An elderly woman bumped into the back of me

[HustleRussell]

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.

[HustleRussell]

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.

There's a lesson in this weird episode and my reaction to it- the power of communication. If she'd acknowledged her mistake, possibly even apologised, this would've all been forgotten by the time I finished my journey. Instead, here I am- reminded by the 're-take driving test at 70' thread, and still in the dark about the possibility that my decision not to do anything about it at the time might come back to bite me on the arse (the 'he reversed into me' scenario).