People are so weird (rant warning).
On my way home yesterday I crossed the road at a zebra crossing to get to the shop on the other side. The street was virtually empty, except for me, and this guy who was parked just outside the shop, half on the sidewalk, just above the zebra crossing. As I start crossing, he starts reversing in order to turn his car, thus blocking my way. I’m expecting him to stop any moment (in Norway: A. when you’re reversing you give way to EVERYONE, B. cars are supposed to stop for pedestrians “on, or on their way out onto, zebra crossings”), but realise it’s not going to happen, and so stop for a while in the middle of the road (no traffic, remember) until he’s far enough down to make it practicable to walk around the front of the car. No very big deal, just not very impressive as far as driving goes. I muttered something to myself, but I doubt he heard. However, I probably looked rather indignant (I have this habit of exaggerating my expressions in situations like these – probably comes of watching too many cartoons or something), so he called out to me (his window was already down).
And now he’s sounding indignant/offended/hurt (take your pick): “You know, you don’t always see everything when you’re in a car.”
I answered along the lines of “well, you are rather supposed to stop for people when you’re reversing” because it was the first thing that sprang to mind, whereas what I should have said, of course, was “Empty road, bright daylight, zebra crossing just behind you – maybe you should have been using your eyes a little better?” I just haven’t had any practice, people so seldom give me the chance of telling them exactly what’s wrong with the way they drive.
Anyway, he then started muttering something about if I had any common sense I would have realised the reason he didn’t stop was he didn’t see me. Duh, I DID realise: That’s the reason I didn’t keep on walking and get run over. I didn’t actually think he was deliberately trying to maim me…
I do realise that people don’t always see everything when they’re in a car. There’s a reason why I failed my driving test several times way back when, you know. However, I always though that that was a fault of mine rather than an excuse, and I can’t remember ever thinking it was the fault of the person (or tree or mailbox) that got in my way. “You should have realised I didn’t see you” if you run someone over that you should have stopped for is about as good an excuse as “The reason I did 80 in the 30 zone was I’d had a couple of drinks”. This is why normal people say “Oh, SORRY, I didn’t see you.”
Music in my head: Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word (Elton John, actually, I’m making that up – it would’ve been appropriate, though)