Earlier tonight, I went out to get some snack items for tonight because I have friends coming over. So after making a run to the local Save-On-Foods, I was crossing the road (on a green light, mind you… not illegally) when suddenly this car makes a turn right in front of me! :eek:
Needless to say, I was quite shocked. If it had been clear, albeit darkish, weather, I would have really been steamed. As it is, it’s dark and rainy outside… but still. I was wearing a bright pink jacket, so the driver ought to have seen that. It was definitely my green light, and there was no turn signal or overzealous cars in evidence when I started to cross the road. (and yes, I did look both ways before corssing, thank you very much)
So right now, I’m very thankful I didn’t get hurt or killed outright. Rather ignominous place to die, even though generally you don’t have the choice of dying places. My friends certainly wouldn’t have known about it, and when they came over, no one would have answered the door. I’d hate for that to happen too.
Called a friend just now to tell her that, and she said that someone must be protecting me. I’d damn well better hope so! Told my brother about it (and told him NOT to tell our mom, otherwise she’d totally freak out, and I can’t handle that)… he was surprised, too.
That’s all I have to say on the subject for now. My friends are due to come in five minutes. I don’t think I’m going out again when it’s cold, dark, and rainy by myself anytime soon…
Let me get this straight - you live in Richmond, and you are surprised that people there are bad drivers? Hell, I’ve had cars turn right in front of me in broad daylight, in clear weather, up in Kitsilano, and everyone knows that Richmond is home of the worst drivers on earth.
The funniest thing about this thread is that the author does not place the title “I almost got killed!” in the pit, but rather in “Mundane Pointles Stuff…”
Stuff like this happens pretty routinely to me around my house. I live at one of the most dangerous intersections in San Francisco, but oddly enough, I worry most about the corner one block over, on the way to work. I usually assume the driver doesn’t see me and is busy looking the other way to see when they can turn without hitting oncoming traffic.
I always watch carefully for eye contact, and if that comes later than comfortable, I usually shrug it off and accept the sheepish apology gesture I usually get. But one lady a week ago came closer than most, so that I actively had to move to avoid getting hit, and she just glared at me as I continued out of the car’s way.
I get lots of people, I mean lots, who pull completely into the crosswalk, requiring us pedestrians to walk in front of or behind their car. And if one of my bags just happens to hit their bumper while I’m on my way, oh well. (I never make any attempt to actually cause damage, just a non-verbal fuck-you).
Gundy, that is absolutely correct. Definitely I crossed on my green light. Wouldn’t have dared cross such a busy intersection on the other person’s green light.
t-keela, that’s right, too. Maybe not the best decision I made, but I don’t have a car… so not much to do about that, either.
meyer: the fact that people are bad drivers does not surprise me. But still, to have it happen to you is a bit shocking. I’m not sure it’s something you get used to: “Oh yeah, people try to mow me down in the crosswalk all the time… it’s no big deal.” Lest this be interpreted as a flame, I’m just trying to say that it was a bit shocking. Nothing more… certainly not something I expected to have happen, but the fact that it does happen… well. Naught I can do about it.
Pythagras: if I had placed it in the Pit, I very likely would have earned recrimination galore. For now, the lessons have been learned about posting in the Pit. Besides, I wouldn’t repost this in the Pit. No way.
Heck, I waited till I got home to shake. Definitely thought about it for more than a few minutes. Told me friends what had happened, and we all just thanked goodness that I wasn’t killed or anything!