Almost hit someone today with my car

[Gutwrench]

Many years ago I was stopped for a red light in the number two lane two cars back from the limit line. There was a Golden Gate Transit bus just coming to a stop in a designated bus stop on the right shoulder. The number one lane was unoccupied.

A few moments after the GGT stopped the traffic light cycled to green. But unfortunately a girl about twelve years old had exited the bus and immediately darted across the street in front of the bus and the car stopped in front of me. It remained stopped but a car approaching the intersection from behind us in number one lane at about 30 mph didn't see her. The girl ran directly into the path of the car. The girl flew over the front bumper and into the windshield then ejected back onto the street.

I activated my emergency lights and ran to the intersection. Before I got there (I was only 2-3 car lengths away) the girl popped up and ran off. I chased her into the grassy area of the freeway on ramp and got her attention and to lie down in the grass near the gore point. She burst into tears. I comforted her and she just clung to my arms as the paramedics responded and treated her.

I later learned other than bruising she was completely uninjured. I don't know how.

Even if the traffic signal is green, if there are cars stopped in adjacent lane(s) slow down and proceed with caution. You may not be able to see what those cars are stopped for.

 

[shiboo18]

I almost ran over a child today.. I din't stop at the stop sign.. I just didnt notice.. OMG I am soo scared... I can't get the image out of my head.. I don't ever want to drive again.. What do I do guys... I would never ever run over someone.. I feel like weeping

 

[Tech198]

Didnt want to share this with coworkers, but feel the need to get it off my chest.

Was at an intersection this morning, waiting to turn left. The light turned green, there was no oncoming traffic, and I didnt see any pedestrians in the crosswalk so proceeded to turn left. Out of nowhere a young woman suddenly appeared and I literally just missed hitting her by inches. I think she was wearing headphones, and was completely oblivious to this VERY close call....

I was so shaken up I had to pull over and chill for several minutes....

I'm still pretty shaken up. A fraction of a second sooner, and I would have hit her.....

I almost did the same thing to a riding bicycle... He obviously knew because i heard a angry voice... with my window up. so he was defiantly ****** ... These things happen. I didn't worry about it...

Usually with stuff like that i don't even worry about it at all.... its only an issue if u hit anyone,,,, You'll know that's for sure.. Near misses are what everyone does.... Weather right or wrong, or in cases where "I cam make it" (which i'll do all the time i admit). My excuse though was it was at 5 AM.

 

[A.Goldberg]

The other day in Boston I saw two people hit by cars.

The first was on Newbury Street. A older woman making a left turn hit a young woman crossing at a crosswalk. I imagine it was low speed. Boston traffic signals are odd. They'll give drivers green lights and parallel crosswalks walk signals at the same time. A green light in Boston really only means you can drive straight. Turning R/L with a green light does not imply a red crosswalk signal.

Later that day in Coolidge Corner I saw the aftermath of another car-vs pedestrian.

A few weeks ago I was driving down a main road and this woman ran straight out into the street (no crosswalk btw) in attempt to catch an oncoming train (which travels between the 4 lanes of car traffic). I was driving the speed limit, was not distracted, reacted immediately, and have good brakes (BMW 5-series) yet was literally inches from hitting her. I didn't even have time to hit the horn. I don't think I have ever hit he brakes so hard in my life... I basically strained my calf muscle in the process and went blue from holding my breath.

I think it's great new cars have these autonomic braking of features. Also important for not only drivers but pedestrians to be alert.

 

[ActionableMango]

The "A" pillars (the two front pillars on either side of your windshield) in cars are getting thicker and thicker, and thus blocking more and more of the view. I've had many experiences where a person or even an entire car is blocked by my "A" pillar, and I have to "head bob" to look around the pillar when executing a left turn.

I've had one close encounter with almost hitting a pedestrian in a parking lot, in broad daylight, with me paying attention, and looking in the correct direction. He was in the perfect spot and walking just correctly in order to stay behind my "A" pillar during my entire left turn. I just barely stopped in time, but only because my passenger said something.

I looked into this, and it is indeed an increasingly common problem. The following image depicts the issue. This is how a pedestrian can "appear out of nowhere".

"Red dot represents pedestrian. Blue dots represent where driver cannot see pedestrian with both eyes; yellow dots show where driver can see pedestrian with one eye."

http://wardsauto.com/news-analysis/new-pillars-enhance-safety-impede-visibility

 

[Tech198]

I think it's great new cars have these autonomic braking of features. Also important for not only drivers but pedestrians to be alert.

But u do know autonomous vehicles will now actually be worse than what pedestrians do now..

Now, we just cross anywhere there are breaks in traffic and hope we can make it across the other side safety.. Pure luck.. particularly if u wanna try playing chicken in peak hour traffic..

Now take autonomous cars, while safer for the driver, no one will hit u because their automatically break.. Result is safer cars, but also safer for pedestrians .... More people will walk across the road, this time in traffic, taking their time, instead of actually rushing not knowing if u'r gonna slow down...

If autonomous vehicles u will always know...

Not to do on a death wish, since u wouldn't be perpetually running anyone over. Laws prevail.

 

[A.Goldberg]

But u do know autonomous vehicles will now actually be worse than what pedestrians do now..

Now, we just cross anywhere there are breaks in traffic and hope we can make it across the other side safety.. Pure luck.. particularly if u wanna try playing chicken in peak hour traffic..

Now take autonomous cars, while safer for the driver, no one will hit u because their automatically break.. Result is safer cars, but also safer for pedestrians .... More people will walk across the road, this time in traffic, taking their time, instead of actually rushing not knowing if u'r gonna slow down...

If autonomous vehicles u will always know...

Not to do on a death wish, since u wouldn't be perpetually running anyone over. Laws prevail.

Maybe... Maybe not. Time will tell. Autonomic braking is on a fraction of cars and typically pedestrian safety systems on work below a certain speed. Some systems, have varying levels of function- older Volvos on highway braking don't actually engage the brakes, the driver has to, but the system warns the driver and pre charges the brake fluid to have full braking power when needed. Systems can also be shut off manually or limited by environmental issues- sun glare, precipitation, etc depending on how it works. My point is there's variation in systems and I'm not sure most people are willing to take the risk of running out into traffic betting on autonomic systems.

The autonomic pedestrian systems are designed for pedestrian and car safety more than anything. Hitting a person with your car rarely physically injures the driver.

That's like saying because cars have seatbelts and airbags people drive more recklessly. People probably don't, but yes there are unintended consequences of safety equipment induced injury. Overall however there are far fewer traffic fatalities than there were 25 years ago.

 

[heehee]

The "A" pillars (the two front pillars on either side of your windshield) in cars are getting thicker and thicker, and thus blocking more and more of the view. I've had many experiences where a person or even an entire car is blocked by my "A" pillar, and I have to "head bob" to look around the pillar when executing a left turn.

I hate the "A" pillars in new cars. Sometimes I drive my mom's car instead of mine when I go out with my parents and I almost creamed someone in a Costco parking lot because I couldn't see him pushing a cart when turning left. Good thing I was going slow.

 

[A.Goldberg]

I hate the "A" pillars in new cars. Sometimes I drive my mom's car instead of mine when I go out with my parents and I almost creamed someone in a Costco parking lot because I couldn't see him pushing a cart when turning left. Good thing I was going slow.

Yes! Up until a few years ago I drove a 2003 Grand Cherokee. The A pillars were HUGE and the slop the windshield exacerbated the issue. Furthermore, the windshield was very narrow and the restview mirror seems to take up a massive portion of the windshield. That car in retrospect had the worst forward visibility of anything I've ever driven. My E60 BMW has really good forward visibility. You'd think an SUV would be better?

I drove a newer civic (2013) a few weeks back. I had to say the little Windows build into the A pillar are very clever and that car had excellent visibility.

 

[0388631]

My Merc and my wife's Merc have good visibility. Our Lexus on the other hand, good grief. Thankfully it's a weekend car. That said, the worst visibility car at the moment seems to be the Camaro, with its massive pillars. Newer cars keep coming out with massive C pillars and even more sloped back windows. Ever wonder why reverse cameras have become standard in cars when they were a luxury add-on a mere 8 years ago?

 

[yuelizabeth1]

Didnt want to share this with coworkers, but feel the need to get it off my chest.

Was at an intersection this morning, waiting to turn left. The light turned green, there was no oncoming traffic, and I didnt see any pedestrians in the crosswalk so proceeded to turn left. Out of nowhere a young woman suddenly appeared and I literally just missed hitting her by inches. I think she was wearing headphones, and was completely oblivious to this VERY close call....

I was so shaken up I had to pull over and chill for several minutes....

Im still pretty shaken up. A fraction of a second sooner, and I would have hit her.....

glocke12, I experienced the same thing as you. But my situation is a bit different becuase it happened in the dark with the lady coming out of nowhere like your case. But, the person was so angry that she took a photo of my license plate! Now, I am worried if she may (1) report me, and (2) say that I traumatized her and ended up suing me! I am worried because this happened in a heavy-duty lawyer city of Los Angeles! Anyway, I called the Police and the officer calmed me down a bit .. I am going to wait and see ... I mean the lady didn't have a scratch or anything.

 

[Roller]

glocke12, I experienced the same thing as you. But my situation is a bit different becuase it happened in the dark with the lady coming out of nowhere like your case. But, the person was so angry that she took a photo of my license plate! Now, I am worried if she may (1) report me, and (2) say that I traumatized her and ended up suing me! I am worried because this happened in a heavy-duty lawyer city of Los Angeles! Anyway, I called the Police and the officer calmed me down a bit .. I am going to wait and see ... I mean the lady didn't have a scratch or anything.

I think you'll be fine. She would have to prove that she was harmed by you or that you were breaking the law at the time, which I assume you weren't.

 

[yuelizabeth1]

Didnt want to share this with coworkers, but feel the need to get it off my chest.

Was at an intersection this morning, waiting to turn left. The light turned green, there was no oncoming traffic, and I didnt see any pedestrians in the crosswalk so proceeded to turn left. Out of nowhere a young woman suddenly appeared and I literally just missed hitting her by inches. I think she was wearing headphones, and was completely oblivious to this VERY close call....

I was so shaken up I had to pull over and chill for several minutes....

Im still pretty shaken up. A fraction of a second sooner, and I would have hit her.....

It happened to me, too! This is after 3 days that it (almost) happened! Yeah, a few millimeters and I would have hit the person!! I am, still, very traumatized! It does not help that I live close to the location and have to relive the scene every time I pass by there! I think pedestrians should be held accountable ... I can, barely, sleep ... I am going to see if I can find (1) a Psychiatrist (2) have a lawyer waiting, just in case.
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I think you'll be fine. She would have to prove that she was harmed by you or that you were breaking the law at the time, which I assume you weren't.

No,I wasn't breaking any law. I have a footage of the event because I have a camera / video that recorded the event. However, I called the city police and the dispatcher said something different. She claimed that I should, at least, call the police. Now, the dispatcher said that it may a"Hit and Run" & that I will be a felony person if the person reports me. Also, the dispatcher questioned about how I knew that the pedestrian was OK? That is why I got very concerned and scared. I did tell the dispatcher that the pedestrian was angry & well enough to double back & snap a photo of my license plate on her phone.