Car reversing out of driveway. Who was wrong?

[DontOpenDeadInside]

Walking my dog yesterday and had my earphones on listening to an audio book. She (dog) was slightly ahead of me on extended lead cue loads of posters telling me iabu to use one. Next thing i know a car reversed into me, luckily i realised in the nick of time and jumped forward so it missed me (did very slightly touch my coat). I just gave the guy "the look" and continued on. But when i was telling my nan later on, she said it was my fault for having the earphones on and not being able to hear the engine. I was more grateful i wasn't a few seconds later as he would have went over my dog! I don't think i could of dragged her away as quick as she walks closer to the wall than me. So who was bu? Me or driver?

[AlexRose5]

Eh Gillybeans , not everyone who reverses out of a driveway is a dick I'll have you know... just like not everyone who reverses into the driveway is a shining example of a road user. Caution and consideration is what's lacking in the situation regarding the original post. If the idiot driver in question was careless enough to reverse without looking, what makes you think he would have looked out for pedestrians if he was facing out?? There'd have been the same level of disregard .

[JacquesHammer]

What dick reverses out of a drive anyway

People have covered this at length.

No breach of HC which states you should reverse on IF YOU CAN.

Space/other road users means that isn't always possible.

HTH

[HicDraconis]

I'd like to see anyone reverse down my driveway! It's on a bend and is a very steep slope downwards with a slight curve and tall concrete tilt panels as walls either side.

You're far safer to drive down it (at least the panels of your car are safer!) and then either turn around at the bottom (possible on one side) or reverse back up it (difficult but easier than reversing down).

I turn around & drive up, DH reverses up and was given a reversing camera as a Father's Day gift one year. It's the driver's responsibility to check for pedestrians when reversing out over the pavement - but then it's also the pedestrian's responsibility to be aware of their surroundings. I hate it when people see me reversing up (on the rare occasions I have to) and walk out behind me anyway. That said, any incident would be the fault of the driver in terms of liability / insurance claims I imagine.

[Mustang27]

Both but driver obviously should be looking where they are going

[RosieRuby]

😂😂😂

[RosieRuby]

HicDraconis I agree with you, some pedestrians don't stop for a reversing car and just wander behind them rather than err on the side of caution and wait (not me driving, talking generally). I generally wait if I see a car reversing out and tell the kids to listen for engines and look out for cars with drivers in etc and stop for them. That said I wasn't concentrating a few weeks ago and nearly stepped off the kerb in front of a car turning into a side road, that made me jump! Thing is it's not about who is right or wrong, it's keeping safe and learning good habits whether you are a pedestrian or a driver. There's no point being in the right if you are badly injured if you could have avoided the scenario in the first place.

[patq1967]

the driver as you are on the pavement not on the road

[SabineUndine]

Definitely the driver!s fault. I am deaf and amongst deaf people there are stories of people being hit by cars whose drivers assumed they would move out of the way. What's more if you started life with hearing it's very hard to remember there may be a car there although you don't hear one

[DontOpenDeadInside]

Advicewouldbelovelyta

What update are you waiting for?

[WitchQueenofNewOrleans]

It is the drivers fault, but after nearly getting mown down by a driver turning right into into a church car park, who just saw the gap in the traffic and not the person on the pavement, I pay a lot more attention to cars reversing/driving into/out of driveways or turning and don't make any assumptions that they can see me or are bothering to even look.

[hmbn]

This is from the Highway Code:

"Rule 202

• Look carefully before you start reversing.
  
• You should use all your mirrors
  
• check the ‘blind spot’ behind you (the part of the road you cannot see easily in the mirrors)
  
• check there are no pedestrians (particularly children), cyclists, other road users or obstructions in the road behind you.
  

Reverse slowly while

• checking all around looking mainly through the rear window being aware that the front of your vehicle will swing out as you turn.
  
• Get someone to guide you if you cannot see clearly.
  

This is from Rule 206

Drive carefully and slowly when

• needing to cross a pavement or cycle track; for example, to reach or leave a driveway. Give way to pedestrians and cyclists on the pavement."
  

Hybrid cars make no noise when reversing.

I think it's best to be fully aware when you're out walking, and when in charge of animals on the public highway, as it's safer for everyone.

[whatsthecomingoverthehill]

It's amazing how we are so in love with the motor car that people put the blame on people carrying out a benign activity but are having a risk imposed on them. We should have strict liability.

To slightly tweak a quote:
"Most of the risk of severe injury whilst walking is not intrinsic to the activity – motorists impose it on walkers. Walking is a benign activity that often takes place in dangerous environments."

It is ridiculous that people think walking along with headphones on is risky. Yes, of course you should be aware of your surroundings, but listening to music does not preclude that. In any case, if you are in a nicely sound insulated metal box with the stereo on, you will probably be able to hear less than someone with headphones on, whilst also being in charge of a tonne of metal.

So much of this thread is fatalistic victim blaming. The attitude of "Well, technically the driver is at fault but y'know, there's so many bad drivers around so really it's your own fault if you get hit."

[londonrach]

Both but mostly the driver

[AlternativeTentacle]

Both but mostly the driver

No, it is ALL the driver, bearing in mind the driver drive the vehicle into the pedestrian. The pedestrian is never to blame for not predicting when a car is going to come at them. FFS.

[Mulledwine1]

The driver should look, but you should be able to hear traffic.

And extendable leads are really dangerous. My mother is terrified of tripping over them as she has a problem with her back and she really can't afford to fall over.

[ThreeLeggedHaggis]

The driver is at fault.

But YABU for being plugged in while walking your dog. She doesn't have the intelligence or ability to anticipate like you do, and you need to be watching and listening out for her when walking her about.

[Sirzy]

I thought of this thread today. Walking home with ds from school and a car started reversing out of a drive. I stopped ds, the driver did see us and stopped and let us pass but I was aware of the surroundings so even if she hadn't it would have stopped us both being hit.

Yes the law may say the driver is responsible but realistically we all just want to get home safely so watching what is going on around can help that happen

[Meluzyna]

A friend was knocked down by an electric car last year and spent 4 days in a coma in intensive care: she had an ear infection which had made her deaf, so she simply didn't hear it coming. She has made a slow, but nearly complete recovery, but early on they thought she would have permanent brain damage..... personally, I would never risk not being able to hear approaching traffic.

[whatsthecomingoverthehill]

Surely that just illustrates the point even more Meluzyna, it was an electric car so you wouldn't be able to hear it! There's only going to be more and more of them, and drivers should not be complacent in assuming that people will know they are coming.

[Mustang27]

I'm sorry but there has been several incidents I'm aware of that me or others have stepped on to the road due to being engrossed in a book or music and glanced but not paying full attention to what's going on around and nearly been hit I would never fully blame the driver. I'd always check for cars reversing lights before walking in front of someone's drive but when you are distracted these things can be missed so mindlessness does come into play. Saying all this If I reversed out my drive and hit a pedestrian I'd never blame them so looks like I'm a massive contradiction.

[littlebrownbag]

I live on a main road, and sometimes I have to wait several minutes for the traffic/ cyclists/ pedestrians to clear enough for me to safely reverse onto my drive if I get home at the wrong time. I just sit waiting, in reverse, indicating but brakes on so that it is clear what I am attempting to do. Some drivers get so impatient and close overtaking me that my parking sensors start pinging off!

When driving off my drive I have to be careful as neighbours have a high hedge and I can't see to my left for any pedestrians till my car is well out on to the pavement. I creep and nudge out slowly at 1-2mph so anyone coming along can see & hear the car coming and stop in time, but I still have had joggers wearing headphones suddenly appear in front of me from the left and bang my bonnet angrily. I gladly stop for pavement users, but if you can't see the me as the driver of the car, I can't see you - so safest for you to stop!

All road/pavement users need to take reasonable precautions and be aware of each other, but as a driver in charge of a ton of metal that can do a lot of damage, the onus is on me to consider the "what if" worst case situations of deaf/ blind/ young/ old/ limited mobility pedestrians and be as careful as possible. But a bit of common sense from other people would help too.