There we were, my friends and their daughter and me, waiting on our bikes to cross a busy road at a toucan crossing thing. About 30 yards to the right there had been an accident involving a van and a car. Lots of bent and broken bits, nobody hurt, as far as I could see. But 2 out of 3 lanes were obstructed, so traffic was filtering into and through the one remaining lane.
Tl turns red, green man lights up, 11 yr-old sets off across the road, driver of large truck, having squeezed past the wreckage and seeing open road ahead puts foot down - accelerating his huge truck straight towards the child.
She froze. I yelled. The mum screamed. Smoke came off the lorry's tyres.
He just sat in his cab staring ahead. I dare not trust myself to speak to him: if he'd said one word in response that was not total, groveling, abject apology, I would have had him out of the cab and given him a good thrashing. Assuming the mum and dad didn't get there first.
We had to explain the the daughter that it wasn't her fault; it was the lorry driver's fault. We had to explain that just because the green man came up, it didn't mean it was safe to cross - because many motorists were complete idiots who were not fit to be behind the wheel. We had to explain that when the green man shows, don't attempt to cross until every vehicle you can see for tens of yards in any direction is actually stationary - and even then be aware that any one or more of them might start to move for any or no reason whatsoever, and threaten your well being.
It spoiled what had otherwise been a jolly mornings' jaunt.
Tl turns red, green man lights up, 11 yr-old sets off across the road, driver of large truck, having squeezed past the wreckage and seeing open road ahead puts foot down - accelerating his huge truck straight towards the child.
She froze. I yelled. The mum screamed. Smoke came off the lorry's tyres.
He just sat in his cab staring ahead. I dare not trust myself to speak to him: if he'd said one word in response that was not total, groveling, abject apology, I would have had him out of the cab and given him a good thrashing. Assuming the mum and dad didn't get there first.
We had to explain the the daughter that it wasn't her fault; it was the lorry driver's fault. We had to explain that just because the green man came up, it didn't mean it was safe to cross - because many motorists were complete idiots who were not fit to be behind the wheel. We had to explain that when the green man shows, don't attempt to cross until every vehicle you can see for tens of yards in any direction is actually stationary - and even then be aware that any one or more of them might start to move for any or no reason whatsoever, and threaten your well being.
It spoiled what had otherwise been a jolly mornings' jaunt.
