Someone just very nearly killed me.

[EnchantedAutumn]

I haven't had such an experience before, and feel quite shaken.

We were out walking early this afternoon along the canal side. At a road bridge we stood at the crossing and waited for the traffic to stop to allow us to pass.

Half way over the crossing a vehicle sped up from the other side and missed me by about an inch. We were extremely visible and there were no large vehicles blocking the driver's view. Very few cars about actually.

This was so quick and it was almost speeding, so extremely shocking. Other drivers stopped and asked me was I ok, whilst DH spun around like a drama queen very very angry, whilst I tried to catch the registration - sadly could not get it all.
Dh was so upset, although I felt a little numb. I saw it as a very lucky thing to still be alive, but also angry that someone could change or end my life so brutally and easily in a fraction of a second.
I choose to presume that the driver was distracted, rather than happy to slaughter me, but it still feels so shocking.

Has this ever happened to anyone else? It was so, so close it has really knocked me. I doubt I would have survived had it hit me.
A sudden shock like this is probably common, and yet the idea of my life changing suddenly due to disease or accident feels easier to bear than someone just casually mowing me over.

If something similar has happened to you, how did you process it? I feel much better a few hours later, but still really weird.

It is worth mentioning, remain careful. Both whilst driving and walking.

Oof - how scary! I doubt they were targeting you as you crossed and, given the time of the year, I suspect it's more likely they'd been drinking, and not competent to be anywhere near the wheel of a car. I'm glad you're OK, physically at least!

It always used to be the case that as soon as you stepped a foot on a crossing all cars screeched to a halt, but sadly those days are gone. Last year we had TWO near misses with the same driver (small red hatchback driven by a very elderly lady- not prejudiced against elderly drivers, my uncle is 92 and a better driver than me!) Both times we were half way across the crossing and my husband was on his mobility scooter. I reported it to the police and posted a message on the local FB group and several people had had similar experiences with the same car. You might feel better for publishing a warning on FB and asking people to have a word with the driver if they know who it is.
A week or two later a small red hatchback crashed into a shop in the centre of our town, the police were involved and nothing else has been seen of the driver or car.
I felt really shaken for a day or two, but having reflected on it I am now much more cautious before crossing - pausing and looking directly at the drivers' faces. This near miss will probably mean you are much less likely to have a similar experience in the future.
If you still feel stressed I have heard good things about Rapid eye movement (REM) therapy. Good luck getting over it (you will, I was really shaken up about it but had nearly forgotten it until I saw your post!)

Glad you're OK.
I have of people being traumatised by near death experiences and reliving them. It might be a good idea to talk it through with someone professional so you can move on. Xx

Apologies. Obviously, I didn’t know that. Your experience sounded horrible, especially as you have explained that you were not in any way to blame. Hope you are ok now.

Happened to me crossing at traffic lights with my 18m old in my arms. Just ran the red light, I was raging for days. Glad you’re ok OP

Glad you are ok. I had a few near misses in London with motorbikes and bicycles not stopping at crossings or undertaking when other traffic has stopped - which I know they can do but it is a hazard for pedestrians.

I've had a few occasions particularly when running early morning (in daylight though) when cars have not stopped at all at a red light (for them). It's terrifying that so many people are half asleep or think they can ignore red lights - luckily I wasn't half asleep and saw them!

I've also missed head on collisions with vans flying round a blind bend on the wrong side of the road when I was driving. Luckily for them I was not speeding and had good brakes and reaction time.

Have also had cyclists flying at me and missing going over my bonnet and through my windscreen by a whisker. Again, luckily for them I was going slower than them approaching the bend in my car and could react in tme.

We were driving up to Scotland on the M6/M74 in 2012 - it was the last day of the Olympics and we were listening to it on the radio. I was overtaking a lorry on a 2 lane section - the lanes were really wide - and saw a BMW come flying up behind me. I thought he would crash into us, he was going so fast, but he drove between my car and the lorry! How he didn't clip me or the lorry I don't know. We would all have been killed.

I wouldn’t hold your breath. I reported someone for driving straight over a zebra crossing when I was halfway across. I only wanted the police to have a stern word but they a) said they didn’t know if it was an offence and b) wouldn’t take any action as I wasn’t harmed!

These experiences can affect you much more than you'd think - no matter how calmly you react at the time.
I was nearly hit head-on just before Xmas last year by someone who'd driven the wrong way onto a dual carriageway. Dark, wet, cars coming towards me on the other side, it took a second or two to actually confirm that yes, they were headed straight for me. I've been driving for 30yrs and never been so shaken by a 'near miss'. Still feel concerned coming on to that road and what might be up ahead!
Fortunately nobody was injured (in my case and yours!) and I suppose that is the most important thing. The rest you just have to put down to experience. Mine could well have been a drink-driver, but it might as easily have been someone leaving the nearby hospital, unfamiliar with the road, in the dark and rain, emotional, etc. etc.