No, Ms Pedestrian, We Expect You To Die

[ailbhe]

But I didn't - I carried Linnea across the road by one arm, and the buggy by one handle, and I called the police.

As Linnea (walking), Emer (buggy) and I were crossing WITH THE GREEN MAN under the railway bridge, two cars WHICH HAD STOPPED AT THE LIGHTS on my left (ie the far lane) decided that just as we reached the marked-off pedestrian crossing at their lane was a good time to wind down the windows, honk their horns, yell, and then-

- well, it was complicated. The rear car pulled out into the other-direction lane to overtake the front one, which turned hard towards that lane moving into the pedestrian crossing area to do so to block the rear car, whcih moved back and then forwards on the other side of the correct lane, ie passing on the inside, and moved towards the pedestrian crossing area.

I'm a little vague on the exact details because I was too frightened and busy getting the children over. However, as they pulled away after we reached the footpath, still against their red light, I got the number of the car which was at that point to the rear, and called the police with it. The police established that no-one was hurt and did a lookup on the car, which is local, and said they'd keep an eye out.

I doubt they can get into read trouble. But I'm damned if I'm letting anyone frighten me like that and do nothing. And maybe the police will take them aside and tell them not to be such grade-A class-1 pillocks in future.

Linnea and Emer were not in the least frightened and although they saw the cars coming they knew I'd keep them safe. I was shaking so much I had to sit down.

Comments

[pauamma]

Ouch! Glad you all got away from it unharmed.

[taimatsu]

Scary scary scary. Why are people so stupid and wrong? Aaaaaaargh :( It makes me all twitchy thinking about it. The pedestrian crossing is not very wide.

[barakta]

Eeep! I don't know if it is worth doing, but you might want to submit the plate details you have to the DVLA as well. Sometimes they send nasty letters to the person in question.

How horrible, I don't understand why people don't treat cars like the weapons they are.

[ai731.livejournal.com]

And maybe the police will take them aside and tell them not to be such grade-A class-1 pillocks in future.

I very much hope so!

We've started keeping a notebook in the glove-box and writing down the number plates of cars that we see driving dangerously on the motorway. That way, if we later pass one involved in an accident, we can tell the authorities "The car with this number plate was weaving in and out of traffic in a very dangerous manner." It probably won't ever happen, or help if it does, but it makes us feel a little bit better.

[kateaw]

Dear Heaven, how frightening :(

[sfred]

Argh! Scary. It sounds like you did the right thing.

[sophiedb.livejournal.com]

Gah! Well survived and reported, all of you!

[natural20.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear all are alright and that Linnea and Emer were reasonably unfazed by it all. But Jesus people, it's only a tonne of metal, what could go wrong? :(

[ailbhe]

They didn't do anything that was actually likely to kill us, from their point of view, I think. But when cars behave illegally and unpredictably all of a sudden, how do I know they are going to stop before they kill me? Or that they've noticed the smaller, shorter people with me? And what if a cyclist had been trying to come up to the line too, or something?

[mrs-redboots.livejournal.com]

*Hugs*. Always foul when that happens. I wonder if the two cars were rival gangs - it has been known.

Well done you dealing with it so well that the children weren't frightened.

[micheinnz.livejournal.com]

Whoa, that IS scary. I don't know what their problem is, but let's hope a nice chat with the police sorts it out.

I'm just glad you're all okay, FSVO okay.

[hitchhiker.livejournal.com]

that's scary :( glad everyone's okay.