Accident on Grove Vale Monday 14th 8.20pm

[tarafitness]

My 15 year old son was knocked down on the pedestrian crossing outside East Dulwich station on Monday night at approximately 20:20.

The green man was showing so he stepped out into the road only to be almost hit full on by a grey car (sedan-style apparently). Luckily he jumped out of the way in time and was only hit on the left leg and ankle (see pics).

My son broke that same ankle earlier this year so as you can imagine he's not particularly pleased by this recent development. Fortunately the bone hasn't been rebroken so he's just got to put up with swelling, bruising and of course quite a bit of pain.

If you were the person who hit my son but continued driving off (despite what must have been an audible 'bump') then please be advised that we have filed a report with the police. If you would like to contact me by PM please do so or speak to the officers at East Dulwich Police Station.

If you witnessed the incident it would be fantastic if you would also get in touch. There were a kind couple of people who asked my son if he was okay but he was too stunned and numb to take in what had happened hence why he thought he was and also didn't get the car's registration.

Any help anyone can offer with this would be gratefully accepted.

Best wishes

Tara

P.S. if you were the older lady who tutted and told my son he should watch where he's going: shame on you.

[J27]

Hi Tarafitness, so sorry to hear about your son's accident, and glad he wasn't injured even more seriously. That leg looks nasty - hope he recovers soon.

[Penguin68]

The green man was showing so he stepped out into the road

Of course it is awful that he should have been in an accident - and clearly he was in 'the right' - but I do recall my late mother repeating - when I had nearly been knocked over on a zebra crossing ' He was right, dead right, as he walked along, but he was just as dead as if he'd been dead wrong'.

Even though as pedestrians we have 'rights' (as we do as drivers) - looking out for danger - the idiot who hasn't seen the lights, or the zebra crossing, or you signalling to turn etc. etc. is still good advice.

In the end, your safety is primarily your concern, assuming that a driver will stop if you are crossing 'legally' may be an assumption too far - it is always still worthwhile watching the traffic and judging whether drivers are going to do what you expect them to do; indeed what they are legally obliged to do.

Which is not to say that your son, in that incident, hadn't anyway been properly cautious and observant.

[tarafitness]

J27 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Hi Tarafitness, so sorry to hear about your son's

> accident, and glad he wasn't injured even more

> seriously. That leg looks nasty - hope he

> recovers soon.

Thanks very muchf or your message Vivien, yes he's a lot better today, even went to school without crutches!

[tarafitness]

Penguin68 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The green man was showing so he stepped out into

> the road

>

> Of course it is awful that he should have been in

> an accident - and clearly he was in 'the right' -

> but I do recall my late mother repeating - when I

> had nearly been knocked over on a zebra crossing '

> He was right, dead right, as he walked along, but

> he was just as dead as if he'd been dead wrong'.

>

> Even though as pedestrians we have 'rights' (as we

> do as drivers) - looking out for danger - the

> idiot who hasn't seen the lights, or the zebra

> crossing, or you signalling to turn etc. etc. is

> still good advice.

>

> In the end, your safety is primarily your concern,

> assuming that a driver will stop if you are

> crossing 'legally' may be an assumption too far -

> it is always still worthwhile watching the traffic

> and judging whether drivers are going to do what

> you expect them to do; indeed what they are

> legally obliged to do.

>

> Which is not to say that your son, in that

> incident, hadn't anyway been properly cautious and

> observant.

Penguin... my son is a teenage boy which means his head is in the clouds pretty much 24/7!

I'm sure he wasn't paying as much attention as he should so I'm just glad his young instinctive reflexes kicked in when they did or it could have been a hell of a lot worse!

I've told him many many times not to assume that people will stop, even when the traffic lights are red, so I think this has definitely been a lesson for him that hopefully will stay with him for life.

I would like to add that I'd bet good money that driver wouldn't have been going as fast as he was had there not been that Godawful road narrowing by Goose Green school... I've seen so many drivers speed up as soon as they get past it, it just seems a really daft thing for the council to do! (on a par with moving the traffic lights outside Denmark Hill station to be *behind* the station so that everyone gets off their bus and plays chicken with the traffic!)

[the-e-dealer]

And if the Child was partially sighted or deaf? Its always the Motorist's fault.

So Sorry to hear of an awful experience and glad he is ok.

And yes move of lights at D Hill - completely stupid.

[Coach Beth]

It's so terrible that a child can't even cross the road when they have the green man. A year ago, my partner was at the crossing near Goose Green school. The green man appeared. He and our son (aged 5 at the time) just set foot on the crossing when my partner caught sight SPEEDING round the corner (i.e. going towards Lordship Lane) towards them. He grabbed my son by the coat and pulled him back.

While I appreciate many people dislike the changes at this crossing, I personally am VERY relieved the council did something and that cars are now forced to slow down at a crossing which is used by young children every day. I feel it's much safer now (although I always totally wait and try to look the drivers in the eye before crossing - this probably pisses drivers off who just want me and my son to cross quickly but tough) I have no idea why this would make people speed up down Grove Vale - total pointless impatience. And I too have noticed many drivers jumping those lights near the station - people seems to speed down that hill towards the crossing. Couldn't the council take the lead on a public information/safety campaign in this area?

[tarafitness]

Coach Beth Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> It's so terrible that a child can't even cross the

> road when they have the green man. A year ago, my

> partner was at the crossing near Goose Green

> school. The green man appeared. He and our son

> (aged 5 at the time) just set foot on the crossing

> when my partner caught sight SPEEDING round the

> corner (i.e. going towards Lordship Lane) towards

> them. He grabbed my son by the coat and pulled

> him back.

God how awful, such a relief your son wasn't hurt

> While I appreciate many people dislike the changes

> at this crossing, I personally am VERY relieved

> the council did something and that cars are now

> forced to slow down at a crossing which is used by

> young children every day.

Yes, totally, I guess that's a point, though I must confess I never see any children crossing there before/after school as the entrance to Goose Green Primary school isn't even on the main road... everyone seems to cross at the zebra crossing in droves (which can get a little frustrating when you're on a bus hoping to catch your train! haha)

> I feel it's much safer

> now (although I always totally wait and try to

> look the drivers in the eye before crossing - this

> probably pisses drivers off who just want me and

> my son to cross quickly but tough)

it's good practice and who cares if it pisses them off, they're the ones in huge metal potentially-lethal objects!

> I have no idea

> why this would make people speed up down Grove

> Vale - total pointless impatience. And I too have

> noticed many drivers jumping those lights near the

> station - people seems to speed down that hill

> towards the crossing.

yes, definitely think it's impatience... that stretch of road after the station is probably quite good to drive up and down at pace!

> Couldn't the council take

> the lead on a public information/safety campaign

> in this area?

good idea, perhaps cameras monitoring the lights and clearly lit too with signs to that effect?

the thing is though that people will drive like numpties whether we like it or not, my boyfriend drives very safely, has never caused an accident, but got charged ?65 for parking outside the vet's the other day but people who put other people's lives in danger by speeding through pedestrian crossings when not on a green light get away with it.

[Coach Beth]

Yes, cameras and signs would be good! In the US/Canada, they have signs with kids holding adults hands near places where children cross - I have no idea if that would help here though. I wonder if people just get accustomed to signs and just ignore them in the end.

In terms of crossing use, there are a number of families (like me!) whose children go to Goose Green School who live in the Oglander Road/Copleston Road/Oxenford Street area who most definately use the crossing which is now a Puffin Crossing. It's really the most straightforward way to the school if you are living in this area and I know a number of people who have reported 'near miss' incidents with cars zooming through the lights when children were on their way to and from the school.

[Zak]

The pelican crossing on Grove Vale (which had an island in the middle) is now a puffin crossing (!) with no island, but with a reduced width and a speed hump.

I wonder if people feel safer as a result of the make-over or do they feel rather exposed in the absence of any kerbs or railings?

[Only me!]

The wider pavement in front of the school is most welcome.

Particularly on damp days when the overgrown foliage is wet. But maybe a good trim of the bushes would have been cheaper?

But

From a drivers perspective I still think it is absolutely pointless! & the raised hump probably going to be expensive for car owners, with suspension & exhaust repairs being made more likely.

[spongebob]

^was it sponsored by kwick-fit just across the road??

This should be a lesson not just to tarafitness' son but to everyone on here, there are so many twats on the road that you can't anything for granted anymore!

Everyone needs to use their COMMON SENSE don't walk out until you're sure it's safe.

We do all have common sense no matter how much H&S try to take the need to use it away from us!