...
I didn't, but how good was replying, "I don't, but your bumper has cracked" and leaving looking at her face
A few years back, we returned from a weekend away to a nice dent in side of my wife's (leased) car in the space outside our house. It was enough to stop the driver's door from opening.
No note, but a neighbour across the street saw us looking and came over. She'd seen an old boy reverse into it, get out to check his damage, have a look round to see if anyone had spotted him, get back into his car and ps off sharpish.
Our neighbour didn't catch the number plate, but she described the fella and his old Rover and told us that he'd dropped off our old widowed, next-door neighbour just before he bumped our car. My wife realised right away who he was; an old chap who volunteered for the council taking old folks out shopping and to the doctors.
I waited 24 hours before I spoke to our next-door neighbour about it. She's a sharp cookie and she denied knowing who I was talking about. Honestly, I was pissed off, but smiled through gritted teeth, thanked her and asked her to let me know if anything else came to mind.
The next day, she knocked on our door, said she'd had time to think about it and remembered who we might mean and gave us the driver's number. He didn't pick up, or return our messages.
Sure enough, he came back a couple of days later to take our neighbour out again. My wife went outside, showed him the damage to her car (not yet repaired) and asked him for his insurance details. He denied everything, even when my wife asked him why his paint was on her car, and why her paint was on the back of his car. He said it wasn't paint from her car, right up until the moment when the other neighbour who witnessed it, came outside and told him that she'd seen him.
My wife was feeling really miserable about the whole situation. She's assertive, but doesn't enjoy conflict. The quote to repair her car was £600, which is meaningful money and not much more than her excess. My wife did not want to have a row with an old man, or fall out with our aged next door neighbour.
She gave the old boy a card with my number and asked him to call us back if he was willing to give his insurance details.
2 nights later, my phone rang with a withheld number. From the get-go, the bloke threatened me and my wife. He was shouting that he was going to come round and smash us up. I didn't know who he was or why he was calling. I asked him if he had the right number and told him I'd be home all evening and he should pop round right away and I'd stick the kettle on. I thought it was my mates on a wind-up.
When he calmed down, he explained that his wife's father had called her up and told her that he'd been accused of hitting someone's car, that he'd no memory of doing it and that the car owner tried to extort money from him. His wife believed his story and called hubby in a right state.
I shared with him some alternative facts and he apologised for his rant. He told me the old boy had a habit of bumping things (my wife saw his car had a few battle scars) and he asked us if he could pay the repair himself.
I said sure, but why? He said, because he wanted to get the old boy off the road for good and this was his way of opening the conversation with his family. He kept his word and paid the next day.
I felt conflicted to be honest. I didn't want to rob an old boy or a 94 year old woman of their freedom, but I wasn't happy that this liability was still allowed to drive. In the end, I did nothing. Still bothers me now.
No note, but a neighbour across the street saw us looking and came over. She'd seen an old boy reverse into it, get out to check his damage, have a look round to see if anyone had spotted him, get back into his car and p
s off sharpish.Our neighbour didn't catch the number plate, but she described the fella and his old Rover and told us that he'd dropped off our old widowed, next-door neighbour just before he bumped our car. My wife realised right away who he was; an old chap who volunteered for the council taking old folks out shopping and to the doctors.
I waited 24 hours before I spoke to our next-door neighbour about it. She's a sharp cookie and she denied knowing who I was talking about. Honestly, I was pissed off, but smiled through gritted teeth, thanked her and asked her to let me know if anything else came to mind.
The next day, she knocked on our door, said she'd had time to think about it and remembered who we might mean and gave us the driver's number. He didn't pick up, or return our messages.
Sure enough, he came back a couple of days later to take our neighbour out again. My wife went outside, showed him the damage to her car (not yet repaired) and asked him for his insurance details. He denied everything, even when my wife asked him why his paint was on her car, and why her paint was on the back of his car. He said it wasn't paint from her car, right up until the moment when the other neighbour who witnessed it, came outside and told him that she'd seen him.
My wife was feeling really miserable about the whole situation. She's assertive, but doesn't enjoy conflict. The quote to repair her car was £600, which is meaningful money and not much more than her excess. My wife did not want to have a row with an old man, or fall out with our aged next door neighbour.
She gave the old boy a card with my number and asked him to call us back if he was willing to give his insurance details.
2 nights later, my phone rang with a withheld number. From the get-go, the bloke threatened me and my wife. He was shouting that he was going to come round and smash us up. I didn't know who he was or why he was calling. I asked him if he had the right number and told him I'd be home all evening and he should pop round right away and I'd stick the kettle on. I thought it was my mates on a wind-up.
When he calmed down, he explained that his wife's father had called her up and told her that he'd been accused of hitting someone's car, that he'd no memory of doing it and that the car owner tried to extort money from him. His wife believed his story and called hubby in a right state.
I shared with him some alternative facts and he apologised for his rant. He told me the old boy had a habit of bumping things (my wife saw his car had a few battle scars) and he asked us if he could pay the repair himself.
I said sure, but why? He said, because he wanted to get the old boy off the road for good and this was his way of opening the conversation with his family. He kept his word and paid the next day.
I felt conflicted to be honest. I didn't want to rob an old boy or a 94 year old woman of their freedom, but I wasn't happy that this liability was still allowed to drive. In the end, I did nothing. Still bothers me now.
My dad who has thankfully stopped driving now,( in fact he has also stopped walking to the toilet and now prefers to st himself) has advanced dementia. In the early stages I stopped being a passenger in his car it was too scary.
I spoke to his GP who admitted that he wasn't fit to drive however did not want to advise him or the DVLA of this as "it would destroy doctor
atient confidence!".
He quite realistically could have wiped out a queue of folks at the bus stop.
His fairly new car did display a few scrapes he denied any knowledge of how they happened.
t himself) has advanced dementia. In the early stages I stopped being a passenger in his car it was too scary.I spoke to his GP who admitted that he wasn't fit to drive however did not want to advise him or the DVLA of this as "it would destroy doctor
atient confidence!".He quite realistically could have wiped out a queue of folks at the bus stop.
His fairly new car did display a few scrapes he denied any knowledge of how they happened.
loskie said:
My dad who has thankfully stopped driving now,( in fact he has also stopped walking to the toilet and now prefers to st himself) has advanced dementia. In the early stages I stopped being a passenger in his car it was too scary.
I spoke to his GP who admitted that he wasn't fit to drive however did not want to advise him or the DVLA of this as "it would destroy doctoratient confidence!".
He quite realistically could have wiped out a queue of folks at the bus stop.
His fairly new car did display a few scrapes he denied any knowledge of how they happened.
I did laugh at the opening sentence.t himself) has advanced dementia. In the early stages I stopped being a passenger in his car it was too scary.I spoke to his GP who admitted that he wasn't fit to drive however did not want to advise him or the DVLA of this as "it would destroy doctor
atient confidence!".He quite realistically could have wiped out a queue of folks at the bus stop.
His fairly new car did display a few scrapes he denied any knowledge of how they happened.
I love the way the silly face has appeared because you used a colon and a p next to each other.
Edited by gforceg on Wednesday 26th July 20:43
17 years old, first time I was allowed out in my mum's car after passing my test, I was sat in a traffic queue when I felt a gentle *bump*. I thought I'd imagined it, but realised the car that was behind me was suddenly a lot nearer. The traffic moved, I moved, then again *bump*. I got out, looked at the back of the car and sure enough the guy behind me had nudged it. No damage though. Like the OP, he didn't acknowledge my presence but he was an old duffer who looked like "moleman" on the Simpsons. I shook my head and got back in. Twice more he bumped me before I pulled into a car park.
Later on, I was stood in a shop. Someone walked into the back of me... yes, it was Mr Moleman. Still didn't acknowledge my presence. Very odd.
Later on, I was stood in a shop. Someone walked into the back of me... yes, it was Mr Moleman. Still didn't acknowledge my presence. Very odd.
HustleRussell said:
18 days has passed but I now wonder if I should’ve taken any action? Worth a call to 101? On one hand I think it unlikely that she is going to claim that I reversed into her etc, on the other she clearly demonstrated a lack of control and awareness and had a poor attitude so I’m kind of annoyed that her bad driving will continue unabated until the next time she uses something – or someone- as a handbrake.
Err, no, forget it. Are you even seriously asking this?Someone touched your trailer and was embarrassed, and 3 weeks later you want to report it?
You've really been festering over her 'poor attitude' all this time? Wow.
Mr GrimNasty said:
HustleRussell said:
18 days has passed but I now wonder if I should’ve taken any action? Worth a call to 101? On one hand I think it unlikely that she is going to claim that I reversed into her etc, on the other she clearly demonstrated a lack of control and awareness and had a poor attitude so I’m kind of annoyed that her bad driving will continue unabated until the next time she uses something – or someone- as a handbrake.
Err, no, forget it. Are you even seriously asking this?Someone touched your trailer and was embarrassed, and 3 weeks later you want to report it?
You've really been festering over her 'poor attitude' all this time? Wow.
When I was growing up the neighbour of a friend was an ancient old fella with an E plate Fiesta popular plus in sky blue ... within a year of getting it it had been bumped numerous times.
His eyesight was shocking and was deaf as a post, he used to drive down the street reading the paper on the steering wheel (!)
He damaged all sorts of cars all the time and duly paid for the damage (I always had the impression he wasn't particularly short of a few quid)
Fast forward a decade and he is still on the road in the same car and nearly legally blind. At quite a mild roundabout he hits the accerator instead of the brake and mows over a young girl c.11/12ish ... kills her outright
He still refused to give up his licencse or car to the family - until the police intervened ... he didn't go away but alas still drove unlicensed with another car he bought ... selfishness on an enormous scale!
His eyesight was shocking and was deaf as a post, he used to drive down the street reading the paper on the steering wheel (!)
He damaged all sorts of cars all the time and duly paid for the damage (I always had the impression he wasn't particularly short of a few quid)
Fast forward a decade and he is still on the road in the same car and nearly legally blind. At quite a mild roundabout he hits the accerator instead of the brake and mows over a young girl c.11/12ish ... kills her outright
He still refused to give up his licencse or car to the family - until the police intervened ... he didn't go away but alas still drove unlicensed with another car he bought ... selfishness on an enormous scale!
I witnessed an old dear parallel parking on a busy Ryde high street by using the car in front and behind as cushions. She eventually got out and wandered off, just before someone else wrote a note and left it on the cars she'd been bouncing off. Never seen anything like it outside of Paris.
Part of the problem is the pride/arrogance.
My FIL is not at the point where he is a danger, but he is an inconvenience to other motorists.
For example he sees/anticipates a red light and stops, but when it turns green he will fanny about, accelerate far too slowly, start telling me that the building over there used to be something else (slowing as he tells me) and then he will be surprised that other drivers are going apoplectic behind him.
He can't see that it is his driving that is at fault, and then launches into how "years ago" (he passed his test in the 1950s) people didn't drive up his backside etc etc.
My FIL is not at the point where he is a danger, but he is an inconvenience to other motorists.
For example he sees/anticipates a red light and stops, but when it turns green he will fanny about, accelerate far too slowly, start telling me that the building over there used to be something else (slowing as he tells me) and then he will be surprised that other drivers are going apoplectic behind him.
He can't see that it is his driving that is at fault, and then launches into how "years ago" (he passed his test in the 1950s) people didn't drive up his backside etc etc.
Never assume they'll do the 'right thing' even when caught.
I was knocked off my motorbike by a 80 year old woman who came out of a T junction in front of me and compounded it by U turning and going back the way she came.
I had an independent witness and the police turned up to see me sitting propped against a hedge (broken collar bone) and my bike still in the middle of the road.
When my insurance company got her version of the accident seemingly she had pulled up at a coffee shop 50 yards up the road and I had run into the back of her!!
alorotom said:
When I was growing up the neighbour of a friend was an ancient old fella with an E plate Fiesta popular plus in sky blue ... within a year of getting it it had been bumped numerous times.
His eyesight was shocking and was deaf as a post, he used to drive down the street reading the paper on the steering wheel (!)
He damaged all sorts of cars all the time and duly paid for the damage (I always had the impression he wasn't particularly short of a few quid)
Fast forward a decade and he is still on the road in the same car and nearly legally blind. At quite a mild roundabout he hits the accerator instead of the brake and mows over a young girl c.11/12ish ... kills her outright
He still refused to give up his licencse or car to the family - until the police intervened ... he didn't go away but alas still drove unlicensed with another car he bought ... selfishness on an enormous scale!
This is the trouble with Millennials, they're all so entitled and selfish. It was never like this in my day...His eyesight was shocking and was deaf as a post, he used to drive down the street reading the paper on the steering wheel (!)
He damaged all sorts of cars all the time and duly paid for the damage (I always had the impression he wasn't particularly short of a few quid)
Fast forward a decade and he is still on the road in the same car and nearly legally blind. At quite a mild roundabout he hits the accerator instead of the brake and mows over a young girl c.11/12ish ... kills her outright
He still refused to give up his licencse or car to the family - until the police intervened ... he didn't go away but alas still drove unlicensed with another car he bought ... selfishness on an enormous scale!
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff