Sorry...mini vent

[Medianox]

Sorry? Yeah, I usually just drive off and say sorry when I almost kill someone, but whatever... grrr

I have never been so scared! I saw her coming and thought, "wow that car is still moving...it will stop, its going to stop....HEY its NOT STOPPING!!!". I was moving fast myself and tried to not hit the brakes too hard and I turned sharp to the right just as she passed me (so that the front of my bike was parallel to the side of her car when I stopped). I was very fortunate when I was able to stop that the momentum didn't throw me in her path. We were so close (literally a couple of inches apart)I could have reached in the car, that's when she said "sorry" and drove off (actually she never did come to a full stop). I got a really good look at her, she was young, maybe 18-20ish and had someone with her in the passenger seat-didn't see a cell phone or anything so maybe she had been talking to the other person when she ran through the intersection. I guess saying "sorry" IS better than some things she could of said but she was totally in the wrong, having run the red light so she had no excuse.
Live and learn...thanks for the warm feelings. Hope everyone had a safe ride today!

[Owlie]

I didn't get out until 10:30 or so, when there are actually people on the roads. Clearly, where ever Mr. BMW was going was more important than, I don't know, driving safely.

[Maxxxie]

Glad to hear you're OK!!

I note that some people are bothered by her saying sorry.. it's made me wonder, though, what exactly would be an appropriate thing to say when you've just narrowly missed killing someone. It's a serious question - what would you have liked her to say?

Max

[Medianox]

"Sorry" is just about as appropriate and as human a response as any-probably the first thing any of us might say off the top of our heads. Personally, I just wish it hadn't happened. I'm getting a complex about crossing the street-this is the second time since September that someone running a stop light has come close to hitting me.

It as much wasn't what she said, but what she did...she never fully stopped and just drove off-that made me more upset than her "sorry". I honestly don't think she realized how close she came to seriously injuring another person.

[lph]

well, under the circumstances "sorry" may have been a rational thing to say and certainlt better than a lot of other things. it just sounded a bit strange. I wonder how she had the time to think about it and say something, but not actually do anything like hit her brakes.

I think if I were almost hit by someone I'd prefer a shocked look and a gasp aka "where did YOU come from OMG I almost hit you!!"...

[Tri Girl]

you're right- sorry was a nice thing to say in comparison to other things she could have said. Knowing how young she was, it probably scared her. She'd probably never encountered that before while driving. Hopefully it'll make her think twice and be a little more cautious and aware.

[OakLeaf]

Yeah, I think as the OP described it, it was the breeziness of the "Sorry" with the clear indication that she really wasn't.

Stopping, "Are you okay? I am so sorry," some indication that the driver was nearly as shaken as the rider, that's what would have been appropriate IMO.

And whether she "could have said something worse," as I've said before, it's the oblivious ones who scare me much more than the nasty ones. There are a very small few who will literally try to kill you - that doctor in LA comes to mind - but most of the ones who do something intentional are "just" trying to scare you and thus, exercising some control over their vehicle and muscles that make it likely that they won't actually hurt you. It's the oblivious ones like this - I have to say it, because her immaturity deserves it - girl, that scare me much more.