It’s Guy Fawkes day today in New Zealand. We spent the evening at my brother-in-laws and once it got dark, the men let off the fireworks. During the drive home the night sky was very busy with fireworks being let off on back lawns and grassy areas.
I was the sober driver tonight, and we gave one of our nephews a lift home. There’s a large park near his house and lots of people were letting off crackers. As I was driving past a little white dog shot in front of me. I wasn’t going fast and slammed on my brakes. Luckily no one was driving behind me and I missed the dog. Mr. Munro immediately shouted at me for slamming on the brakes. I know experts say you should keep driving, but I hate even killing ants or other insects. A cute fluffy dog…heck, I would have felt guilty for days…make that weeks.
As an aside, I’m a bit angry at the owner. Animals don’t like fire crackers and he should have been locked up in a safe place!
So, my question for you today – do you brake or serve to miss or, do you steer straight and hope for the best?
I hit the breaks for anything that races across the road.
And owners who don’t watch their pets make me insane.
All I can say is thank goodness for seatbelts, otherwise I would have been through the windscreen patting the dog on the road!!
I hit the brakes and hope for the best….and yes my dad has also yelled about this but too bad so sad I’m going to try to save a life if I can
I hit the breaks and if I can I try to stear to avoid the thing on the road.
Nessa – I agree with you. We’ve had fire crackers going off all week. Sensible pet owners should restrain their pets and look after them extra carefully at this time of the year. We never used to go out when our little dog was still alive. Crackers terrified her.
Mr. Munro – you were a big meanie shouting at me. The tire smell was a bit stinky though…
Savannah – the trouble is these things happen so quickly. Hindsight is easy but at the time, I braked instinctively. There were kids everywhere too. It could have just as likely been an excited kid wanting to see the fireworks.
Maria – notice the common thing about the shouters? They’re both male!
I brake and/or swerve for anything bigger than a mouse! I once hit a prairie dog and was traumatized for days!!
Sarah – prairie dogs are quite big, aren’t they? I would have been traumatized too!!
I always hit the brakes and make sure the animal is out of the way before continuing on. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve pulled over and got the dog, cat and even a ferret to come over to me and then taken them to the shelter where they have a chance of being adopted instead of getting hit on the streets or starving to death.
I hit the brakes. The other day I stopped while a big lizard crossed the road, then when I very slowly drove around it, the darn thing turned and hissed at the car!
Oh, Christina. You have big lizards over there too, not tiny ones like we have.
I brake & swerve. I couldn’t do otherwise.