This article appears in Dec 18-24, 2008.
Hey you, Jerkface, yeah YOU!
I don’t have a car, and when I don’t have far to go, I’ll walk. When it’s raining and I have to go to work, I do not appreciate cars splashing me. Don’t tell me it’s unavoidable! How it is that the five cars before you drove splash free, but you didn’t?
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It’s because these assholes have no consideration for other people. They are self-centered, brain-dead morons who are too damned lazy to walk anywhere. I know how you feel. Next time, carry a rock in your pocket and launch it at the first asshole who splashes you.
Wow SmarterthanU spoken like Sounds like you’ve never been behind the wheel of a car. If you have been you’d know a) sometimes its hard to tell if its a puddle b) if its deepc ) there’s more to driving than watching out for water on the road, like other cars, pedestrians and such that are NOT lying in the road.d) 99% of people are NOT trying to splash on purposee) you keep that rock handy, and hope you can run fast . some people wouldn’t take to kindly to having it thrown at their car. F) RAIN CLOTHES -buy some like a coat and pants. Dress for the weather maybe you’ll show up dry.
On the rare occasion when I do drive, I actually do make a conscious effort to avoid splashing people. It really doesn’t take that much concentration, Elvis. It’s not hard to see that there’s water on the road. It’s not hard to observe that there’s a person walking down the street. It’s not a huge intellectual leap to realize that you might splash that water onto that person if you don’t either slow down or drive a little further to the left. a. If it might be a puddle, treat it like a puddle.b. If it’s deep, slow the fuck down. c. As a driver, you need to be aware of any and all potential hazards on or near the road all the time. Water on the road could potentially be ice at this time of year. Water on the road in the summer could be hiding a huge pothole.d. Drivers who splash pedestrians are jerks who are oblivious to anything that doesn’t affect them. Period.e. I’m with you on this one. No rocks.f. Are you seriously suggesting that people walk around in full rain gear whenever there is water on the ground? Even if it’s sunny? Just in case some jerk can’t be bothered to rotate his steering wheel two degrees to the left?
A defensive driver watches for road conditions, including water buildup, so they can adjust their speed to the road conditions. Rain usually means slow down to allow for the increased stopping distance required and why not use this slower speed to give pedestrians a break from the unwanted waves coming off your tires.And if following traffic you can easily detect which puddles are deep and likely to splash those around you, all it takes is to look at traffic ahead of you instead of ending your sightline at your front bumper.
Miranda, I agree, there are always ways to avoid most every kind of incident but you can’t tell me you’ve never once hit something on the road or been surprised by a puddle , pothole because you didn’t see it, or were focused on something else. Again yep. some drivers just don’t pay attention, people get splashed, collisions occur. Drivers should definitely be more aware of just how far a car driving 50 can really splash water or slush/and NO I’m not suggesting that people wear rain gear 24-7 but if its raining, I have a rain coat, I have a winter coat and hat for when its cold. Whats wrong with dressing for conditons? If I see a big puddle on the road when I’m walking, I move my ass AWAY from it. I can help keep myself dry too.The reality is that the OP is not gonna change anyone, so the only option they have is to cover their own ass; either keep on like they are going and show up at work soaked, or dress for the weather and move away from the water. I’ll continue to slow down when I see someone walking and do what I can to avoid splashing them. I will probably splash someone sooner or later. Its doesn’t make me a jerk.
The problem Elvis with dressing for the weather in NS is that it’s practically impossible. Today I came out of the house and it was freezing cold and theres snow on the ground. When I leave work its supposed to be 11 degrees, which means the snow will be slush, and I will be sweating in my heavy coat. There are giant slush puddles in the streets on day with no rain, and it will start raining on a day that has been super sunny for the better half.
Yep I agree about the weather, we all have to deal with it,but I don’t think that a waterproof jacket and pants would take up too much room in a knapsack. My buddy who drives a motorbike has such a set as do many many cyclist that I see riding their bikes to work year round.
Of course I have a driver’s licence and I know all about being splashed by fuckwads who seem to take great pleasure in the sport of Soak the Pedestrian. At least I have enough sense to slow down when I see people walking. Thank you!
While it is possible to reduce the possibility of a driver splashing you, it is impossible to prevent it. Some puddles are just that large, and don’t forget that large vehicles (delivery trucks, buses, etc…) often don’t have a choice when it comes to lane placement. Having a backup set of clothes at work (if your work has lockers or you have a locked office) isn’t a bad idea either in case you get splashed.
Listen, people who drive are not the root of all evil, ok? Often, particularly in crappy weather, stuff just happens. it’s the road. I need to drive through it. my car is bigger than a breadbox (although still small) and therefore displaces a certain amount of water. I can’t slam on the breaks and slow down to a crawl so as to create only gentle ripples in the surface of the puddle when there are people behind me, i can’t avoid all puddles because sometimes i have to adjust my course for parked cars, etc etc, and sometimes, yes sometimes, I have more important things to be paying attention to then the puddle-you ratio. unless they honked and hooted out the window as they drenched you in a tidal wave of evil, i think they didn’t mean it, and you should just chalk it up to shit happens.
Dress propery for the rain and you shouldn’t have a problem. Get somes rain boots and a rain pants and jacket and you’ll be good to go. I don’t believe drivers wake up and chose to make your day a messy wet one.