Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be worried the police will get involved. Splashed a pedestrian by accident.

146 replies

SputnikChugabug · 31/12/2023 16:08

I absolutely didn’t mean to do this at all but I didn’t see him or his poor dog! It was dark, no street lights, under trees, raining and he was dressed in black and the road was completely flooded as I was driving though. About a foot of water covering the road and onto the pavement.

I stopped because I hadn’t realised what had hit my car, but he had punched it with something and the window is now chipped. He was racing towards me screaming so before I could even apologise I got back in the car and drove off because I didn’t feel safe.

the flood is over the road and the pavement and I drove through at about 10 mph, possibly even less! It was very busy. And navigating with the oncoming traffic was difficult.

im a bit worried I’m going to now get a call from the police and a hefty fine. I do feel absolutely terrible especially for the dog. I realise his feet must have been soaked but it was a total accident! I’m not worried about the chip as I know I deserved it, it’ll get sorted.

OP posts:
whenlifegivesyoulemonssuckonthem · 31/12/2023 16:10

I remember when it was fun to splash pedestrians. Them were the days

Peoplemakemedespair · 31/12/2023 16:10

If the police get involved then it’s him that’ll be in the shit, not you. This law was created to stop wankers doing it deliberately. Being out with his dog dressed in black in low visibility is asking for trouble

Browncupboards · 31/12/2023 16:12

He's sounds like a total lunatic tbh, not sure it would even cross my mind that I'd be the one in the wrong

Denimdenimdenim · 31/12/2023 16:12

Not your fault. These things happen.

Forget about him and he shouldn't have hit your car.

BCBird · 31/12/2023 16:12

He was intimidating. U did it accidentally. Remember this

Whataretheodds · 31/12/2023 16:13

It's not a crime to splash someone accidentally. The same cannot be said for smashing someone's windscreen deliberately.

ColonelRhubarbBikini · 31/12/2023 16:13

I’m a pedestrian who has a particular hatred in my heart for car drivers who splash me but actually in this case he was in the wrong not you.

He should’ve made himself and his dog visible via high vis/torch/reflectors etc. Accidents do happen, sometimes it’s unavoidable. He absolutely should not have hit your car. If anyone’s in trouble with the police it’ll be him for causing damage.

NotTerfNorCis · 31/12/2023 16:14

He's in the wrong here.

I once got deliberately soaked by someone in a car - they deliberately swerved into a puddle, the wave was higher than I was. I was furious, but it never crossed my mind to tell the police. If he threatened you and damaged your car, he's totally in the wrong and would end up charged with an offence.

DoesNotPlayWellWithIdiots · 31/12/2023 16:15

Actually, no, you didn't deserve to get your car damaged! If you were only doing about 10mph it should've been obvious you didn't do it on purpose. He's a twat for not wearing reflective clothing.

Echobelly · 31/12/2023 16:17

Look at it this way - the police won't or can't even investigate most robberies and burglaries. Do you seriously think they're going to put resources into tracking down 'a car that splashed someone'? The person being very angry doesn't make it a crime and if anything he would be in trouble for threatening you and damaging your property, but they also wouldn't investigate that. You can 100% forget about this, I promise you. And he was the asshole, not you, don't feel guilty.

mynameiscalypso · 31/12/2023 16:17

Have you reported his attack on your car to the police??

SutWytTi · 31/12/2023 16:17

You were driving 10mph and he was invisible due to dark clothing. You were driving with due care and attention.

He was aggressive and damaged your property.

It sounds an upsetting incident but I do not think you have a case to answer.

The people who get fined for this are those who deliberately drive fast through puddles - that is dangerous.

chompargh · 31/12/2023 16:18

Chill. You'll be fine even if the police do catch up with you. Maybe consider an eye test if you struggled to see him.

Waitingfordoggo · 31/12/2023 16:19

YANBU OP and I’d be flabbergasted if you got in trouble for this. He wouldn’t have a leg to stand on in reporting it seeing as he inflicted criminal damage on your car and intimidated you when you got out to apologise. Try and forget about it- you did nothing wrong.

I only found out recently that there is a law around soaking pedestrians but presumably this only applies when it is done very deliberately with the intention of soaking someone. What I don’t understand is what you’re supposed to do as a driver if you are approaching one of these deep puddles and someone is coming the opposite way so there is no space to drive around the puddle. Is slowing right down to go through the puddle acceptable? Or are you expected to sit and wait for oncoming traffic to clear so that you can drive around it?

Testina · 31/12/2023 16:20

“I do feel absolutely terrible especially for the dog.”

Seriously? An animal that can do a shake, versus a human stuck in wet clothes?

The man was a cock so I lost all sympathy for him, but that’s some odd priority there!

FictionalCharacter · 31/12/2023 16:23

What crime do you think you committed?! Come on now, you're panicking for no reason.
This man was aggressive to you and damaged your car deliberately. I'm horrified that you think you actually deserved that.

LakeTiticaca · 31/12/2023 16:27

He's a tosser and deserved to get pissed wet through, in my opinion

Riverlee · 31/12/2023 16:30

I’ve been splashed several times by cars due to a large puddle always forming on the road at one point. I just accept it’s one of those things. It’s not done maliciously.

However, him damaging your car is criminal damage…

Waitingfordoggo · 31/12/2023 16:31

It can be considered an offence @FictionalCharacter. Realistically though I wonder if it would be quite hard to prove.

‘Yes, splashing pedestrians is illegal and you can be prosecuted under Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act for careless, aggressive or inconsiderate behaviour on the road. You could be summoned to court, fined £150 and given three penalty points. The same applies to cyclists.’

See here: https://mocktheorytest.com/resources/is-it-illegal-to-splash-pedestrians-with-a-puddle/#:~:text=For%20pedestrians%20on%20the%20pavement,inconsiderate%20behaviour%20on%20the%20road.

Is it illegal to splash pedestrians with a puddle

It might seem funny at the time but it can land you with a fine and demerit points as it's illegal

https://mocktheorytest.com/resources/is-it-illegal-to-splash-pedestrians-with-a-puddle/#:~:text=For%20pedestrians%20on%20the%20pavement,inconsiderate%20behaviour%20on%20the%20road.

spookehtooth · 31/12/2023 16:33

NotTerfNorCis · 31/12/2023 16:14

He's in the wrong here.

I once got deliberately soaked by someone in a car - they deliberately swerved into a puddle, the wave was higher than I was. I was furious, but it never crossed my mind to tell the police. If he threatened you and damaged your car, he's totally in the wrong and would end up charged with an offence.

Your situation, even though you say you don't care, is very different to the OP and anoffence that can be reported and punished, which I totally agree with.

The OP situation, whilst probably avoidable, is different due to the lack of intent and overreaction on the part of the person soaked.

I wouldn't worry about it OP, you tried to make good by checking on the wellbeing of the person you soaked and decided there was a genuine risk of harm. That and the walkers poor consideration for their own safety wouldn't help their cause if they reported it

SilverGlitterBaubles · 31/12/2023 16:40

The state the roads are in these days with poor drainage, potholes and standing water everywhere I think it is impossible to avoid splashing pedestrians on some roads. I was splashed walking to work one morning but two cars passing on a narrow road had no where to go and I accept that. At the end of the day it's only water Wink

Original poster
SputnikChugabug · 31/12/2023 16:46

Thank you for the replies.

I got such a fright when he whacked the window. God only knows what he had in his hand but when I realised what had happened I didn’t want to hang around to find out. It has also spooked me as well how I was totally unable to see him. I’m rural so very aware of looking out for pedestrians on roads and pavements in poorly lit areas and I’ve no idea why the street lights weren’t on. I had my eyes tested last June but will make another appointment in the new year.

The area has just been so badly affected by flooding as it just won’t stop raining. This is a notorious spot for water and the puddle is huge and takes up both sides of the road. Waiting for other cars to pass through before you can go through with no other form of control. The roads are so busy today with people going about for NYE.

I’ve never had any convictions on almost 25 years of driving. (Apart from a bus lane!). I am pretty conscientious but this just caught me out completely.

OP posts:
enchantedsquirrelwood · 31/12/2023 16:47

Sometimes you can't avoid splashing someone. People in my local FB group get really annoyed by it, but really - if you see a big puddle and a car coming, you walk somewhere else or stop to let it past!

The police have much bigger problems to sort out OP.

If you go out when it's wet, you're going to get wet. Sooner or later, and by whatever means.

Original poster
SputnikChugabug · 31/12/2023 16:48

As for the chip, it’s in the back window of the driver’s side. I know I’ll be able to fill it with the stuff you use for windscreens and then get it replaced next week.

OP posts:
BubbleBubbleBubbleBubblePop · 31/12/2023 16:56

Testina · 31/12/2023 16:20

“I do feel absolutely terrible especially for the dog.”

Seriously? An animal that can do a shake, versus a human stuck in wet clothes?

The man was a cock so I lost all sympathy for him, but that’s some odd priority there!

The man was a cunt, the dog wasn't. I'd not care that the dog got soaked but be happy that the man did, as he was such a shit.