Apparently squirrels aren’t important

[LBJ10]

My husband and I were driving home just a little while ago. I wasn’t going fast, like 35 or so. I saw out of the corner of my eye two squirrels chasing each other around right next to the curb. Right as I approached, one of the squirrels darted out in front of me and I hit the brakes. There was an SUV behind me and I heard their tires squealing. The squirrel had made it to the other side of the street and I continued on. The SUV floored it and flew into the other lane so he could come up along side me. He rolled down his window and yelled “next time just kill the squirrel”. My very sweet husband was sitting in the passengers seat. He told to guy to go you know what himself. My husband told me not to worry about it. They guy was just a jerk and had obviously been following too closely because I really didn’t break THAT hard. Why are people so mean?

[angelicvampyre]

Because people suck. People always follow to close and when you do something like that and they hit you it is their fault and they are in the wrong but as per human nature we like to blame someone else cause heaven forbid something could be our fault. Good on you for braking.

[longhairmike]

honestly though,, at higher speeds you’re better off plowing into it than swerving and risking losing control.

[LBJ10]

I didn’t swerve. I simply braked because I saw the squirrel coming in front of me.

[LizzieKnittyBun]

I gotta agree with longhairmike. I know someone who almost died because he ran into a car in front of him who braked suddenly trying to avoid a squirrel. If you’re going at a reasonable speed and can brake safely, then it’s wonderful to be able to avoid hurting an animal, but it’s not always possible to think that quickly – to check your speed, the cars around you, and the animal in question.

The guy was totally rude and out of line, and obviously a jerk. I think the better argument would be that the main priority is to avoid an accident or a person getting injured. Sometimes animals just panic and run out into the road without thinking. I wish they didn’t, but it does happen sometimes.

[LBJ10]

The only tires that were squealing were his. I wasn’t going that fast and I didn’t brake that hard (plus I didn’t even come to a complete stop). The guy was tailgating. It is a huge problem around here. If the guy wanted to go faster, then he should have gone around me. There was another lane after all.

[LizzieKnittyBun]

Yeah, that’s when it really becomes a problem, when people don’t give you enough room! It was definitely his fault. I wish people wouldn’t do that ><

[angelicvampyre]

I think people missed you saying you where going 35, at 35 you should be able to brake without be rear ended and it be safe for everyone involved.

[brittbritt]

I always brake if it’s possible and won’t hurt anyone. I can’t stand to run over any animal especially wild bunnies and squirrels. I love the squirrels in my neighborhood.

[LBJ10]

I refuse to run over any animal if I can help it. I love squirrels and I love bunnies. I will brake if I see a raccoon or opossum or whatever. Of course I would resist the urge if I was going at highway speed because that would obviously be dangerous. But I shouldn’t have to fear being rearended because I choose to slow down for an animal while driving around in town. People need to learn to follow at a safe distance because someone can stop for ANY reason and if you hit them from behind then it is your fault. If I choose to drive at 35mph because the speed limit is 35 and you want to go faster, then go around. Don’t ride on my butt!

[LizzieKnittyBun]

lol, well said : D

Stan drives more than I do, and we have a million wild bunnies and prairie dogs around here, so he constantly keeps a lookout for them. We’re lucky that neither of us has ever had the sadness to run over an animal.

[brittbritt]

On the backroads near my home we have to really watch for racoons, armadillos and opossums. I tend to drive slower on these roads just to make sure I can stop in time if they run across the road. One night I was fixing to go across a one lane bridge and at the end of it was a racoon and baby. I was so glad I could slow down for them, they were too cute.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I would rather total my car than hit a living creature. I’ve swerved to avoid little mice on the road. On the way to my horse’s barn there is a few spots where I’ve seen bunnies and groundhogs so I’m always extra careful in those areas. In the Fall I have to watch out for moose and deer. Sure don’t want to hit one of those!

Tailgater’s really tick me off!!!

[Beka27]

I’m glad everyone is safe, altho maybe a little ticked off. Lol.

It is a gray area, you want to ensure the safety of yourself, your passengers, and other people on the road. If it’s possible to break safely, by all means I do… I also keep an eye out on the side of the roads. If I see an animal on a tree lawn farther down, I will instinctually slow down about 5 mph, just in case it chooses to dart in front of the car. My break lights also alert anyone who might be behind me.

As bad as I would feel if I hurt or killed an animal, I don’t think I could live with myself if I badly injured or killed a person in an effort to save an animal’s life. I value the lives of animals, but I also recognize the importance of safe driving. That guy certainly sounds like a jerk tho.

[BearMom]

You should be able to break at any speed and not be rear ended. It is the responsibility of the other driver to make sure they are staying enough of a distance behind you that if you need to slam on your breaks for any reason they will not hit you. Thats why in a rear end accident it is almost always determined that the person in back is at fault. The person driving behind you should leave enough room so that if you dont want to kill an animal you don’t have to – what if it was a small child?

On the other hand, swerving is a bit more risky. In a lot of places if you swerve out of your lane to avoid hitting an animal you are determined to be at fault for any accidents. This is because other drivers shouldn’t have to anticipate your swerving, unlike breaking.

Anyway, that guy sounds like a jerk. I would have hit the breaks for sure!

[longhairmike]

when i was in college,, 2 classmates who were dating swerved to avoid a deer and they slammed into a tree and both died.

http://www.brandonhardy.com/index.html

[Joyfull_music]

I can’t stand hitting animals. But there are times where you just can’t help it. Where I grew up is very thickly populated with deer. They even told us in drivers ed that if you see a deer and you aren’t far enough away to safely stop, then it is best to just hit the deer. Ramming your first deer is almost a right of passage there. But thankfully I have never done it. Been close many times though.

Several years ago, I worked a graveyard shift job. I was driving home around 3 am in super dense fog. I could barely see past the hood of my car it was so bad. Suddenly I saw a baby cotton tail in the road right in front of me. There was nothing I could do, because I didn’t see it until I was practically on top of it. I called my husband (fiance back at that time) in tears and had to have him talk me through the rest of my drive home, I was that torn up about it. The worst part had to have been driving past the poor thing on my way too and from work over the next several days.

Oh and I am one of those jerks who goes out of her way to p/o tailgaters. Maybe not always the smartest thing to do, but I hate them. I have a personal vendetta against idiot drivers, seeing as how my dad was killed by one.

[Elrohwen]

That’s sad 🙁

DH almost hit a chipmunk this weekend (it ran out in the road, he slowed, it ran back so he sped up, then it turned around and made like it was going to run into the road again). I squealed pretty loud and held my breath until I realized we had just missed him.

[LBJ10]

The worst experience I ever had was with a squirrel over by my old school. I was driving down the side street where the speed limit is 25. There was no one around me when I suddenly heard a VERY loud thump. It sounded like someone had thrown a brick at my car. I was looking up through my sun roof because the sound came from up there. I couldn’t see anything. I looked forward again and a squirrel was sliding down my windshield. I was horrified and started screaming. The poor little thing was just looking at me as he struggled to right himself on my hood. He finally flipped over and then scooted off my car. I saw him scooting along the ground, using only his back legs. He made it all the way over to a wooden porch in front of a house. It was totally not my fault since the squirrel had obviously fallen from a tree branch hanging over the street. I was still traumatized though. Poor thing.

[Elrohwen]

Awww, how sad!! Poor little guy.

I had a squirrel run out at me while I was bike riding once (on a road bike, not going very fast though because it was up a small hill). I didn’t have time to stop and he ran right between my tires somehow. I was really freaked out!

[FluffyBunny]

People like that guy are the reason that there’s so much roadkill on low speed limit roads. I’m sorry that you had the misfortune of having to talk to him.

We live in an area that has huge amounts of bunnies and prairie dogs (we’ve already had four litters of baby bunnies this year just in our front yard). Our street’s speed limit is 25 mph, and I still see lots of dead bunnies on the road. It’s a shame that some people don’t give the animals a chance.

[LBJ10]

Oh gosh, I know! People speed through my neighborhood all the time. I have been outside in the yard and have seen people flying down the street and just plowing over birds or animals in the street. They don’t even hesitate or slow down, they just plow right on through. Very sad.

[Beka27]

I live on a busy street (at the end of the street is the ramp that leads to the major highway) and the speed limit is 35mph. I live right around a blind corner. There are blinking yellow lights and a sign that says 20mph around bend. People do not slow a bit. My driveway is right past the turn, and it’s scary to try and pull out. I can try to judge the flow of traffic, but at a certain point I just have to turn out or else I’ll be sitting there all day. Almost daily, I pull out just as someone is speeding around the corner at 35-40mph. They slam on their brakes (or speed around me using the turning lane) and give me a mean look or… show off certain appendages? It’s incredibly frustrating because I HAVE TO LEAVE MY HOUSE. It’s not my fault that the bend is there and people don’t slow down. We don’t allow Michael to play in the front yard or ride his bike close to the street for this reason. People are insane.

A part of me wants to get the window paint that people use on their cars and put “It’s 20mph around the bend on [street name]. SLOW THE #$@* DOWN!!!” on my back window so when they fly up on me that’s the first thing they see. You know… like a Public Service Announcement… ;o)

[Kate Monster]

Ugh, near my old house there was a pond that was always full of ducks and geese. And somehow, people managed to hit the freakin GEESE when they were crossing the road. Frankly, most of the time, you think you have to be doing that on purpose as geese do not dart in front of you! People suck quite often.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I seen a bumper sticker that I just adored once. It had pictures of a deer, bunny and ducks and said “Drive as if their lives depend on it”. I’d love to get one.

[Beka27]

I did a quick search for that LPT and didn’t see anything… I would have also loved one! If you ever come across it online, let me know!

[Tate]

Posted By LBJ10 on 07/03/2011 08:05 PM
People need to learn to follow at a safe distance because someone can stop for ANY reason and if you hit them from behind then it is your fault.

Could not be farther from the truth… I don’t know why people seem to think this… Then again, it could be different in whatever state you’re in.  In Washington, there is not a law that dictates a suitable distance to follow, only suggestions (2 car lengths on roadways, 3 carlengths on highways). You can’t get in trouble for following too closely unless it falls under driving erratically, which it usually doesn’t because it can’t be proven. Also, there is no penalty legally for hitting an animals. You cannot be charged with murder if you hit a squirrel. However, you CAN be charged with manslaughter if you kill someone by driving erratically, such as braking too suddenly and without warning. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if you follow two carlengths behind someone or if your 2 feet away. Some cars and trucks don’t break in 2 carlengths. Have you seen a semi truck break that quickly? Additionally, if you do break suddenly and there is a line of traffic behind you, you aren’t only endangering the car following you, but the ones following them as well. It’s extremely dangerous. Further, it’s your responsibility to be watching the road and surroundings. Legally, you should have been aware that the squirrel was somewhere in/around the roadway, so you could have slowed down appropriately and safely. Also, squirrels pose little/no danger to you if you hit one. This scenario might change if it were a deer, which would cause significant damage to you if you hit one, but you would need one heck of a lawyer to argue that and get you off free.

That being said, I HATE driving because of these situations. People are too dumb to be driving such big things! I’m glad I run everywhere now and I don’t have a car. Hehe.

[LBJ10]

Tate – Those are some very strange laws you have there in Washington. There are laws where I live that pertain to tailgating. You can get pulled over and ticketed if a police officer observes you following someone too closely. If someone stops suddenly and you hit them from behind, then you are the one who gets the ticket for following too closely. It is your responsibility to follow at a safe distance.

[Monkeybun]

Indeed, those are strange laws. In Oregon you can be pulled over and get reckless driving if you follow too close.

[BearMom]

I got my licence in California and my husband got his in Iowa – in both places you are taught in drivers ed that if you hit someone from behind it is your fault, regardless of why they stopped. If you hit them, you were either following too close or not paying attention. I know in at least those two states you can be pulled over for tailgaiting.

[LizzieKnittyBun]

I think it probably just depends on the situation. On the one hand, driving too close is very dangerous and foolish. On the other hand, breaking suddenly and driving erratically… also dangerous and foolish. Sometimes you don’t have to be tailgating to smash into someone in front of you if they break suddenly. I think the fault differs with each specific instance.

[Tate]

Posted By LBJ10 on 07/07/2011 01:39 PM
Tate – Those are some very strange laws you have there in Washington. There are laws where I live that pertain to tailgating. You can get pulled over and ticketed if a police officer observes you following someone too closely. If someone stops suddenly and you hit them from behind, then you are the one who gets the ticket for following too closely. It is your responsibility to follow at a safe distance.

 

Really?! I’ve rear ended someone and it not only was it not my fault, but I sued and won…

But like I said, I don’t drive anymore. Maybe the laws have changed in the 4 years that I stopped and decided to hike everywhere!

ETA: I didn’t say it was a law that allows you to tailgate, it’s a lack of law that allows you to tailgate. The closest it would be it “negligent driving” which is hard to prove in court. I suppose there could be a law *somewhere* hidden in the RCW’s but it might be like the “keep right except when passing” law… it’s there but not as enforced as it should be (that’s biggest peeve about drivers, btw. ) Honestly, I really wish there were huge penalties for hitting animals crossing the street. I don’t think driver’s deserve ANY kind of right of way! 

ETA again: (ohmygosh I have too much time on my hands today!) I see what law you were referring too. Hehe. Yeah it is weird but there are laws stating you need to be in control of your surroundings and aware of what’s happening around you. If you can prevent an accident, you have a legal duty to do so.

[BearMom]

Yeah, I’m sure there are exceptions (or at least I would hope so) – like if someone is just driving around crazy in general, then I’d hope there is some wiggle room in the laws. I always try to stay far back because you just never know. Because really, if a little kid darts out from no where and the person ahead of you breaks and you hit them, its going to be your fault (especially if that in turns leads to the kid getting hit!). It doesn’t matter the speed, where hit happened, whatever… It is entirely possible for someone who is paying attention to not know there is a kid outside to watch for (e.g., they could be hiding between cars, just like a critter!). So I guess if you always drive like that is a possibility, then chances of hitting someone from behind if they break suddenly is pretty darn low.

And I understand the not driving thing. I went years without driving when I lived in northern CA because you just didn’t need a car and it was nice to avoid the stress!

 

 

[Monkeybun]

I couldn’t stand not driving. I love to drive.

[LBJ10]

I’m trying to think of a scenario where hitting someone from behind would not be your fault. The only thing I could imagine would be if someone were to go around you, get right in front of you, and then intentionally slam on their brakes. I’m thinking maybe that was a case on Judge Judy. It was a road rage incident.
Anyway, I don’t believe that me braking for the squirrel could be considered reckless driving. Like I said before, I didn’t break that hard. There were no skid marks, my tires didn’t squeal, I didn’t even come to a complete stop. If the guy behind me had trouble stopping, then he obviously was following too closely. There is no reason he shouldn’t have been able to stop if he was following at a safe distance. But this has been a problem around here lately and that’s why the police are trying to crack down on it. People are just angry drivers and they follow people right on their butts because they are late for work or whatever. It’s sad really. I have been yelled at so many times for simply following the rules of the road. Someone laid on their horn one time because I wouldn’t make a right turn on a red light. There was a sign that said no right turns on red. But THEY wanted me to turn so they could turn because they were in a hurry. Sheesh.

[LizzieKnittyBun]

ah, that gets me every time. SIGNS, people! NO RIGHT ON RED! Geez, do they want us to get pulled over, or what?!

[Tate]

LBJ10- it was that he was driving recklessly in front of me and that caused the crash. He was a total jerk! He tried to say I was following too closely but tailgating is undefinable… No specified length. :/
Drivers today are insane! I like driving to a degree but I just get too angry when I drive! It’s so frustrating!

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m starting to develop serious road rage… there are so many people driving that shouldn’t be! My province just started a ban on cellphone/texting use. You get a big fine and lose 3 points off your license. I’m glad…I get angry when someone is driving like an idiot and talking on their phone.  Tailgaters annoy me but I also hate when I’m driving on a rural road where the speed limit is 80 and the person in front of me is doing like 50 and I can’t pass!!! Or the people that do a complete stop to turn. Learn how to drive….oh dear….I’m getting angry…

Sort of off topic, but I think 16 is too young to drive too. The last few summers there have been a lot of teens dying in crashes around here because they are driving too fast and reckless. Very sad and they are endangering others too.

[Queensbun]

I ran over a rat once. I wasn’t particularly sad about it so much as grossed out!

[LizzieKnittyBun]

I’d feel really bad if I hit a rat. I didn’t used to think much of them, but then I learned more about how intelligent they are, and apparently they make extremely affectionate pets that you can bond with and teach. After learning about that, I haven’t felt the same about rats since.

Plus, Ratatouille! Remy is named after the main character!

[longhairmike]

 

this is from summer 2006 when we lived in an apartment.
these little buggers would scale the brick wall to come up to our balcony because we would always throw them bunny treats. then in winter time there would be half a dozen of them outside on the ground crying their little squirrel cries until we threw them marshmallows.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Cute! I love squirrels. We have 3 that live in our yard (and one chipmunk) but one of them is like super manic squirrel and it’s always freaking out. A lot of the parks around here have really aggressive squirrels that will literally attack you if you’re eating. Crazy buggers. I love grey squirrels the best. The little brown ones are the most common around here.

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