Joanne Gough, 20, was thrown up into the air and landed face first on the ground when she was hit as she crossed Timberlog Lane, in Basildon.
The driver of the silver Ford Ka did not stop.Who’s to blame? Well, the car (possibly) for driving too fast and (definitely) for failing to stop.
But let’s not absolve Joanne of all blame, shall we?
Miss Gough, of Saffron Drive, Basildon, hopes speaking out about her ordeal may help to persuade the driver of the vehicle to come forward. S
he said: “It all happened so fast. This car came out of nowhere, so it was a real shock.
“As I crossed, there was nothing coming on the right side of the road, there was a bus on the left side, but it was quite far away and I could've made it across. “You mean you weren't crossing at a designated crossing? And you misjudged the speed of the traffic?
“Then a Ka came from behind the bus quite fast and knocked me over. “Well, that’s what happens when you jaywalk and lose. What is it with pedestrian road safety lately? It used to be quite uncommon to have to break for pedestrians sprinting across the road - adults, not children! Now, it's an everyday occurrence.
Miss Gough, who is unemployed, said she feels “absolutely disgusted” the driver didn't stop.
She added: “It could have been a child or older person they knocked over and they could've been killed. It’s done enough to me.
“They just carried on. They are just maniacs.”Your own behaviour is nothing to commend, either. You aren't a child.
Cross the road at a designated crossing and don’t try to sprint across, then whine when you lose the race.
8 comments:
'brake' :p
The ones that run accross the road about twenty feet from a crossing really piss me off.
In this country there is no such thing as 'jay walking'. Pedestrians have priority at all times, it is beholden on drivers to be aware of pedestrians and stop as soon as someone steps into the road. The driver should actually remain stopped until the pedestrian has crossed the road. Unfortunately some pedestrians have no sense of self preservation whatsoever and are complete idiots. The same applies to drivers too though, especially those who pay no attention to potential hazards. Even designated crossings aren't safe.
It used to be quite uncommon to have to break (sic) for pedestrians sprinting across the road...
Sprint?
I'm getting fairly fed up with those that nonchalantly stroll across the road regardless of whether a vehicle is approaching or not. Worse, are the mothers who push their prams/pushchairs into the road first... after all, in their minds, no one would run over a baby deliberately would they?
The problem with the above - a result of the 'powers that be' attempting to make roads pedestrian friendly and now misinterpreted wholesale by pedestrians as meaning they always have the right of way in all circumstances - is that the 'next' vehicle might not be able to stop or they simple don't see/anticipate the roadside Canute.
I hate people who can't stick to reality and start carping on about how a child could have been killed.
Off topic but did you see the case of the man who forgot to pay the school dinner money and then complained that the school wouldn't feed his child for free?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-22855011
Similar sort of refusal to take any personal responsibility there too.
"'brake' :p"
D'oh! My job at a local newspaper clearly awaits... ;)
"The ones that run accross the road about twenty feet from a crossing really piss me off."
Oh, indeed!
It's not something you can say is exclusive to any one identity group either (though the local residents of African descent clearly believe zebra crossings to be sacred ground, never to be sullied with footfall).
"In this country there is no such thing as 'jay walking'."
I'm not normally in favour of new laws, but perhaps it ought to be?
And yes, I've seen idiotic drivers ignore pedestrians on zebras. But not as often.
"Sprint?
I'm getting fairly fed up with those that nonchalantly stroll across the road..."
Yes! This!
"I hate people who can't stick to reality and start carping on about how a child could have been killed."
Oh, indeed. When did that become the ne plus ultra to determine a threat?
"Off topic but did you see the case of the man who forgot to pay the school dinner money and then complained that the school wouldn't feed his child for free? "
I did indeed! The comments in the local paper version weren't at all sympathetic, I'm happy to say...
Post a Comment