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© Copyright 1999, Jim Loy
A couple of years ago, I almost ran over an old couple, with my car. I stopped at a stop sign. To my left were oncoming cars, on a one-way street. This old man and old woman had just crossed the one-way street, just to my right. And, they stood on the corner (next to the stop sign on my right), as if they hadn't decided where they wanted to go from there. They seemed content to just stand on the corner, and talk. They made no movement to cross in front of me, and so I assumed they would not be crossing.
Just as no more cars were coming from my left, I gunned my engine to cross the one-way street, and the old couple stepped in front of my car. I saw movement out of the corner of my eye, and slammed on the brakes. I had not moved into the crosswalk yet. It shook me up. And I'm sure it shook them up. I hope it didn't take any years off their lives.
I assume I was in the wrong, at least legally. But, they set me up (without meaning to, of course).
Several years ago, I almost ran over a person on a bicycle. It was at night, pitch dark. I stopped at a stop sign, signalling right. And, as I turned right, a bicycle and rider zoomed through my headlights, just a foot or so in front of my car.
I once saw a minor collision between a car and a bicycle. The car was signalling to turn right, onto a side street, and a lady on a bicycle was on his right. She could not see his signal, as she was in the parking lane beside the car. I'm sure that he couldn't see her either. I knew that I was about to see an accident. He turned right, and they bumped each other several times. She wasn't hurt. She swore at him, and flipped him the bird.