Hit a pedestrian this morning....
Discussion
I live on a busy 30mph dual carriageway, and exiting my drive requires crossing the pavement (obviously). The entrance has big brick pillars, and visibility up/down the pavement is non-existant. So, my usual technique is to hang the nose of the car out by 1 foot or so, pause for a couple of seconds, then inch out slowly. This gives cyclists some warning that a car is emerging (even though they shouldn't be on the path - but that's another matter).
So this morning I do the above, reach the end of the pavement, with the nose of the gay blue Fiesta hanging out slightly into the road (by 6" or so). I look left along the pavement, all clear. I look right at the oncoming traffic, one car is coming, about 40 yards away, then a clear gap behind. I'm waiting for that gap, then I'm off. Look left again, all clear - now I'm I'm looking right waiting for that gap.
Unfortunately, at that point, a man steps out of a neighbouring drive (they have lots of parking and rent spaces daily for people to use to walk to the train station). He walks onto the pavement, and walks straight in front of my car, just as I'm setting off. Bang.
He's fine - the coming together is little more than a nudge. I get a torrent of abuse off the chap, called all names under the sun. I'm apologetic, stopped, make sure he's okay. We both go on our way.
Having thought about it though...
1. Who in their right mind walks in front of a car that's clearly about to pull away without eye-balling the driver?
2. Why didn't he just walk behind the car? It's only a Fiesta - 12 paces at most?
Sorry for a long post, and a lack of ranty swearing.
Jon
I'd say both. You didn't expect him to be there so didn't look left fully when setting off by the sounds of it. A mistake that many of us could make in your situation. Also he obviously felt hard done by the fact that you were blocking is path. I'm guessing that the back of your car was level, or still within your driveway.
Glad that no one was hurt. I would still report to the police in case he decides to make a claim. Fraudulent or otherwise, you'll be without a paddle if you don't. Insurance need notifying too.
Glad that no one was hurt. I would still report to the police in case he decides to make a claim. Fraudulent or otherwise, you'll be without a paddle if you don't. Insurance need notifying too.
Edited by Birdster on Thursday 7th February 12:09
I live on a fairly busy road. The council has decided the path should also be a cycle path, so inching out of the drive I get the odd cyclist flying past the nose of my car.
It is scary that people are so inside their own world / head they can ignore the dangers of a moving car.
I've had to reverse out of my drive before and a woman walked into the side of my car - THE SIDE, apparently I shouldn't have been on the path when leaving my drive...crazy.
It is scary that people are so inside their own world / head they can ignore the dangers of a moving car.
I've had to reverse out of my drive before and a woman walked into the side of my car - THE SIDE, apparently I shouldn't have been on the path when leaving my drive...crazy.
Its pretty annoying, had a couple walk across the front of my range rover at a junction as I was pulling out of a minor road into a major road, looking right, was clear, stamped on the loud pedal only to look forward and see this guy and his bird right in front of me, slammed on the brakes and was lucky not to make contact with them.. who the hell crosses in front like that? cross behind the lead car surely!!!
Similar incident with my mother in the snow a few weeks back:
Lived in same place over 40 years, familiar with pedestrian numptiness but...
Reversing slowly up the drive which opens onto a hill.
Bordered with shrubs etc.
Pavement snow and ice covered.
Easing out gently (remember visibility is awful so done very slowly and checking as best as possible)
Rear wheels just onto pavement and hears thumping on car.
91yr old bloke lying down next to car.
Police and Paramedics arrive - he has broken leg. Not a mark on the car.
TafPol call it one of those things and don't want to take action having decided mother certainly hadn't run him over. In all probability he'd walked/slid into the car and fallen over or had fallen over before she exited the drive.
Local Police unit seems to think otherwise and is all full of ooh and aah for the old boy who was out on a hill in the ice and snow for no good reason and also appears to have ignored the sound of a moving car.
Neighbours saw him 2 days before struggling to keep balance on the same stretch and wondered how long it would take him to fall over and break himself. Sadly they didn't witness this incident.
Long and short, TrafPol ruled on no action, old boy in hospital, local plod has encouraged ambulance chasing.
And so the insurance claim game begins...yet we're pretty sure she didn't even touch the bugger!
First incident for any of us there since 1968, and there's been a lot of coming and going in that time in many vehicles of differing shapes and sizes.
Lived in same place over 40 years, familiar with pedestrian numptiness but...
Reversing slowly up the drive which opens onto a hill.
Bordered with shrubs etc.
Pavement snow and ice covered.
Easing out gently (remember visibility is awful so done very slowly and checking as best as possible)
Rear wheels just onto pavement and hears thumping on car.
91yr old bloke lying down next to car.
Police and Paramedics arrive - he has broken leg. Not a mark on the car.
TafPol call it one of those things and don't want to take action having decided mother certainly hadn't run him over. In all probability he'd walked/slid into the car and fallen over or had fallen over before she exited the drive.
Local Police unit seems to think otherwise and is all full of ooh and aah for the old boy who was out on a hill in the ice and snow for no good reason and also appears to have ignored the sound of a moving car.
Neighbours saw him 2 days before struggling to keep balance on the same stretch and wondered how long it would take him to fall over and break himself. Sadly they didn't witness this incident.
Long and short, TrafPol ruled on no action, old boy in hospital, local plod has encouraged ambulance chasing.
And so the insurance claim game begins...yet we're pretty sure she didn't even touch the bugger!
First incident for any of us there since 1968, and there's been a lot of coming and going in that time in many vehicles of differing shapes and sizes.
Fittster said:
Chrisw666 said:
Human beings are monumentally stupid creatures.
Without technology we'd have died out a long time ago.
Human's were on the planet for a long time with just bits of stone. As we get more technology the risks of wiping ourselves out increase.Without technology we'd have died out a long time ago.
Fittster said:
Chrisw666 said:
Human beings are monumentally stupid creatures.
Without technology we'd have died out a long time ago.
Human's were on the planet for a long time with just bits of stone. As we get more technology the risks of wiping ourselves out increase.Without technology we'd have died out a long time ago.
Humans were on this planet for thousands of years with out any modern technology.
For thousands of years the fastest you could travel was as fast as a horse could gallop.
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