AIBU to think that if you choose to dress from head to toe in black

[3littlefrogs]

And your pushchair is completely black, including the cover over your child, who is also dressed in black, you should be very, very careful when crossing a busy road, at this time of night, especially if you have chosen not to walk a few yards to the zebra crossing.

I have just almost had a heart attack when someone fitting the above description pushed their pushchair out in front of my car. This is not good for me as I am getting on a bit and I think I just aged another ten years.

Luckily I have just had the brake pads replaced and my tyres are good ones.

Why do people not use their common sense and wear a white scarf or something?

That must have been very frightening for you! Sadly many people do not have even a speck of common sense.

What's with the biscuit?

Gothlife before road safety.

YANBU

I almost knocked someone down on a country road, at night because they were wearing black and walking along the road - there was no footpath.

Gave me quite a turn

The police around here provide you with high vis stickers free of charge to stick on your jackets etc if you go in and ask them. But there is more road accidents here involving folk crossing roads at night than normal.

Some folk are just idiots with no common sense, I hope you're ok! What kind of fool would put their child at risk like that?!

OP, these are for you.

A friend of mine ran over and killed a 2 year old child about 30 years ago.
The child ran out from between 2 parked cars.
She was completely exonerated (the mother was standing talking and not holding onto the child), but she has never got over it.

I had a near miss this evening - it has shaken me up though. It makes you realise just how easily it can happen.

Oh, thank you Happy.

Obviously I know that it was a million times worse for the parents of the child.

YANBU. A horrid experience. People really need to make sure they are visible.

Ahem. I'm a goth. My offspring are hi-vis-tastic.

Especially since I recently started learning to drive, & realised how chuffing invisible a person dressed in black is when (not) seen from the driver's seat on a dark November evening!

YANBU OP.

YANBU

The push chair cover was black - the child was completely invisible under neath it. At least until I was practically on top of it. Then I saw the little head and arms poking out. Coat and hat the child was dressed in were either black or some other very dark colour.

The effect was to render adult, pushchair and child almost invisible.

YADNBU.

Very scary experience. I have just changed my route to and from work to main roads avoiding short cuts. Bit more traffic but better lit. A bit of rain and visibility is awful.

I'm tired, with a full time job and insomniac baby, it's so much effort to be really vigilant but I always am. Everyone needs to do their bit to be seen and to be safe.

I'm a teacher and it's not something we put much focus on. With the clocks changing, it has got very dark very quickly. I think I am going to bring up the issue of road safety and awareness next week.

I think pedestrians often don't realise just how invisible they are. Same for cyclists - I find it terrifying how many at this time of year are riding at 5pm in dark clothes with no lights.

I have a black pushchair and I'm really conscious of this. I have bought Velcro reflective high vis bands and have attached them to the frame.

And I have a hanging led reflector somewhere from last year that I should dig out and attach to the dc that rides in the buggy.

Not unreasonable at all.