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AIBU?

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Original poster

Car reversing out of driveway. Who was wrong?

246 replies

DontOpenDeadInside · 16/04/2017 09:46

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?

OP posts:
InfiniteSheldon · 17/04/2017 09:48

Jacqueshammer you can reserve onto your drive but your neighbours prevent you therefore you have a neighbour problem and should sort that out rather than breaching the Highway Code and putting pedestrians, children and dogs at risk

specialsubject · 17/04/2017 09:56

I've mentioned it here before, but there is a kid not dead because I reversed in. The stupid mother let it scoot on the pavement out of control, I saw it and stopped because I was driving out forwards.

There are always going to be stupid parents.

perstacho · 17/04/2017 10:00

There's loads of electric cars round here. You'd easily not hear one of them as there's no gravel on the roads to crunch over.

AlternativeTentacle · 17/04/2017 10:01

OP, hold the dog aloft at all times, wear bright yellow, and never cross a driveway without stopping and looking down each drive, and point a movement sensor down the drive to make sure no cars are moving before crossing the drive.

We can't have poor car drivers having to take responsibility for their bad driving can we?

JigglyTuff · 17/04/2017 10:02

The law says reverse in if you can. I can't usually but I have a fish eye camera on the back of my car so I can see people either side of the drive

JacquesHammer · 17/04/2017 10:05

you can reserve onto your drive but your neighbours prevent you therefore you have a neighbour problem and should sort that out rather than breaching the Highway Code and putting pedestrians, children and dogs at risk

(A) the Highway Code States you should reverse onto your drive and drive off IF YOU CAN.

(B) very interested in your suggestions as to how I sort the neighbour problem given I had tried to discuss with both and got met with unwillingness to change their parking.

I suppose I could get a Smart car. That might work.

BertrandRussell · 17/04/2017 10:09

Driver's fault.

But you should always be able to hear what's going on because you are't any less squished for being in the right.

There is s sailor's rhyme " Here lies the body of Harold Hay Who insisted on his Right of Way"

Frazzled2207 · 17/04/2017 10:12

I'd say both of you at fault, mainly the driver but not that clear cut.
I had a similar situation recently where I was the driver, not reversing but driving out of my drive, it was dark and I couldn't see the pedestrian coming. He was with his girlfriend and I'm guessing not really aware. I hit him, though fortunately we were all ok albeit shocked. Totally blame him as no way I could see him. A bit different if the driver definitely could see you though.

BertrandRussell · 17/04/2017 10:16

" Totally blame him as no way I could see him. A bit different if the driver definitely could see you though"

If there was no way you could see him then you shouldn't have moved your car because you could not be sure the road was clear.

insancerre · 17/04/2017 10:23

Frazzled
Really?
You hit a pedestrian and it's his fault?
Do you realise how wrong that is?

Sirzy · 17/04/2017 10:41

When pulling out of a drive forward how on earth do you not see someone close enough for you to hit them? That's pretty scary!

IhatchedaSnorlax · 17/04/2017 10:44

Frazzled it sounds like you shouldn't be driving.

woodhill · 17/04/2017 10:52

Are your eyes ok Frazzled?

5foot5 · 17/04/2017 10:52

Just wanted to throw in an alternative scenario. I used to walk to work and one house I passed had high hedges which must have made it difficult to see if any pedestrians were approaching. A number of times I saw the lady leaving in a car. She always drove out forwards, went very, very slowly and bipped her horn as an additional warning. I often wonder if she had had a near miss at some point so was taking this extra care as a result. However, with headphones in this warning would be lost wouldn't it?

In general though I go along with the view that the driver was in the wrong but a pedestrian should still walk with due care and attention.

Frazzled2207 · 17/04/2017 11:02

It was dark the hedges where i live are high, i'm not sure now I could have seen him. He admitted he wasn't paying attention and blamed himself.

Frazzled2207 · 17/04/2017 11:03

Should add I always edge out very slowly for precisely this reason.

BertrandRussell · 17/04/2017 11:08

"It was dark the hedges where i live are high, i'm not sure now I could have seen him. He admitted he wasn't paying attention and blamed himself."

You should have got out and looked.

IhatchedaSnorlax · 17/04/2017 11:21

Bertrand, absolutely agree or Frazzled you should cut the hedges back or not park on your driveway if it's not safe to drive off it. Thinking it's not your fault when you hit someone (no matter how gently) is staggeringly awful.

Daydream007 · 17/04/2017 17:42

The driver was in the wrong of course!

treacletoffee23 · 17/04/2017 17:53

What if l was deaf?
I am hearing impaired but l would not walk along reading etc l pay attention to where lm going.

exaltedwombat · 17/04/2017 17:58

It was the driver's fault. If it had gone a little differently you'd be dead, he'd be sent to prison. Yes, you have a perfect 'right' to walk along the pavement unmolested. But you'd still be dead. You could have made yourself less vulnerable to his mistake.

tworonnies1957 · 17/04/2017 18:02

the driver should not reverse without checking both his rear view and both side mirrors only if it was clear should they start off to reverse out , saying that if they had hit dog it would been your fault as you had control over the dog and as didn't hear the cars engine you couldn't of pulled the dog back in time the dog would been in the driver blind spot

Flowersandbirds · 17/04/2017 18:22

Clearly the drivers fault. Pedestrians have priority on the pavement as well as when crossing a side road that a driver is turning into (universally ignored that one) BUT being "in the right" is no consolation if you or your dog gets hurt so I personally wouldn't wear headphones. Not your fault though.

Ineke · 17/04/2017 18:24

Pavement is not for cars therefore Driver needs to edge out slowly and give way to pedestrians. I know this from my driving test. Same as when I am turning into the Waitrose car park from the main road there are always people walking across the junction without looking or looking at their phones. I got angry about this until I was told that because it is a private road into Waitrose, the pedestrians have right of way. However, dog on extended lead would probably not be visible to driver, so, I would keep dog close at all times on pavement near driveways and busy roads. Dogs can and do sometimes see something they want, maybe another dog, and will dash out to cross the road. Always keep your eye on your pet on the pavement because of these possible hazards.

LML83 · 17/04/2017 18:28

Your nan can't make sure everything driver pays enough attention but she can encourage you to be extra careful. Just looking out for you.