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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:
TarantinoIsAMisogynist · 31/12/2023 17:42

He vandalised your car. That's a far worse crime than splashing someone.

Toddlerteaplease · 31/12/2023 17:42

@Tacotortoise I do, and haven't splashed anyone as far as I know.

mrsDracoMalfoy · 31/12/2023 17:42

whenlifegivesyoulemonssuckonthem · 31/12/2023 16:10

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

🤣🤣🤣

Megifer · 31/12/2023 17:44

I still can't work this out 🤣 assuming the puddle wasn't only about a foot wide he was either walking through the puddle practically to be near enough to the car to do something or, yea, I guess had a rock in his hand. Who walks with a rock in their hand?! But if it was a rock the window would have gone through if it was thrown with enough force from a distance to cause a chil.

You have no choice op, you need to go back tomorrow and look 🤣

kittensinthekitchen · 31/12/2023 17:44

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.

If he hit the drivers side rear window, does that mean he was in the middle of the road?

MintJulia · 31/12/2023 17:45

On new year's eve !!

Do you not think the police might have better things to do tonight? I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it OP.

ttcat37 · 31/12/2023 17:47

You definitely didn’t hit him/ dog/ another dog you didn’t see because you squashed it?

Canonlythinkofthisone · 31/12/2023 17:47

I've voted YABU just because you said you deserved the chip in your window.
He caused criminal damage, if it was me, I'd be ringing the police on him!!

On a side note, people walking rurally, with or without dogs, without high vis and lights, are idiots.

StaunchMomma · 31/12/2023 17:48

I think you should report this yourself. You didn't see him and he's chipped yur window AND approached a female aggressively.

TeacherPlease · 31/12/2023 17:50

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.

I’m not worried about your eyes. Even with my regularly tested 20/20 vision it is near on impossible to see pedestrians in dark clothing on poorly lit roads. If people knew how bad it was, they would go out in high vis. I always wear high vis, have my dog in a high vis coat and with a light collar when walking in the dark even in street lit areas. If it’s not street lit, I usually also take a dim head torch with me.

This is 99% on the pedestrian and there is absolutely no excuse for him damaging your car.

fetchacloth · 31/12/2023 17:52

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

Correct. And don't forget the potential criminal damage to your vehicle.

Tacotortoise · 31/12/2023 18:11

Oh I was wearing black @Emotionalsupportviper but it was broad daylight and I had 2 brightly dressed children with me. All 3 of us soaked from head to foot. I was incandescent with rage and I don't say that lightly.

ginasevern · 31/12/2023 18:11

I agree with you OP about the dog. His owner is a cunt and deserves to be soaked, the dog isn't and doesn't. I would actually report him to the police. You as a lone woman were effectively attacked in a dark lane by a strange man and you have the evidence to prove it. He sounds dangerous. You must feel very shaken by this.

IfTheresTeaTheresHope · 31/12/2023 18:28

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.

What police force do you work for? Investing a burglary or robbery is slightly more difficult than searching a registration mark on a vehicle to see who the owner is and to then send them a s172 notice to name the driver. We shouldn’t drive through water in such a way that pedestrians get soaked, regardless of whether they were wearing black presumably the OP had headlights on and they should see someone on the path. If the pedestrian reports it then it’s highly likely that the OP will hear but I imagine that once they give their side it will be 50/50 and no further action. @SputnikChugabug even if you have very little information about the pedestrian I would report the incident online just to cover yourself while it’s fresh in your mind. Try not to worry.

InstrumentsofTorture · 31/12/2023 18:31

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?

This has given me terrible flashbacks to an incident about 15 years ago!

I was taking my then 11yr old Dd, and 2 of my friend's dc to a Saturday morning activity. Just as you described, there was a deep puddle on the road in front of me, busy traffic behind me, and also traffic on-coming. There was a woman jogging on the pavement and I unintentionally splashed her (even though I was driving slowly). She was incensed and was gesticulating and shouting at me, and I felt awful!

I drove around the block looking for her to find her and apologise, but no luck. As a result, all the dc were late for the activity and got told off so were upset. I still think about that woman every time the roads are wet!

Sorry to digress op - as others have said, I don't think the police will be coming for you!

Groovy48592747 · 31/12/2023 18:33

So he's caused criminal damage to your car.

How are you meant to see people dressed in black on an unlit road. Same with these scooter riders.

Doubt you'll hear any more. Hopefully he will by now have seen the funny side. It was only water, it can be fixed quickly.

Rec0veringAcademic · 31/12/2023 18:54

Is it possible that the man's agression and your own shock are making you catastrophise, OP? 🌷Please just remind yourself accidents happen and you were not to blame. He was.
(Pedestrian here who has been soaked by careless drivers several times.)

Sureaseggs44 · 31/12/2023 18:57

Are you positive you did nt hit him or his dog ? It all seems a bit of an over reaction for him to have time to hit your back window ?

shamshir · 31/12/2023 19:07

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.

Yes, my nan couldn't even get the police to visit when she was burgled so I highly doubt they've got time for this nonsense. He was definitely in the wrong here, not you.

littlejellyfish · 31/12/2023 19:12

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.

This 100%!

stopdonttalk · 31/12/2023 19:16

You're fine, please don't worry.

MermaidEyes · 31/12/2023 19:19

If he hit the drivers side rear window, does that mean he was in the middle of the road?

I was thinking this? And how did he manage to find something in the dark quickly enough to throw before OP had driven off?!

Shiningout · 31/12/2023 19:29

If he punched my car in this situation I'd have reversed and then splashed the fucker again! He sounds like a dick. You've done nothing wrong so just try and forget it

InSpainTheRain · 31/12/2023 19:42

Take a photo of the dress he did before yiu do any repairs. Accidentally splashing someone is not a crime, damaging your car is. Should thr police turn up (and I'd be very surprised if they do) emphasise it was accidental and how he intimidated you and the damage he did.

Original poster
SputnikChugabug · 31/12/2023 23:54

Both sides of the road were flooded along with most of the pavement. I’m not certain how deep it is but there was a car abandoned a few days earlier after it was totally impassable due to a flooded engine. It must go on for about 50 yards at least. He was definitely on the pavement at the time. I didn’t actually think he may have had a stick or something but that’s totally possible. He was completely invisible from behind though!! I think with the oncoming headlights from other cars and concentrating on being able to pass through safely it was just impossible to see him. I guess he could have waited for the traffic but there was a fair bit around. I suppose I could have been going even slower than 10 for him to react. It’s just been so treacherous out this week.

I don’t feel quite so worried now. I think his aggression had made me feel a bit flustered. I’ve had a couple of very nasty encounters with men on the roads previously when I’ve been alone over the years (which I did report!) so I wasn’t hanging around.

OP posts: