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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I've just ran over a pheasant :(

195 replies

lexiepix · 26/02/2015 17:32

On a narrow country lane, doing 50, they usually move out of the way but this one stayed right in the middle.

It made such a thud, a huge cloud of feathers afterwards and I've just been picking the feather out of my grill.

I had no idea what way it was going to go so didn't swerve, also I didn't break much as expected it to move as they do 1000s of times before.

I'm feeling really shit about it. Am I a total cunt for not slowing or swerving?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
MooseBeTimeForSnow · 27/02/2015 04:45

When I lived in the countryside in Lincolnshire, the lane itself would often be narrow but the verges very wide.
I had a pheasant take the Fiat badge off the front of my 500. I couldn't slow down as I was in a line of traffic on the A15.
A badger wrote off DH's company car and nearly put him in hospital. Solid buggers they are.

lavendersun · 27/02/2015 07:21

But it isn't too fast fizzy. It is a national speed limit road. I drive on narrow country lanes every day - a 20 mile trip morning and evening as a minimum.

On a clear day, straight bit of road, nothing else in view, 50 is more than fine.

How fast do you think we should be driving on rural roads then??

littlejessie · 27/02/2015 07:29

They may well be stupid birds etc etc but if it was sitting right in the middle of the road and you could see it for a good while in advance YWBVU not to just slow down and let the poor bugger get in to the side.

I know there are thousands of them but that's beside the point.

MrsMook · 27/02/2015 07:39

I once ran over a duck. It waddled out into the road, and I concluded that as I was unable to stop, it was safer not to avoid it incase of oncoming traffic coming round the bend. I felt rubbish, but I'd rather not risk human life.

Karma got me back the next day, as I drove round the bend, the radio played "Broken Wings"

tobysmum77 · 27/02/2015 07:46

It's impossible to say how fast you should drive without knowing the road and conditions.

Single track roads with blind bends usually have a 60mph speed limit but to drive at that speed would be extremely dangerous. If the op means a straight bit of b-road however it's different and probably fine. Speed limits are often irrelevant outside towns as they are frequently set way higher than it would be safe. drive. You have to decide on the appropriate speed yourself.

newrecruit · 27/02/2015 07:47

I did that once. Massive feather ball behind me and I had to get a new number plate.

MissDuke · 27/02/2015 07:53

I find your posts really uncomfortable to read op. I appreciate sharp braking or swerving isn't safe, if other traffic is around. However you clearly say you made the decision not to brake because you were running late - which I find worrying. You should never let running late affect your driving, it was your fault you were late, not the birds Confused

If you could have safely slowed down then of course you should have, how can anyone say otherwise? If you had just come round a corner and so couldn't brake on time, then you were most likely going too fast. If it stepped right out in front of you then that is different again. However you clearly say you did not brake simply because you were running late. Disgusting Angry

lavendersun · 27/02/2015 08:28

It's impossible to say how fast you should drive without knowing the road and conditions

Quite - so lets leave the - you were obviously driving too fast stuff alone because no one knows that.

Now I am off on my 20 mile drive on country lanes, approaching 55 mph at times but I consider myself well versed enough with the roads to make that decision.

SunnyBaudelaire · 27/02/2015 08:30

I have a lovely recipe for a pheasant and red wine casserole if you like.

Original poster
lexiepix · 27/02/2015 08:33

Well I made my decision in a split second not to brake as it would of been an emergency brake, with a van behind me and I wouldn't of come to a stop before I hit it. It would of only given the bird a few milliseconds more to move out of the way, but I thought that was dangerous and I was running late.

OP posts:
SunnyBaudelaire · 27/02/2015 08:36

would HAVE not OF , sorry but it drives me mad.
Please do not base your driving decisions on whether or not you are 'running late'!

SunnyBaudelaire · 27/02/2015 08:38

anyway you should not be doing 50 along a 'narrow country lane' it will be more than a pheasant you kill next time.

richthegreatcornholio · 27/02/2015 08:39

It happens, don't give it another thought. Also ignore the moaners claiming you were going to fast, without them seeing the piece of road they simply cannot comment. I know of narrow country lanes where visibility is such that 3 figure speeds are not an issue.

SunnyBaudelaire · 27/02/2015 08:40

narrow country lanes where you can do over a ton?
Really rich, I do not think that people like you should be driving.

SunnyBaudelaire · 27/02/2015 08:43

I live in the country rich and there are always fuckwits who think they can drive as fast as they like. Idiots.

richthegreatcornholio · 27/02/2015 08:55

narrow country lanes where you can do over a ton?

I can think of one off the top of my head. Arrow straight, visibility for approx 1 mile and no turnings/entrances. Would be very easy to pull it well into 3 figures if you were so inclined. 60 down there is absolutely appropriate.

CocktailQueen · 27/02/2015 08:57

YABU! Pheasants are es, they're not the brightest birds, but no birds were bred to have road sense Hmm

YABU not to have moved or slowed down - esp. if there was no other traffic around.

Figgypuddings: I have non idea where you got your bird facts but there are 6.7 million robin territories in the UK and only 2.3 million breeding pheasants...

tobysmum77 · 27/02/2015 08:57

Shock Hmm yeah right rich

CocktailQueen · 27/02/2015 08:57

es = lovely (no idea how that happened)

tobysmum77 · 27/02/2015 08:58

there's a big difference between 60 and 100 isn't there?

SunnyBaudelaire · 27/02/2015 08:58

well good for you rich, you do know you would just lose your licence if you were caught going over a hundred don't you? I do not think that makes me a 'moaner'.
And 60 mph is not suitable for the vast majority of 'narrow country lanes' is it?

SunnyBaudelaire · 27/02/2015 09:05

OP - this time a pheasant, next time a dog walker or a girl on a pony eh?

TweeStuff · 27/02/2015 09:10

Fas, I can only think the posters who are being so judgey don't drive on country lane where there are pheasants! Pheasants are NOTHING like ponies or children. They are small and dart around the road as though they are in a pin ball machine.

Stop telling the OP she was driving too fast when you have NO IDEA whether she was.

TweeStuff · 27/02/2015 09:11

That should be FfS not fas Confused

figgypuddings · 27/02/2015 09:12

CocktailQueen: DEFRA was my source.

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