WIBU to shout at this girl?

[WindInThePussyWillows]

Was driving along a busy road - 40mph limit was doing about 30 as trafficy.
Younger woman, 19 stepped out in the road with headphone in and glued to her phone and ran across the road.
I had to emergency stop to avoid hitting her and the car behind went smack into me. The other car saw her step out and weren't mad they said they of done the same and couldn't believe I didn't hit her.

I had my very young baby twins in the back of my car (who are fine we've been checked) but I told the girl how stupid she had been and how careless she was and lucky she didn't cause a worse accident.
I did raise my voice I was so angry and shook up and worried.

She said it was inappropriate for me to shout at her as she's only 19 and still a child.
I said if she classes herself as a child and can't take responsibility for her actions and acts so carelessly she shouldn't be out without a chaperone (I know that's not the case but she wanted to play the child card)

She then told me to fuck off and walked off, glued to her phone and plugged her headphones back in.

I'm only 23 so not like a much older woman yelling at a kid.

WIBU?

[AGenie]

I definitely would have reported her and the car behind to the police. They were both at fault. A friend of mine once took a drunk man to court for stepping out in front of his car and my friend won.

[WindInThePussyWillows]

I'm really not interested in shaming her on FB...etc all that matters is everyone is okay, the cars involved will be fixed (albeit bloody annoying) and all relevant insurances notified, I just felt kind of bad for shouting at her after, I just wanted her to understand how dangerous being so careless is and how bloody lucky we all were it wasn't far worse.
Thank you all for your opinions on it, which I have taken on board other than the running over suggestion which I won't be using in the future.
Anyone looking to troll hunt can go and suck an egg.

[5moreminutes]

Don'tyou I didn't say anything about facebook, I have no idea why people post anything on facebook. Police would be overkill if nobody was injured but do have to be informed about any traffic accident in which there are injuries, regardless of whether they do anything with that information or not.

It is a little illogical if there is no way pedestrians can be held responsible for causing accidents which end up costing drivers money/ loss of no claims/ causing drivers or passengers (or cyclists or motorcyclists) injury through no fault of their own... Usually it is the vehicle driver/ rider who is at fault, but sometimes a pedestrian does cause an accident by stepping out without looking very close in front of a vehicle or bike...

[Dontyoulovecalpol]

No because the pedestrian is supposed to be there. Cars are responsible for accidents because they are massive metal things capable of killing. They always should defer to a pedestrian, no matter what that pedestrian is going.

I know you didn't mention FB I just think that and the police are similar levels of daft.

[5moreminutes]

the pedestrian is supposed to be there

not in the road without having looked before stepping out they aren't... The pedestrian is supposed to be on the pavement and to follow the highway code when crossing the carriageway.

[Dontyoulovecalpol]

The pedestrian isn't supposed to do anything - the driver has the responsibility to ensure they don't hurt them (where this is avoidable)

Pedestrians don't have and legal obligation to stop car accidents. Drivers and car owners just have to accept that as part of driving

[gonetoseeamanaboutadog]

It was completely understandable, IMO. Well done for stopping so quickly.

[5moreminutes]

Don't there is no actual law covering pedestrians in the UK (in some countries jaywalking or the equivalent is a criminal offence of course) but there is a whole section of the highway code about what they are supposed to do, including ten points about crossing the road...

www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/rules-for-pedestrians-1-to-35

[morningtoncrescent62]

You have nothing to feel bad about, OP. I would have yelled at her, and I think most people would in your place. To be fair, her aggressive reaction (whilst in no way justified, she should have been profusely apologetic) may have been partly shock and defensiveness on her part. OK, so the legal responsibility is the driver's, but it's reasonable to expect adult pedestrians to take care on the roads, and for children to be supervised by a responsible adult. I hope she's learned a lesson for the future, but from her reaction as you describe it, I fear not.

I'm glad to hear your babies are OK. Now take care of yourself after this shock, and try not to worry any more about having shouted.

[5moreminutes]

A pedestrian is unlikely to do much harm to a car driver usually (unless they step out directly in front of a car and cause the car to swerve to avoid hitting them and into oncoming traffic perhaps) but they can do a lot of harm to a cyclist by stepping out into their path, or indeed a motorcyclist or scooter rider - a pedestrian who doesn't look isn't choosing to step out in front of a car instead of a pedal bike they might send flying into the path of other motor traffic...

There isn't, but perhaps should be, be some provision in law for adults to follow the highway code and take appropriate care when crossing roads, and face some consequences if they cause more serious accidents than the one in the OP, especially if there are unconnected witnesses agreeing on what happened etc...

[redexpat]

This woman is why we need safety labels and signs taken down - natural selection at work. Made me snigger.

[NeedAnotherGlass]

Yes, technically the car behind was at fault but really it was the pedestrian. In more built up areas with lots of traffic very few cars leave a full stopping distance between them - it's actually quite big, especially if wet.
No not technically - actually and completely.
The OP reacted quickly and stopped in time. The car behind failed to do that because they were too close to be able to. That makes them wholly responsible.
The fact that lots of people drive too close has no relevance! If it's wet, they should be leaving bigger distances.

[GoldFishFingerz]

She should have said sorry.

However it's the driver behind who is at fault. He
Didn't Leave a breaking distance.

[GoldFishFingerz]

You have every right to shout at her. It might save her life in the future as she's obviously rather stupid at crossing roads. My five year old could cross in a safer way

[limitedperiodonly]

My five year old could cross in a safer way

Presumably your five year old crosses with you so you have no idea how she will behave in 14 years time

[bearofnothingness]

teenagers are the worse for crossing the road and awareness. Maybe the poor girl was driven everywhere by her parents and has not learnt basic road safety. I really don't get the bitterness towards her.. all road users should be looking out for each other..

[bearofnothingness]

kids feel they are invincible, at school closing here they wander on the road, no fear. It's up to road users to be wary as they obviously arent!

[DancingOnMyOwn]

Don't feel bad for shouting at her, it's her own fault for being so bloody stupid. Thank god you and your babies are ok.

[BreakfastAtSquiffanys]

They always should defer to a pedestrian, no matter what that pedestrian is going

Nonsense.
Pavements are for pedestrians.
Roads are for cars.
When crossing roads, pedestrians should be aware of cars and defer to them, unless they have a green crossing light giving them priority.
Cars are not allowed to drive on pavements

[gribak]

In the UK - 18 is adult, you are allowed to drive at 17, vote at 18 etc...!!

[Janey50]

In the eyes of the law,a 19 year old is an adult.

[OvariesBeforeBrovaries]

YWNBU to shout at her for being stupid. 19 is not a child, I had a child when I was 19.

YABU to blame her for the accident; the car behind should have left better stopping distance.

[WellErrr]

Always flipping twins...

[WindInThePussyWillows]

WellErr sorry I don't understand what you mean??

[5moreminutes]

I wonder if what she said was actually "You can't shout at me, I'm 19! I'm not a child!"

Mumbled in a shocked and emotional defensive strop rather than clearly enunciated (to fit the yoof glued to her phone with headphones in stereotype) it would have easy to mishear.