[mikmak]

I just had one. I took the clan to the "big smoke" Brizvegas today so the kids could see the "castles" (sky scrapers). It was only just as we were leaving the city this afternoon, that I nearly had to reach for a new set of undergarments.

Coming slightly downhill at around 40 kph, I see 2 cars about 100m ahead, taking the same path as me so I apply a touch of right foot. There is also a dark blue Astra parked on the left hand side, with its indicator on(probably important to mention to those who don't know, I am in australia which is Right [as incorrect:] hand drive). Just as I get no more than 2 car lengths away, the Astra does a U-turn straight across the front of me! By time I mash the brake pedal into the floor she has my front left indicator making a b-line for her b-pillar. All 4 wheels lock up then do the ABS shuffle. I'm on the horn in case she doesn't know that 1700kgs of Australian metal has come to check her ANCAP rating. She doesn't look. Just panics and stops square with the beam of my right headlight now shining off of her curly hair.
I have no where to go so just hold on, hoping that my tyres will pull their weight.

How close was it? Well, considering that the conditions were good enough for me to note that she was driving a CD TS Astra hatch (which doesn't have curtain or side thorax airbags), that should tell you something: I was close enough to see the badge. What pissed me off the most is she didn't even look at me when she sped off (almost immediately) after the fact and showed absolutley no remorse. Perhaps she was in a rush to pick up some new undergarments.

Incidentally, if it had have been raining, or if I had have been going perhaps 2kph faster, I would have had to use one of my less utlitised skills. My senior first aid certificate.

Don't be stingy when it comes to selecting your rubber and as my mum told me when I was learning how to drive: "Always keep one eye out for the ****heads".:lmao:

 

[Old Dood]

Was she on the PHONE too?
Damn it that craps pisses me off to no end...

Glad to see you 'made it'.

I had a similar experience.
I was driving to work in the early AM. (4am)
I was going through a yellow Flashing Traffic Light that at 6am turns back into a full traffic light.

As I was coming through the intersection and ALL I see is the side of a pick-up truck no more then 8-10 feet from me.
I SLAM the brakes and slow down just enough so this yahoo that ran the RED Flashing light on his side barely got by me.

I am not even fully awake at this point. I am just starting to sip my coffee.
It was all reaction time for me. No time to actually THINK.

After that happened I thought at first *I* ran a flashing RED but, then I realized I had a yellow.

Needless to say I had the 'shakes' all the way to work that morning...

 

[autofan]

I am constantly amazed at how many people in parking situations (lots, parallel) simply back or pull out without ever looking. Those on phones are especially bad as if other drivers are supposed to understand and accept that they are otherwise occupied. I also see people look one way but not the other before moving their car. I'd rather be on the freeway going 80 any day over navigating my way through a busy parking lot!

 

[SirRaven]

Glad it all turned out fine for you, well at least no accident. Maybe on her next car she will be getting those side airbags. Not all Astra drivers are idiots like that, some of us are great drivers .

 

[chaseabryant]

yeesh.... Happy to hear that you weren't bumpin' sheet metal with her... Hopefully she has leaned her lesson on pulling out in front of people!

-Chase

 

[Neanderthal]

Hopefully you'll get those phaser torpedo tubes installed before the next moron attempts a suicide-by-Mikmak.

Did you ask her if she soiled herself? It's the least courtesy you could have shown her for all her troubles. :yup:

 

[Neanderthal]

I am constantly amazed at how many people in parking situations (lots, parallel) simply back or pull out without ever looking. Those on phones are especially bad as if other drivers are supposed to understand and accept that they are otherwise occupied. I also see people look one way but not the other before moving their car. I'd rather be on the freeway going 80 any day over navigating my way through a busy parking lot!

Why should they look?
As you point out, they are very busy performing other non-driving activities.

And so far, they haven't been killed.
Why fix something that ain't broke?

 

[Smaart Aas Saabr]

I am constantly amazed at how many people in parking situations (lots, parallel) simply back or pull out without ever looking. Those on phones are especially bad as if other drivers are supposed to understand and accept that they are otherwise occupied. I also see people look one way but not the other before moving their car. I'd rather be on the freeway going 80 any day over navigating my way through a busy parking lot!

I was in a parking lot, on the other side of the "street" (where the cars pass to get to the spots) was another car. I was in my car, started it, start backing, then see the reverse lights of the car behind come on. I stop. I see the car move, I start honking (continous). The car continues until it rams me. I ask the driver what the hell. He says he didn't see me, didn't hear me, etc.

 

[autofan]

The car continues until it rams me. I ask the driver what the hell. He says he didn't see me, didn't hear me, etc.

I love that typical zero-accountability response; saying "I didn't see you" instead of the more accurate and, heaven forbid, honest response of "I didn't look".

 

[Neanderthal]

I was in a parking lot, on the other side of the "street" (where the cars pass to get to the spots) was another car. I was in my car, started it, start backing, then see the reverse lights of the car behind come on. I stop. I see the car move, I start honking (continous). The car continues until it rams me. I ask the driver what the hell. He says he didn't see me, didn't hear me, etc.

Ha. Fun.

Even more fun if you're on a bike. Some dildo backed into my 71 Kaw H1.
I was about 15' behind him when he started backing.
Horn didn't faze him (bike horns weren't much in those days).
Yelling and waving didn't faze him.
Fortunately he stopped after he hit me.

 

[Aerodynamix]

^^^ A similar thing happened to a friend of mine a few years ago. We were standing in a parking small lot with a single row of cars parked at the side of the building. Where we were standing was about 30 feet behind the bumpers and at the beginning of the line. I noticed someone walk out of the building, get into his Cavalier which was parked at the far end of the row (about 10 cars away), start the car, put in reverse, (at this point I looked away to pay attention to what was being said), the next thing I knew this driver made a perfect arc and hit my friend who was standing in the middle of the 3 of us. Myself and the other guy jumped out of the way just in time. The passenger side taillight was cracked and my friend got bumped hard enough to send her staggering about 15 feet before falling down. The guy did get out and gave us info right after the "i didn't see you" speech but the police said the lot was private property so they couldn't do anything.

 

[mikmak]

Hopefully you'll get those phaser torpedo tubes installed before the next moron attempts a suicide-by-Mikmak.

Did you ask her if she soiled herself? It's the least courtesy you could have shown her for all her troubles. :yup:

There were a few things I thought about saying after she had already left. She left once the wagon had come to a complete stop. There were thoughts floating around of introducing her to the 2 kids she had just pulled in front of, but I was concerned that she might have looked a little scary after I dragged her out the window of her car. I'm kind of joking.

 

[Old Dood]

There were a few things I thought about saying after she had already left. She left once the wagon had come to a complete stop. There were thoughts floating around of introducing her to the 2 kids she had just pulled in front of, but I was concerned that she might have looked a little scary after I dragged her out the window of her car. I'm kind of joking.

Yes, probably. There is a still a part of you that is not though...
I would not blame you one bit.