I caused chaos on the road this morning

[FrancisQuoynt]

Chucked it down with snow overnight and my car was covered in snow. I cleared the windows and drove off to go to work. I got to a roundabout where you can turn left, go straight on or turn right (as you do on roundabouts, I was going straight on) and there was an avalanche on the windscreen. I'd forgotten to clear the roof. It covered the windscreen and the wipers were jammed and I couldn't see a bloody thing.

I had to stop the car and get out and clear it off the windscreen. I was in the left lane, so anyone going straight on or right could still get by. A man behind me with a moustache and a trilby hat on started honking and shaking his fist because I had delayed him by about, ooh, 90 seconds.

Feeling a right fool. Trilby Man looked like someone out of a 1970s sitcom.

I was thinking Count Arthur Strong, but I prefer yours

No where near a saint and as I've repeatedly stated of course I make lots of.mistakes. what I'm highlighting is when driving a car you have to be more aware due to the damage that can happen with it

Not sure what is difficult to understand

I wasn't attempting to berate. Just reminding that if something had happened I forgot wouldn't be an excuse

But the thing about accidents and mistakes is, we don't usually control when they happen and in which circumstances right? Otherwise, they wouldn't be accidents and mistakes - they'd be intentional.

Yes he looked just like him.

Yes but in this case she did have control and knew the circumstances she cleared the windows!

As I used to say in my primary school “Everyone makes mistakes”. Can’t believe the horrible judgemental way people respond on here. Hope you feel OK OP. It probably shook you up and I am glad no-one was hurt. You won’t ever forget to do that again I’m sure. Thank heavens some people are humble enough to share their weaknesses and not appear perfect. And love the image of Trilby Man shaking his fist at you. How helpful!

To be fair, OP - you did a bad thing this morning but you've since balanced it out by doing this good deed: giving posters a glimmer of chance to judge someone else. Always a favourite past time on here.

He looked just like him!

Accidents generally have causes.

Glad you are OK and a timely warning to also clear our car roof, something a lot of drivers don't do, not just OP. Thanks for posting this as many aren't aware this can happen.

It’s fortunate that you only caused chaos and not catastrophe. Chaos could easily have been the very least of anyone’s worries. However I get you were in a no win situation and you had to stop the car to clear the block of snow from the window.

Yes, but forgot the roof which it is totally possible for a fallible person to do, but I don't think we'll ever agree. Hopefully, at least, this thread will serve as a reminder.

Well, not much funny about something which could have caused a fatal accident. If that means I don’t have a sense of humour then I’m glad I don’t have one.

I work in healthcare and EVERYONE makes mistakes. EVERYONE even the most experienced, talented, knowledgeable, skilled people. The most dangerous ones are the ones who think they don't make big mistakes. They terrify me because they think they're infallible and it's impossible to get them to learn from their errors.

So many people piling on and this is mumsnet so ok.
But I feel that putting other people in a potentially dangerous situation is negligent.
This is nothing to do with making mistakes as humans we do and will. But when you are in a position of responsibility, which we all are when we get behind the wheel, then you have to remember these things .

My dh had a serious accident biking to work several years ago with snow flying off a cars roof and hiting him. It's just not ok.

OP never said that it would be an excuse. It is still a fact though that she didn't leave the snow on the roof intentionally and therefore she forgot. Going on about how that simply isn't good enough achieves absolutely nothing!

I imagine most people have witnessed a lot of pretty terrible driving in their time and to be honest, the UK is actually pretty good compared to other countries I have been to. Mistakes happen even when we are trying our best. We are fallible. Until cars are automated by computers then they will be subject to human error and we all have to accept that.

Yep.
We won't agree which is human nature we all see things from our own points of view

As you say hopefully this has reminded others

Ah you poor thing, I think the first cold snap of the year always catches people out! Trilby man is a buffoon there's always one. I'm glad no harm was done.

Lesson learnt I am sure.

Just hope you were not being forced to make the journey by some awful manager when you could have worked from home. See other threads on such managers.

Hope you have brushed the snow off that high horse @Ewock before you go clopping along a public highway! 🐎

I think the OP completely accepted she was wrong.

And a whimsical observation hardly qualifies as mocking.

However, it's always good to hear from a poster with a unique point of view.

🤣 no and neither have I insulted anyone.
Besides the, point but as my house doesnt move the snow on my roof won't kill anyone who is driving... 🤔

@Ewock’s dh had a serious accident due to snow flying off a roof.

Thank you.
others won't always see different points of view or even realise how dangerous these things can be.