If you stop I'll hit you. Why stop?

[WritersBlock]

I'll set the scene first. It started when I finished work this evening. I was driving down the highway to pick up some pizza on my way home. It was raining. Not much, but rain, nonetheless. I was almost there, driving behind another seemingly incompetent raod-user. Generally when you put your right indicator on, you're intending to turn. So, naturally I started to change lanes, as the driver would have to stop and wait to turn across the oncoming traffic (note: I'm Australian, we drive on the left-hand side of the road). But no, a moment later the driver turns his flicker off and continues straight. So I do a little bit of a swivel to get back in my lane. And as I do when I'm driving, I tend to pick out the faults of the other drivers on the road, failing to indicate, merging incorrectly, generally sucking at driving their cars. So I'm not in the best mood as it is.

World Population: 6,743,268,902 morons and counting.

So I get to a set of lights where I have to turn right across traffic. When it gets to the green light, I creep out and wait for a break in the traffic, so I can sneak through and make my turn. There's a few cars, but it doesn't take long before I get my break. So, like a logical person, I choose not to crawl around the corner but actually get through the intersection before the next cars come through. Unfortunately, at this time, a pedestrian decided he'd cross the street in which I was turning. As it was red for the pedestrian crossing, he was jogging. He was about half way across the left-hand side of the road when I made my turn. Of course, I breaked, and veered to the left a bit, as the road was quite wide. Instead of running faster, like a normal person, he sees me and pauses, jumping backwards slightly, causing me to brake and veer even more. After a moment, he realised that I wasn't going to hit him, and he ran off across the road. I drove down the road and got my pizza.

I've had several moments similar to this where I've been in my car, and another car's driving towards me. Do I slam on the breaks? Fuck no!
There's only one logical thing to do: Gun it!

[thelittleemo]

Well the reason he stopped is probably cause he was just freaked out or something. Of course he shouldn't have been walking anyway since the light was red for pedestrian crossing.

[cHunter]

Why veer? Pedestrians are 10pts, bro.

[WritersBlock]

At 9/6/09 10:34 AM, thelittleemo wrote: Well the reason he stopped is probably cause he was just freaked out or something. Of course he shouldn't have been walking anyway since the light was red for pedestrian crossing.

Yeah, obviously. But if you freeze up in moments like these, instead of getting your ass out of the way, it could cost you. I expected that more adults knew how to handle with pressure such as this. The last thing I need is blood on my car.

[pieplane]

At 9/6/09 10:37 AM, cHunter wrote: Why veer? Pedestrians are 10pts, bro.

no, 20

[mrpwnzer]

I always try to hit the pedestrian ever since some idiot stood in the middle of the road. His friends were there and they were joking because they thought they would piss off the driver (me).

Me, I just put my foot to the pedal and went 55 on a 35 :D The kid's face was laughable and gave me the finger.

[evan210]

At 9/6/09 10:39 AM, pieplane wrote:

At 9/6/09 10:37 AM, cHunter wrote: Why veer? Pedestrians are 10pts, bro.

no, 20

No, those are girl scouts and grannies.

[WritersBlock]

At 9/6/09 10:39 AM, pieplane wrote:

At 9/6/09 10:37 AM, cHunter wrote: Why veer? Pedestrians are 10pts, bro.

no, 20

Wait till you come across the boss...

[kamelona]

I hate that the indicator for me to walk across the road comes on at the exact time the indicator for cars to turn right (exactly where I'm walking) comes on

[WritersBlock]

At 9/6/09 10:55 AM, kamelona wrote: I hate that the indicator for me to walk across the road comes on at the exact time the indicator for cars to turn right (exactly where I'm walking) comes on

To be honest, most of the time I go whether the indicator's cleared me for the pedestrian crossing or not, but I check if any cars will run me over first, and if so, I make myself aware of it and run. But it sounds like that set of traffic lights is retarded. Why not make all traffic lights green all of the time. Hell, at least it'll get people expecting to crash and therefore proceeding with more caution.

[1Tyla1]

At 9/6/09 11:00 AM, WritersBlock wrote: Why not make all traffic lights green all of the time. Hell, at least it'll get people expecting to crash and therefore proceeding with more caution.

As sad as it sounds this seems logical to me.

I don't really intend to drive, but one thing that really pisses me off is when you've checked for cars, looked at their indicators to make sure they ARE NOT turning, and then you cross the road! Little did I know, that there always seems to be someone who will indicate way too late, or not at all. Sure, watching the driver is also another part of safely navigating the streets, but indicators are made to give an early indication that you are changing lanes, turning or you're going to edge by the pavement to park up.

Another? Cyclists, who seem to complain about drivers not noticing them or anything. Yes, some people are fucktards, but if you're going to be cycling in the middle of the fucking road, instead of as out of the way of cars and pedestrians as possible, then you should take common sense lessons. That goes for the motorbike drivers, who thinks "hey, let's overtake everything just so I can go as fast as possible", yes, people want to get around, but you don't need to be so dangerous.

Deep breaths, Tyla, deep breaths.

[SymbolCymbal]

As a bike messenger i feel your pain.. sometimes people just dont know what to do when something is coming at them in a fast way. they cant judge where it is going so they freeze up and force me to make a move that is more dangerous to them and myself. plus bike breaks dont stop on a dimme without the whole back end trying to ump over your head and flip the bike. and then rear breaks will just make you skid uncontrolled into them, So coming to a dead stop without much time to maneuver usually ends up with someone getting hurt or me getting really pissed off

i especially love the ones that cross busy street from in-between parked vans while texting. i took 2 of those down already. they deserved it. i fucking hate stupid pedestrians

[kamelona]

I live in a city with a pretty high percent Asian so imagine how insecure I feel when I'm trying to cross the road

[Vidaria]

Like some people have said, different people react differently when startled.

Some people freeze and lose all control (and potentially empty their bowels and bladder).

Others are able to keep their wits about them and react.

Just a quick note: at least here in Canada, pedestrians ALWAYS have priority. Even if the idiot breaks the traffic rules and you run him over, you could still be held responsible, within reason (e.g. if you forgot to check the intersection for pedestrians before you turned, or were going excessively fast etc, but not if the moron purposely jumped in front of your moving car).

[JC1playa]

At 9/6/09 09:27 PM, kamelona wrote: I live in a city with a pretty high percent Asian so imagine how insecure I feel when I'm trying to cross the road

30 pts.

[AlphaCentauri]

It's just a deer in the headlights response, most of the time when you get scared you freeze, no matter if you see a car coming right at you, or a murder with a knife burst into your room.

Most people react this way.

[JHaley]

At 9/6/09 10:32 AM, WritersBlock wrote: I've had several moments similar to this where I've been in my car, and another car's driving towards me. Do I slam on the breaks? Fuck no!
There's only one logical thing to do: Gun it!

Deer-In-Headlights syndrome is a terrible thing...