I ran over a baby rabbit tonight, it just ran in front of me (as they do sometimes) and I braked moderately as I knew there was nothing close behind me but still hit it as it was on a 60mph road. I didn’t slam them on, but did brake down to 30 something mph so did brake pretty hard.
I tried to straddle it but it ran back towards the curb under the tyres and and I heard the thunk. I just feel so sad, I’m a vet student so should be hardier than this. I’ve seen some awfully sad situations but this has shaken me.
I’ve only been driving around 9/10 months, I passed over 2 years ago but driving used to give me horrendous nightmares about children stepping out from between cars and me not being able to brake in time etc. I’m so much better now and getting much more confident but I just keep going over this in my head. Should I have used my horn? I know you’re not really meant to but it was a quiet countryside road, should I have swerved? (I know that’s dangerous and I definitely shouldn’t have)? Should I have slammed my brakes on?
I just feel terrible that I took its wee life away, I know realistically there are worse ways for it to go and I know it was an accident but I feel so guilty.
I don’t know what I want from this really, maybe tell me to get a grip? 