If you've had a few drinks, please remember to look!

[vit4]

Had the nearest miss I've ever had with a pedestrian(s) tonight. Outside a few restaurants in the town centre, about 45 minutes ago so they had probably been on the sauce. I was just pootling home really, and fk me am I glad I was. I've linked the Google maps to get a bit of a better idea, but along the left hand side there are railings with a gap on them, and on the right side are a few restaurants.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=prezzo+hornchurch&...

I was doing 30 tops, the road was soaking and it was still raining on and off. I saw the guy waiting in the gap of the railings on my side yelling to a girl (both early 20's at a guess) on the other side of the street, so I'd just eased off anyway - you know when you get that gut feeling something bad's going to happen? Well, without looking he takes a step into the road and she starts striding towards my side of the street. Got on the horn, went to brake and I missed the threshold (no ABS), brakes locked and by the time I'd managed to release them enough to unlock I was parallel with them. It looks like the guy realised and stepped back although he was still in the road, but literally another step forward on her part and she'd have been under. It wasn't quite a case of her clipping my wing mirror but fk me it wasn't far off .

Not sure why I'm posting this really, just a reminder to be careful after you've had a few drinks I guess. My first near miss with a pedestrian that was that close as well, so I was a bit shaken afterwards to be perfectly honest . I can see how easily it happens. My reactions weren't the best (re locking the wheels ) but had they been any worse this would be a very different story.

[Mr Dave]

Oh cars are just expected to automatically see you and stop instantly if you walk on the road you know.

Cue crappy country road earlier, pitch black, rainy and windy.... family avec dog at quarter to 11 strolling along on the wrong side of the road. Only seen them at the last minute.

Nearly had a heart attack ffs.

[Steffan]

Over the 50 years I have been driving I have had a few collisions with pedestrians trying to run/cut/dash across various city centre roads right in front of my cars of the time.

Thank God never seriously injured one.

Largely luck.

There was no time to do anything but hit the pedestrian, who ran, sprinted, jumped or otherwise threw themselves into the road in front of me.

Minor injuries with two cases, the other two were hospitalised but out in days, thanks to the NHS.

What really surprised me is that I have NEVER been breathalysed on any of the occasions. Not once. Ever.

As it happens I do not drink and drive (I am no paragon, just do not DD.

Been interviewed by Inspectors/Superintendent at 1.00AM to 3.30AM each time late at night never cautioned, never criticised.,never breathalysed.

All city centre accidents two on dual carriageways two on single lane roads.

Whilst each incident was a hell of a shock and I do not ever wish to repeat the heart stopping fear of these incidents, my treatment by three different police forces was exemplary.

I did have reason to be there, there were witnesses testifying to the stupidity of the pedestrians but even so I was very surprised and pleased by the attitude of the Police.

The same was not true for my various speeding misunderstandings.

[Subbeh]

Had a similar incident to the OP a couple of nights ago, except my drunk danced into the road with his back to me! Luckily I was able to stop, regain my composure and admire his moves.

[Onzlouk]

I have been the drunken man who did step into the road and get squashed, didnt know i had shattered my ankle until the next day in A&E. For the record, it hurts and isnt really too clever

[defblade]

In two thirds of accidents involving drink, traffic and peds, it was the pedestrian who was drunk.



So remember kids, don't drink and walk.

[Steffan]

defblade said:

In two thirds of accidents involving drink, traffic and peds, it was the pedestrian who was drunk.



So remember kids, don't drink and walk.

Entirely Correct. Being drunk at any time is unwise.

In the confines of a secure home is undoubtedly the safest place. Still best not.

[mad4amanda]

You may not like this but surely even 30 was too fast for the conditions -dark, road soaked, built up area at pub kicking out time, pedestrians? Its called the speed LIMIT not a requirement to drive at that speed regardless of the conditions.
Yes they should have been paying more attention but maybe you needed to back off a bit before you did.

[iphonedyou]

Steffan said:

Entirely Correct. Being drunk at any time is unwise.

In the confines of a secure home is undoubtedly the safest place. Still best not.

Seriously?

[McSam]

mad4amanda said:

You may not like this but surely even 30 was too fast for the conditions -dark, road soaked, built up area at pub kicking out time, pedestrians? Its called the speed LIMIT not a requirement to drive at that speed regardless of the conditions.
Yes they should have been paying more attention but maybe you needed to back off a bit before you did.

He said he was initially doing 30 tops - in line with your handy definition of a speed limit - and also that he backed off from that when he saw potential hazard? This is exactly what a good, observant driver should do. You can't bloody crawl everywhere on the off chance that a drunk might dive in front of you, you can just take reasonable precautions. This is why you fail driving tests if you're not making due progress.

[CambsBill]

McSam said:

mad4amanda said:

You may not like this but surely even 30 was too fast for the conditions -dark, road soaked, built up area at pub kicking out time, pedestrians? Its called the speed LIMIT not a requirement to drive at that speed regardless of the conditions.
Yes they should have been paying more attention but maybe you needed to back off a bit before you did.

He said he was initially doing 30 tops - in line with your handy definition of a speed limit - and also that he backed off from that when he saw potential hazard? This is exactly what a good, observant driver should do. You can't bloody crawl everywhere on the off chance that a drunk might dive in front of you, you can just take reasonable precautions. This is why you fail driving tests if you're not making due progress.

No, the OP said he was pootling along, and the road was wet with on & off rain, but he'd still been up to what I assume was the speed limit judging by the picture. Different understanding of pootling I'd say - I'd normally use the term if I was clearly under the speed limit.

Either way, glad the OP was keeping his eyes open & nobody got hurt.

[duckers26]

vit4 said:

Had the nearest miss I've ever had with a pedestrian(s) tonight. Outside a few restaurants in the town centre, about 45 minutes ago so they had probably been on the sauce. I was just pootling home really, and fk me am I glad I was. I've linked the Google maps to get a bit of a better idea, but along the left hand side there are railings with a gap on them, and on the right side are a few restaurants.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=prezzo+hornchurch&...

I was doing 30 tops, the road was soaking and it was still raining on and off. I saw the guy waiting in the gap of the railings on my side yelling to a girl (both early 20's at a guess) on the other side of the street, so I'd just eased off anyway - you know when you get that gut feeling something bad's going to happen? Well, without looking he takes a step into the road and she starts striding towards my side of the street. Got on the horn, went to brake and I missed the threshold (no ABS), brakes locked and by the time I'd managed to release them enough to unlock I was parallel with them. It looks like the guy realised and stepped back although he was still in the road, but literally another step forward on her part and she'd have been under. It wasn't quite a case of her clipping my wing mirror but fk me it wasn't far off .

Not sure why I'm posting this really, just a reminder to be careful after you've had a few drinks I guess. My first near miss with a pedestrian that was that close as well, so I was a bit shaken afterwards to be perfectly honest . I can see how easily it happens. My reactions weren't the best (re locking the wheels ) but had they been any worse this would be a very different story.

Didn't expect that to be the map link, it's about 5 minutes from where I live! Have seen this here as well. The road runs up the hill from Hornchurch into Upminster and a lot of people accelerate beyond the speed limit as they leave the town centre. The railings on the left were installed to stop people running between the bars and restaurants on either side but the effect seems to be that drunk people clamber up them and topple straight into the road instead.

[paulmoonraker]

Hello Hornchurch people... I live 10 mins from there... I have nothing else to add (other than I sometimes exit one of those eateries drunk, but do my best to avoid stumbling into the road)... Wave if you see my rather loud silver car drive by...

[shovelheadrob]

The worst I have seen was about 30 years ago, Lower Sloane street heading north towards Sloane Square, following an old Routemaster bus, this guy (who it turned out was severely intoxicated) missed his footing coming down the stairs as the bus went around a slight right hand bend, tried to grab the conductor who managed to grab the handrail so as not to be taken with him, ended up hitting his head on the kerb so hard it smashed his skull, the inquest recorded death by misadventure. Witnesses on the bus said he could barely stand. Alcohol turning normal people into idiots every day.

[mantis84]

When I was 9 years old, my Dad had just been given a new company car and gone and bought a caravan (oh the shame). I'd gone out with him for a drive with the 'van attached because he wanted to see how it towed. Heading down an NSL A road in a rural area in the dark, no pavement or street lights, I heard a loud bang and saw the passenger-side wing mirror shatter. Turns out a pissed up bloke walking home from the pub stepped off the grass verge onto the road at the wrong moment and hit the wing mirror, then the caravan.

I don't know how long it actually was from it happening to the ambulance turning up, but it felt like hours (it was probably less than 15 minutes) whilst my Dad held the back of his head trying to stem the guy's bleeding. I was stting myself. He survived thankfully, and no action was taken against my Dad by the Police.

So to add to the OP's good advice, don't go stumbling along fast, unlit A-roads in the dark when you're st-faced.

[mad4amanda]

McSam said:

mad4amanda said:

You may not like this but surely even 30 was too fast for the conditions -dark, road soaked, built up area at pub kicking out time, pedestrians? Its called the speed LIMIT not a requirement to drive at that speed regardless of the conditions.
Yes they should have been paying more attention but maybe you needed to back off a bit before you did.

He said he was initially doing 30 tops - in line with your handy definition of a speed limit - and also that he backed off from that when he saw potential hazard? This is exactly what a good, observant driver should do. You can't bloody crawl everywhere on the off chance that a drunk might dive in front of you, you can just take reasonable precautions. This is why you fail driving tests if you're not making due progress.

Amd also why 20mph limits have been bought in in many places. Along with speed measuring signs which tend to remind people of the limit and their speed.

[soad]

Close shave, most had a few. Can be bad near busy bars, students etc just don't look.

[Debaser]

Steffan said:

Entirely Correct. Being drunk at any time is unwise.

In the confines of a secure home is undoubtedly the safest place. Still best not.

Except most accidents happen at home. Modern life is so confusing and dangerous, I just don't know where I should have my next serious accident.

[vit4]

mad4amanda said:

You may not like this but surely even 30 was too fast for the conditions -dark, road soaked, built up area at pub kicking out time, pedestrians? Its called the speed LIMIT not a requirement to drive at that speed regardless of the conditions.
Yes they should have been paying more attention but maybe you needed to back off a bit before you did.

Should probably have clarified that this part of the town is pretty empty after the initial rush out, and at the time bar the odd lone pedestrian it was just these two, certainly not busy. For those who know it (Seem to be a few locals? ) the part just up the high street, outside another couple of clubs/pubs whilst also 30 is a road that only an idiot would do 30 down at kicking out time, far busier with cabs taking up half the road, and very drunk people everywhere.

shovelheadrob said:

The worst I have seen was about 30 years ago, Lower Sloane street heading north towards Sloane Square, following an old Routemaster bus, this guy (who it turned out was severely intoxicated) missed his footing coming down the stairs as the bus went around a slight right hand bend, tried to grab the conductor who managed to grab the handrail so as not to be taken with him, ended up hitting his head on the kerb so hard it smashed his skull, the inquest recorded death by misadventure. Witnesses on the bus said he could barely stand. Alcohol turning normal people into idiots every day.

Bloody hell - must have been pretty horrible to watch?

[vit4]

paulmoonraker said:

Hello Hornchurch people... I live 10 mins from there... I have nothing else to add (other than I sometimes exit one of those eateries drunk, but do my best to avoid stumbling into the road)... Wave if you see my rather loud silver car drive by...

Just looked at your profile, nice Scooby Do love the blobeyes!

If you see a rather battered old Astra c'est moi OH lives local to there so I'm always about the area.