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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I nearly walked in front of a bus

100 replies

Speakandspell · 09/12/2023 06:44

I was walking into town for a night out with friends last week. Came to a road that’s got bus lanes and was about to walk out without looking but did check at final moment and there was a bus right there - I came within a second of walking in front of it and it would have probably killed me.

I can’t stop thinking about it- how bloody stupid I was - I just wasn’t paying attention and it’s really frightened me.

Obviously it’s given me such a fright that I will be much more careful in future but I can’t stop running what could have been in my head and feeling sick about it.

How do I get past this? Anyone had this happen before. I feel so freaked out by it.

OP posts:
sorrynotathome · 09/12/2023 06:45

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Original poster
Speakandspell · 09/12/2023 06:46

@sorrynotathome i’m sorry what? I was asking for advice not a nasty comment. Jesus.

OP posts:
Tilllly · 09/12/2023 06:46

This reply has been deleted

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Unkind and unhelpful
Why would you post this?

Coolhwip · 09/12/2023 06:48

This almost happened to me in Central London once. I was upset and in my own world and almost stepped out in front of a bus.

I still remember the whoosh of the wind as the bus sped past, inches from my face.

I would reframe it as a positive in my head. Now I’m extra careful when crossing the road, and the chances of something like that happening again are extremely low, as now I’m aware pf my limitations.

PostmansKnock · 09/12/2023 06:48

Yes me, I was nineteen and I'm fifty now. Pretty much the same situation except someone I was with pulled me back.

It has t changed my life or anything but I do sometimes still think about it. We all make thousands of split second decisions every day.

AnnaShan · 09/12/2023 06:49

This will sound slightly comedy but twice in the space of a week when I was away traveling, I took a step forward and a coconut fell and landed exactly where I’d been standing.

I don’t want my obituary to read ‘death by coconut’ 😆

Guavafish1 · 09/12/2023 06:49

That happened to me when I was a teen with a truck seconds from hitting me. The traffic lights were not working like normal and I was not paying attention. I would have died or been seriously injured.

I still get flash backs 20 years later and can feel the heat and wind from the truck and hear the horn sound. I'm extra careful when I cross the road from that day on but it's still scares me.

Coolhwip · 09/12/2023 06:49

AnnaShan · 09/12/2023 06:49

This will sound slightly comedy but twice in the space of a week when I was away traveling, I took a step forward and a coconut fell and landed exactly where I’d been standing.

I don’t want my obituary to read ‘death by coconut’ 😆

Death by coconut 🤣

shearwater2 · 09/12/2023 06:50

I nearly did the same aged 19, huge coach. Gave myself and the driver a big shock.

It just made me want to be more careful and present in the moment, and realise things can change in an instant.

You've had a jolt and were lucky but no need to dwell on it - I'm sure you will take more care next time.

Original poster
Speakandspell · 09/12/2023 06:50

@AnnaShan omg that actually happened To me & my partner too on holiday! I had totally forgotten about it until you mentioned it!!

OP posts:
Tilllly · 09/12/2023 06:51

OP, I'm not surprised you're freaked out

I've not done similar but did, 5 or 6 years ago, miss being in a motorway pile up by a couple of cars / couple of seconds

I didn't sleep well for a week or so and I kept re-living it, going over various "what if" scenarios

I talked it over with friends, quite a lot - probably drove them to distraction. It passed. I think it probably will with you too, try not to dwell on it.

EliflurtleAndTheInfiniteMadness · 09/12/2023 06:51

Several times, a few as a teen, some more recently. My best friend grabbed me and stopped me from stepping in front of a semi trailer going down the hill into town when I was about 16, would have flattened me otherwise. I probably have ADHD. I don't really think on it, maybe because I've done it a few times and since I was a kid and am very absent minded so can't really say how to get past that worry. Everyone zones out and does silly things, its part of the reason for a lot of fender benders. I'm sure I'm at the more extreme end of the range for it, but no one can be 100% on and focused all the time.

Bonjovispjs · 09/12/2023 06:52

Happened to me yesterday, but with a car not a bus, but would have still done me some serious damage. Scared me too, but don't beat yourself up about, learn from it like I'm hoping I will.

27icey · 09/12/2023 06:53

Yes at least 3 times and I still think of them occasionally. I try and take it as a warning and be extra careful now.

WWYDIYWMRN · 09/12/2023 06:54

Yes I very nearly got hit by a car when I was about 12 or 13. I was running to try and catch a bus. I was one side of a busy road and the bus was at a stop on the other. My side of the road was clear but for some reason I didn't check the other side and just ran straight across the road. A car slammed it's breaks on and stopped literally touching me. Was shaken up for ages and was beating myself up for being so stupid. The fact that I still remember it so clearly years later shows it taught me a lesson and I was more careful after that

LittleRedRidingBoots · 09/12/2023 06:56

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Would you speak to someone in real life like this?!! Easy to be mean from behind a keyboard isn't it!

Whu · 09/12/2023 06:56

Coolhwip · 09/12/2023 06:49

Death by coconut 🤣

Show quote history

Was listening to an experienced diver from Barbados this week and he was saying how more people die from falling coconuts than shark attacks!

Boating123 · 09/12/2023 06:57

I/another almost killed my son.
I went on green to turn right at some traffic lights. The other driver put his foot down and went fast on red. He must have been going 60mph or something. I went in front of him. We missed each other by moments. My son was in the back, passenger side.

I think about the moment whenever I pass those traffic lights.

Ihaterhymingrabbit · 09/12/2023 07:00

@Speakandspell yes this happened to me a few years ago, I walked in front of a tram on a road bend, I was just on autopilot and narrowly missed it .

I know how you feel as as soon as I got
to work I had to tell someone to process it and felt shaken up. I felt so stupid, I must have had a lot on my mind.

Copperas · 09/12/2023 07:01

That’s what happened to Biden’s wife and daughter- except those few seconds grace were not there. It really brings home how fragile life is

Ihaterhymingrabbit · 09/12/2023 07:01

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Think someone needs a coffee or back to bed for a bit.

honeyandfizz · 09/12/2023 07:06

Travelling down a very dark motorway early in the morning on boxing day last year it was lashing down and only one car ahead if me. The car ahead suddenly lost control and started spinning out of control towards me, I swerved over and by inches they missed hitting me head on. Felt sick and shaky for the rest of the journey.

EasternStandard · 09/12/2023 07:11

Ignore the sarcastic first response

It’s horrible when you have a what if

For you or your dc

Best way is to hear from others so a thread is a good way to go

WillowTit · 09/12/2023 07:19

i went christmas shopping with dm some years ago, i never forget seeing this old lady walking out in front of a bus, and it was dm!
she was ok but i have never forgotten!

Blinky21 · 09/12/2023 07:20

I've done it too, luckily a kind stranger grabbed me