Would you stop for a pigeon??

[BigGreenApple]

So, driving along today, pretty wide country road which I know very well. Driving within the limit. I came round a band and there were several pigeons in the road. I braked, a couple flew up, one was too slow and I hit it.
Damaged the front grill of the car which is apparently going to cost £££.
There was a car behind me, and I was taught that it was better to hit something small than stop suddenly (unless it's a person, large animal) and risk being rear ended. And PIGEONS NORMALLY FLY OFF.
DH is pissed off. I have in the recent past kerbed the car (twice ) which I admit was my bad judgement.
But today I think I was right to do what I did.....yes?
Also, I had DC in the car! Surely better to hit a bloody bird than do more than slow slightly and risk a bump??

I would always stop for anything living. Living things all matter. The person behind you should be far enough away to stop if you do (although I acknowledge that's his/her problem, not yours)

Without question, I would stop. Every single time.

The children in the back of my car and the people in the car behind matter more than a pigeon, I'm afraid. So while I break, I certainly don't slam on the breaks or do an emergency stop like some twats do.

I'd take evasive action for anything larger than a muntjac, as they can go through the windshield.
My dad lost a student, and the passenger was paralysed after swerving for a fox. A bloody fox.

So, no, YANBU, and if you'd been rear-ended it would cost a lot more to fix.

I agree that all living things matter. And I did break.....but not as much as I would have done for a person/something bigger. It's a farming area and pigeons, birds etc are on the road all the time. Normally they fly off in plenty of time 😔

I was taught you don't stop for anything smaller than a dog (yes I know some cats are larger than tiny dogs...).

I would slow if I wasn't being followed to give time for the pigeon to fly away, but if you brake for a bird and the person behind you goes into you and you get whiplash you'd feel a bit silly.

Yanbu

Of course all living things matter but birds do usually fly away in time, and protecting your children is more important.

I'd have stopped.

THAnks for the replies. I agree, if I had no dc in the car, or hadn't had a car behind me I may have acted differently.

YANBU it's a pigeon ffs.

You and your child/children are of more importance than pigeons. Had you slammed all on and caused a serious accident, the flying vermin would have flown off. Never swerve or stop unless it's bigger than the vehicle you're in.

I wouldn't brake for pigeons.

to clarify, Dh is pissed off about the damage and the cost rather than the pigeon.

No I don't stop for pigeons. They fly away or get hit. I'm not risking someone running into the back of my car carrying my children, for a pigeon.

Anyone who'd endanger themselves, their children, or other road users for a pigeon ought to retake their test and give their head a wobble.
And I say that as someone who got laughed at at work for refusing to squish a stray ant.

I had to stop today for a dozen pheasants who were sauntering across the road. Quite a charmingly rural sight I thought. I wouldn't have stopped for pigeons unless the road was very quiet, mainly because they normally fly away in time.

We had an accident at some traffic lights when DH didn't go when the lights had changed to green. We were rear ended, and the passenger behind broke their wrist (hanging onto one of those stupid strap things). The reason? A dog, which was off lead and with children, ran out in front of us, and DH made the split second decision to not go in case they ran out after it.

The people behind tried to take us to court on the basis that we'd stopped for an animal.

If you could have caused an accident YWNBU. If you could have stopped easily safely - say you were setting off from traffic lights or something - it would be vile to hit them.

DH hit a seagull on the motorway, it cost about £250 to get a new grill. He was v pissed off. I don't think you have time to carefully weigh these decisions. I would expect birds to get out of the way.

Also is anyone else now singing this?!

m.youtube.com/watch?v=dexQhvczVeM

If you can stop or avoid them safely, you do. If you can't, you don't. But you should stop, if you can, to finish off anything left flapping around. I have necked several birds that other drivers hit and left to suffer.

Pigeons aren't noted for their brains. I had one try to land on top of my car once as I was driving along.

Not unless it was absolutely safe to do so, especially with my children in the back.

No way would I stop for a fucking pigeon.

If someone caused me to rear end them, meaning I damaged my car and potentially myself and passengers because of a stupid bird, I'd be livid.

Just be aware of what's going on around you. Round here it's not flying rats, it's pheasants and partridge. Yes, a pheasant can do a lot of damage to your front bumper (although a lot more to itself). But you have to put you and your passengers first. It doesn't make any sense to think the pheasant, which has probably been bred to be shot anyway is more valuable than a human life. But it's horrible if you do hit one.