My car hit a person :-(

[danajeanne]

How much do I wish people would NOT wear dark clothes at night when they're walking?  Especially in the rain?  Probably about as much as the person I hit on the 25th wishes she'd been paying attention when she crossed the street.

Yeah, I hit a person.  She ended up with a broken wrist I think, but is otherwise okay (as far as I know); I was leaving a stop sign so I was going slowly.  I totally never saw her, she blended right in with the rain, trees, bushes, and pavement.

I've no clue what happens next.  We're still waiting for the report to be finished so my insurance can do whatever they do in cases like this.  I'm still upset about it, but a lot calmer than I was two weeks ago  I'm also kind of mad at her for wearing dark clothes and not seeing me.  I mean, it's a white car, with headlights, how on earth did she not see me?

April is defensive driving month.  I don't know if it's county, state, or nation-wide, but there needs to be a defensive pedestrian month, too, so people can be taught how to walk safely.

Comments

[mlevins.livejournal.com]

As a pedestrian I can say people who are walking do need to be "defensive" walkers and try to anticipate. With a lot of distracted drivers you can't presume they've seen you, even when you are crossing where you should. I've had a lot of near misses with drivers wanting to turn right-on-red who are looking up the street at traffic and I've become invisible to them at the crosswalk. Everyone needs to take resposibility

[hagsrus.livejournal.com]

Happened to me once. I'd have been safer crossing against the light when the (far too fast) driver couldn't have made the turn!

[caffyolay.livejournal.com]

We could've wiped someone out the other day as she started to walk under our wheels while she was texting on her mobile. Her friend pulled her back. Otherwise we might easily be in your situation too. You're so right, we do need a defensive pedestrian month... 'year'. People have so little awareness of their own safety.

[jessm78.livejournal.com]

Oh goodness, I'm sorry this happened. I know what you mean - what on earth possesses people to wear dark clothes at night like that? I just don't get people. I hope everything goes well, hon. *hugs*