"A Double-Ouch Car Day" by Fly on the Wall | The Pilot: Southern Pines, NC

A Double-Ouch Car Day

October 18, 2012

Seems like half the vehicles on the road are a form of truck, SUV or van. Some sit high off the road, so high that the driver can't see what's behind. I was walking through the Food Lion parking lot this morning when one of those big-mother vans backed our of a parking space and into this little-mother, slamming all of my 60 inches to the ground -- hard. Had the driver cut either right or left a wheel would have rolled over a body part, maybe my head. I screamed STOP and the lady driving rushed out of her van to see if I was OK. Somebody called 911, the police came to make a report and the EMS to check my vitals and bandage the deep scrapes. My first words to them: This was an accident. The driver probably couldn't see me through her rear-view mirror. She didn't mean to hit me. Paperwork too quite a while. In the end, the woman was given a summons for felony something-or-other and must appear in court. I think the van should share in the summons. I see TV ads for the car (can't remember the expensive brand) with the sensor that alerts the driver to a child approaching the rear of a moving vehicle. This is a luxury feature. Maybe it shouldn't be. Because the person walking slowly behind that van could have been a few inches shorter and a half-century younger. I learned something else from my van-versus-pedestrian experience: the location of groin and other muscles that complained loudly as the day progressed. Then, to add insult to injury, literally, on the way home I noticed that gas had dropped 12 cents a gallon since yesterday, when I filled my tank. You've heard of bad hair days. Thursday was an awful auto day.

mcgal 7 months ago

Glad you are here to tell the story! What a scary thing to have happen. I hope you aren't too sore tomorrow. Maybe someone else should make the brownies for Friday.

FightFireWithFire 7 months ago

Glad you are okay, albeit sore (in more ways than one, considering!) I have noticed that people are not taught how to back properly. I rarely see anyone looking to the rear of their vehicles when backing. I also keep a keen eye out for reverse lights while navigating parking lots these days, as I have had more than a few close calls with the SUV monsters.

debsalomon 7 months ago

Unfortunately, you cannot see reverse lights in the blaring sun when walking close to the vehicle. Also, vehicles with back-up sirens should remember that this does not allow them to back out blind. If the siren goes on as the car moves, not enough time to get out of the way. I've seen too many small people in huge cars, not necessarily vans or SUVs, who couldn't possibley see what's behind them, regardless of mirrors.

babiehop 7 months ago

I'm also glad to know that your injuries were not more serious than they were, but sorry to hear that you were hurt. I also drive one of those rather large and tall pickups and a short car as well. Each have their own challenges with view, I am very aware and careful with both and thankfully have had no such accident. My frustrations are those incidences in which the accident could have been avoided if the person had been more careful and less neglectful as I see so much of now with so many behind the wheel using their phones while driving. I still see drivers texting even though it is banned, but also dialing their phones and swerving. In some way it would seem the technology that keeps us connected, in some odd way causes us to behave in a fashion less respectful of life.