TXDani
Senior Community Member
Let me start by saying I have never had to hit my brakes like I hit them today!!!! Woozers!!!
My husband and I were going to pick up our dd from my mom's house around 6:30pm today. It was still very light out and a we had a nice clear sky and dry pavement. I was driving down a street I drive down numerous times a week doing about 35-40mph (speed limit is 35mph) when I see a man who is in his 50's (no helmet) coming down a hill off a side street (with a stop sign). I slow down just to be cautious and we made eye contact. As I approach the street/hill he does not stop and he does not turn to avoid me. He came straight out in front of my car!!! I stood on my brakes...something I have NEVER had to do before and watched in slow motion as the front of my car came within inches of his body. We had eye contact the whole time and my husband and I both had our mouths hanging open. I have no clue how I didn't hit him....absolutely no clue. After my car came to a stop he was on the side of the road catching his breath. So we stopped to make sure there was no damage to our car and to make sure he was okay. We made no contact with him or his bike and he was fine, just very shaken up. He said that he was planning on stopping but his brake cord snapped so he only had rear brakes...and apparently they couldn't stop him.
I am sure if my husband had been driving he would have been toast but since I am always fully aware of my surroundings this guy got dang lucky tonight!! In this case going a couple more MPH or a split second time difference in reaction time would really make a difference.
This really hit home how accidents can happen anywhere and at anytime!
My husband and I were going to pick up our dd from my mom's house around 6:30pm today. It was still very light out and a we had a nice clear sky and dry pavement. I was driving down a street I drive down numerous times a week doing about 35-40mph (speed limit is 35mph) when I see a man who is in his 50's (no helmet) coming down a hill off a side street (with a stop sign). I slow down just to be cautious and we made eye contact. As I approach the street/hill he does not stop and he does not turn to avoid me. He came straight out in front of my car!!! I stood on my brakes...something I have NEVER had to do before and watched in slow motion as the front of my car came within inches of his body. We had eye contact the whole time and my husband and I both had our mouths hanging open. I have no clue how I didn't hit him....absolutely no clue. After my car came to a stop he was on the side of the road catching his breath. So we stopped to make sure there was no damage to our car and to make sure he was okay. We made no contact with him or his bike and he was fine, just very shaken up. He said that he was planning on stopping but his brake cord snapped so he only had rear brakes...and apparently they couldn't stop him.
I am sure if my husband had been driving he would have been toast but since I am always fully aware of my surroundings this guy got dang lucky tonight!! In this case going a couple more MPH or a split second time difference in reaction time would really make a difference.
This really hit home how accidents can happen anywhere and at anytime!