To mount the pavement and run over my neighbor

[WhyCantPeopleBeNice]

Ok, so I agree, driving at my neighbor would be bad.
But what is acceptable?

Today someone living in our street mounted the kerb twice and the second time hit and killed my cat.
Speed limit is 30
Our next door neighbor rushed out and the van behind stopped. The car drove on.

We put a Facebook message asking who the van driver was, he came round and identified the driver and explained our cat wasn't hit on the road but on the footpath.
I know where the driver lives. I know the car he drives.
I walked to his house and he isn't in.
Police won't even take a report of dangerous driving without a registration number, despite me giving full witness details and address of the driver. (Witness lives opposite the driver hence being able to clearly identify)

So, what would you do?

Would you camp outside until he returns to get his registration number and suggest he flies everywhere so he doesn't get run over??

I’m so sorry about your cat. I once witnessed the aftermath of a cat hit and run and I stayed with the poor cat. I was so traumatised, so can only imagine how you are feeling. Like you say, next time it could be a child. Could the van driver report it as well?

I'm so sorry for your loss . That's heartbreaking & agree to contact dvla

I'd also write him a letter to tell him you've done it & why. If someone doesn't notice that, they shouldn't be driving.

Clearly the main issue here is that so far as we can tell, the driver is completely unfit to drive - but may well not be aware of this. We can only hope the fact that this happened, was witnessed, yet the driver was apparently completely unaware of what he had done, will prompt some action to stop him driving.

My (late) df crashed his car several times (he was briefly blacking out due to a known health issue) before my younger sib, who was living with him at the time, bravely shopped him to DVLA. Thank fuck no human was injured, though more than one car definitely was.

This thread has made me realise I need to have a chat with my Mum now.....

Email the dvla and his insurance company and explain he’s not safe to drive, has no awareness of running over a car after twice mounting the curb. Could have killed someone.

Have I just imagined this .... I'm sure I read the new driving rules today saying that it's illegal to drive on pavement now and you could get a fine/ points??

OP, did you check the vehicle registration number online to see if it was the correct make of car? I'm just wondering in case of either mistaken identity by the van driver/your neighbour, or the elderly gentleman giving an incorrect number by mistake (or on purpose), as you didn't actually see the car at the house?

I'm so sorry to hear about your cat 😔

So sorry about your cat. Honestly I wouldn't blame you for anything you did to him.

This.

He’s a dangerous driver. Doesn’t matter if it’s due to age or drugs or alcohol the point is he’s a danger on the road. Press the police to prosecute his dangerous driving, also report to dvla and insurer, and I think for the cat they call it criminal damage of property, I’m not sure.

I am so very very sorry about your cat. 😭

Oh OP. I'm am so sorry. Massive hugs ❤️

You do what you need to do!

Do you trust the person that have told you he was the person that had killed the cat? Just thinking whether they have given you someone else’s address because he’s an easy target for being older. Call me paranoid

Sounds like he isn't fit to drive. I'm so sorry op, I'd be beside myself and probably would mow down the neighbour.

I'm sure I read the new driving rules today saying that it's illegal to drive on pavement now and you could get a fine/ points??

its never been legal to drive on the pavement, its not a new rule

I've just taken your advice and checked. The registration number the man gave me last night was incorrect.
I don't believe he's deliberately misleading, Not really sure how to explain but if you'd spoken to the man yesterday, he just has no clue.
I've asked a few other neighbors from that end of the street to keep any eye out for his car and note the correct reg number.

If he hit the kerb twice he probably assumed our cat was the kerb - he's a 12lb chunky boy, bloody enormous.

Our two cats and dogs are currently like glue, not left our side all night :(

Hope you can get the correct registration number. If that does not happen, contact the DVLA and also your local Police and Crime Commissioner. The police response was poor and in my opinion fails the Equality Act 2010 duties, as you could have limited eyesight.

You don't stop for any small animal at all IF you will endanger human life in the process if you braked. So if you have a car behind you, or a car coming in the other direction so you can't drive around the animal, then unfortunately you kill the animal. Human life is above animal life. You can also emergency brake for large animals, like anything from goat/sheep size upwards, because if you hit them you'll be injured. The car behind you if they hit you could be at fault then for driving too close. Problem is despite all this, people will react instinctively and brake without thinking for obvious reasons.

If you can avoid hitting an animal without endangering human life though, then yes obviously you stop or try and avoid it. It sounds more like your driving instructor doesn't like cats to be honest. 😢God knows how many people he's told that to. You don't deliberately hit them if you can avoid it, but human life is above the cats. The courts won't side with you if you cause an accident to avoid a cat.

Driving up onto a path though is so dangerous. That man should not be driving, from the sounds of it he is half blind and going senile too if he can't remember his registration number.