Avoided a Serious Accident today

battries not included

Hi, just thought to post about my experience today, still a bit shook up. I was driving down a residential street this afternoon in Athlone when a kid (age 4-5) was cycling on the footpath fell off his bike and landed right under my front p/s wheel, now his head was inches away from my wheel (I really thought I had drove over him he was THAT close) and had a split second to react as I saw him out of the corner of my eye and I just jammed on the brakes and came to a complete stop, if i was going at least 5mph more..... well I don't want to think of it really.....

Needless to say the kid was crying and wailing more from shock probably as he had no visible wounds, it was shocking to say the least I was so close to driving right over this child who happens to be the same age as my son who happened to be the car with me.

Anyway I just wanted to get it off my chest, I was happy nothing serious happened.

I was congratulated by other drivers coming the opposite way and from passers by, I was actually quite calm considering the nature of it.

I hope that little boy wears his helmet next time and does NOT cycle on the footpath*



*the footpath in question was a 'double' footpath if that makes sense? basically he was on the top bit and was trying to cycle down onto the bottom part of the footpath

unkel

Relax. Have a drink. Your quick reaction today saved a child's life. Well done, man!

Wildebrian

I had a similar episode a while ago.You might want to call the Gardai and notify them of the incident.These days you never know !!!!

Tea drinker

Nice one, kid was lucky to have you!

battries not included

unkel wrote: »

Relax. Have a drink. Your quick reaction today saved a child's life. Well done, man!

Thanks unkel, it only hit me when I got home and saw on the news a little boy hit by a jeep in wexford today


rip little guy

EPM

Well done for the quick reaction. The few seconds between getting out if the car and seeing the child must have been awful.

It really takes an experience like that to make you realise the power you have under your right foot. Had a similar experience recently and it's changed my attitude completely.

battries not included

i couldn't believe it myself how calm I was, there was an old man on the opposite side of the road and he put his window down and my god the look of shock on his face, you see he could SEE the whole thing and god love him him & his wife where close to tears, i'm not sure if this makes sense but I felt a bit like the matrix (please don't laugh) everything I was doing was in slow motion...

A day I will never forget.

It has changed my attitude to driving completely.


Thanks for the support everyone, it made me feel better posting here, now for a movie and cold one

battries not included

Wildebrian wrote: »

I had a similar episode a while ago.You might want to call the Gardai and notify them of the incident.These days you never know !!!!

I was thinking of doing that as the garda station was close to the incident but I thought better as I think the last thing the little guy needed was his parents getting a visit from the cops and he might get in trouble.

I don't have anything to worry as regards myself as there was at least 6 witnesses to the incident so no chance of blame or anything like that.

-Chris-

battries not included wrote: »

now for a movie and cold one

Well deserved, enjoy.

goodlad

Well done stopping in time!

Too many fools drive at stupid speeds through residential areas.

By not being one of those fools a kid didnt die today! Again, well done!

Nonoperational

Similar thing happened to me when I was 17 on a provisional. How I stopped I'll never know. Well done.

fiona-f

That sounds like a terrifying experience, one of the worst possible nightmares for any driver. Well done on being able to stop and what a relief that everything is ok. Like the other posters say, it might be worth you dropping into the garda station tomorrow to let them know or make a report.

I don't mean to nitpick your post though but I'm really surprised by your comment about hoping the child wears a helmet in future. They are of benefit in certain situations (and even then the jury is out on which ones) but there is no way a bike helmet would ever help a cyclist whose head fell under the wheels of a moving car.

Hope both you and your own son get over this ok, well done again on your driving.

JJJJNR

Same thing happened to me (almost) except it was a toddler 2 - 3 y/o who had wandered out of his house and onto the road! missed him and turned around went back and parked my car in the middle of the road blocking artic's and other heavy traffic, got out and just talked to the little guy, after about 5 long mins his parents came along running, didn't even say thanks or kiss my ar*e! I pass the house every day thinking what could have been.. some people..

Vicxas

You were very lucky my friend, consider yourself blessed that you had good brakes.

RandomAccess

Meanwhile elsewhere in the country, things did not end so well..

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/boy-7-killed-by-jeep-as-he-chased-his-dog-2811543.html

Its a fine line between having a story to tell and having a story told about you.

-Chris-

fiona-f wrote: »

I don't mean to nitpick your post though but I'm really surprised by your comment about hoping the child wears a helmet in future. They are of benefit in certain situations (and even then the jury is out on which ones) but there is no way a bike helmet would ever help a cyclist whose head fell under the wheels of a moving car.

Let's not go down that road please.

dharn

well done to the op ,horrible experience ,thank your lucky stars