To think it is 100% this runner’s fault that I almost hit him?!

I remember a couple of years ago I was in a traffic jam in the city centre - three passengers in the car. It was dark and absolutely pouring down. The lights at a junction had failed and I crawled forward alongside the car in the other lane, looking for oncoming traffic.

Suddenly there was something bashing the bonnet of the car. I stopped and a policeman in a bright yellow long hi viz coat banged on the window and told me to pull over. He had been directing traffic and neither I, nor my three passengers, or the driver of the car alongside me (who was also pulled over) had seen him. The reason ? He was standing directly in front of a giant neon billboard screen which was flashing adverts and the screen was lit up in exactly the same colour as his hi viz coat. No one saw him. He was so angry with myself and the other driver and determined we weren’t paying attention. Until I pointed out what was behind him and it suddenly clicked. He wasn’t happy but he sent us on our way. Happily for him, and us, the traffic had slowed to a crawl because of the weather and failure of the lights, but it highlights the issue here - you can’t avoid what you can’t see.

Perhaps people should drive as if there are pedestrians, cyclists and runners who wear black at night.

You’re supposed to drive in a way that’s safe for the conditions, and the conditions are that the roads include people wearing dark clothing. I run in hi vis because of terrible drivers, but the onus should be on drivers to drive safely.

There’s a difference between vulnerable and reckless.

This.

Go back through OP’s posts, as I have just done, and point out where exactly she said she wasn’t looking at the road properly. She said she was slowly moving forward after checking mirrors, when he ran from the right hand rear of the car directly in front of another car going in the opposite direction, and then in front of her, while she was moving. In what world is this OP’s fault. He was well outside the line of vision. If either car had hit him, he would have been 100% to blame.

Wow! Some people have forgotten basic physics. A car has a stopping distance that increases or decreases depending on the speed it’s travelling and the weight of the vehicle. Suddenly running out in front of a moving vehicle when you are old enough to know better is incredibly unintelligent. Also, include visibility, the reaction time of the driver. I would never run out onto the road even at a zebra crossing without making sure that the drivers on the road saw me, recognised that I was about to cross, had enough stopping distance to be able to stop in time and had started to slow down to stop. It’s just common sense.

I’d rather not be injured or killed by being hit by a car regardless of who had the right of way. I can’t imagine feeling pleased with myself that I was right while lying in a hospital bed or dead. Makes sense to take personal responsibility for my own safety rather than blindly trusting everyone else on the road.

Possibly for the same reasons as most other people do. For validation. Or, on MN, mostly not.

Or, at the time, live near Sellafield !!

What has his age got to do with it ? And yes, it would have been a young teen’s fault - if they’re not old enough to appreciate the hazards of road use as a pedestrian then they shouldn’t be out alone should they ? This cyclist wasn’t in the line of visibility demanded by the DVLA for driving standards, he came from behind the car and ran in front of OP while she was moving. MN is utterly batshit sometimes. No-one is ever going to take responsibility for their own actions if we don’t change the mindset of ‘it’s always someone else fault’. Due care and attention while driving doesn’t cover those who simply don’t see it as their responsibility to keep themselves safe on the roads.

Oh and beeping should be to let the person know you are there. It was dark, he acted as though OP wasn’t there, so entirely appropriate.

Oh yes Tufty club

Or just something light. Years ago there were govt. TV ads saying Wear Something Light At Night!

Or just eat ready break

The Tufty Club! That brings back memories

Not if they run out directly in front of you and there's no way to avoid them.
Then it's their fault. It's well.established in law

I was in the Tufty Club at primary school in the 70s and pedestrians absolutely WERE encouraged to wear or carry something light or white in winter.

We have an awful lot of dog walkers round here were the dog has a flashing collar (fab) but you can’t see its owner at all. We have a mix of narrow pavements / no pavements in our suburb and it’s ridiculous how many pedestrians just don’t help themselves be seen.

That's not necessarily true.

Pedestrians do have an obligation to behave sensibly when crossing roads or being in the roads.

If you're so very sure about that, why did you need to ask mumsnet if you're being unreasonable?

If you run over a pedestrian it is your fault.

Yes, if a young teen ran in front of a car or would obviously be his fault. How would it not be?

Would have. And no, she wouldn't

I saw some pedestrians step out in front of a car turning at a junction yesterday. Total dicks for assuming the car would stop. Doesn't matter what the law says, I'm not going head to head with a ton of metal.

I agree that drivers should be aware of their surroundings and take extra care in the dark or in wet conditions. I also agree that all pedestrians should not be made to wear high vis clothing.

However, I do think there should be some sort of awareness programme for pedestrians, particularly those who are non-drivers, so that they understand that if they wear all dark clothing they are practically invisible to drivers until the moment their headlights hit them full on. This is particularly the case on, for example, rural roads, tree-lined streets or badly lit side roads - which to be honest is a big chunk of the country.

Just a light coloured scarf or bag would help - and make sure your hood isn't obscuring your side vision. And please, please don't take chances like making a run for it to cross the road. It is terrifying when you are driving when someone appears out of nowhere from the side of you when you barely have time to stop, even if you are going very slowly. It puts other road users at risk if a driver swerves or stops suddenly as a reflex reaction.

That's all I'm asking. Just be a little more cautious on the understanding that it is more difficult to see you, however alert the driver is. We all need to work together.

It's scary how invisible people can be.

I was driving home last week on a country road (NSL) at about 4pm, so just getting dark, and there was a cyclist on the road in front - all in black, no lights or hi-vis gear and even with headlights on, you couldn't see him until you were about 10 metres away. He nearly got hit several times.

He didn't learn his lesson as I saw him again two days later! Crazy.

It is not too much to ask for pedestrians to make sure they're seen in the dark. It doesn't have to be high viz and lights. It can simply be not running in front of ruddy cars like they're not there, taking no responsibility at all.

There has to be some give and take.