Twice I've almost been hit by a car stopping within five inches of my shins.
I just clocked out of an eight-hour shift from Starbuck's. 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. I'm cranky. I'm going to my car and getting ready to go comatose for the rest of the day. I stop at the crosswalk - look left, look right, look left again and step. There's a four-way stop 20 feet left with cars all around it. As the sole of my shoe is planted on the ground, the driver heading my direction plants her foot on the gas pedal and goes.
Luckily for me, she looks up from her phone, puts two hands on the wheel, and plants that eager foot on the brake. I'm about four steps in the crosswalk and freeze at the fact she decided that going 20 mph sounded about right for a good speed in a filled parking lot, shooting out of a four-way stop. She has the look of complete fear - raised eyebrows, gaping mouth and hands in the air.
I look down at my feet and then at the car and then at her. What was I to do at this point? Get angry and scream at her? No, I word by mouth "Thank you," and keep going. "Thank you for not ruining my life" was all on my mind. I was still cranky and didn't have enough energy to give this 18-year-old a piece of my mind. I get in my jeep and just sit for a few minutes, hands shaking as the revelation kinda sat in. I could have been one of those gifs on a forum like Reddit - a poor fool whose fate was to give someone else some internet points.
Six months later, lady luck would give me another visit. I'm at the Perimeter Mall in Dunwoody, Georgia. My coworker's birthday celebration was at the Irish pub inside. I'm walking across the two lanes as I look right, a car - again, speeding - was barreling down for me.
This time, I could react - I got out of her lane by taking a few steps back (now I'm in the middle of the road) and then she starts turning towards me. She's going to hit me!
By the grace of God, she stops too. Again, THREE INCHES AWAY from my legs. This time, I had the energy, I march to her window, and this other 16-year-old girl was mortified.
She rolled down her window and there's a single tear running down her face like it's winning some race.I could only stare for a few seconds to make sure I didn't recognize her - as if this was some kind of prank. She winced at me and it was like watching a dam cracking against a flowing river trying to break out in one of those apocalypse movies.
All I could muster from seeing her was "please be careful." I think I said the "right" thing. After that little incident, I waltz into the pub and grab a nice cold pint of beer to wash away the shakes - again.
Both incidents were spread months apart and occurred in 2015 and I haven't, thankfully, met a driver hungry for my shins. Another Odyssey writer - Ashleigh Manning - describes a similar experience in her article.
This person didn't want to damage their car and really thought endangering a person was better. Really? You're more worried about the price of your insurance at that point. Mind you, the right of way had nothing to do with what happened since the car aimed for the sidewalk to avoid a crash. Being a pedestrian around motor vehicles requires some attention - when you're walking, expect that drivers won't be diligent and attentive.
Cars are a two-ton machine of moving metal, electricity and plastic. 4,000 pounds of crushing force. Be safe out there driving and just as well, forgive other drivers. Usually in these circumstances, no one means to cause harm like that - but it happens.
Remember, "I had the right of way" makes for a crappy epitaph.
