Vigilance on the Roads - Expect the Unexpected

I have just said goodbye to a much loved, 22 month old cat, who was very much part of our family and has left a painful void in our lives.

The point is, how many of us get to a point in our journey and cannot even remember driving that far? Our minds wander off to think of other things. What did we do at work today? What do we have to do tomorrow?  What shall we have for dinner?  We all do it. 

I shall never know what really happened to my cat; I am told that he just ran out in front of a van.  This is highly likely as it is instinctive for cats to dash off after something that catches their eye.  But I am also told that it happened in an area where I believe he should have been noted at the side of the road.  Just as if one had noted a child standing at the side of the road, as a driver, one should expect the unexpected and prepare to react accordingly.

I am not apportioning blame, the driver was so, so sorry and did the decent thing by taking our cat to the vet.  But what if it had been a child?  Or a larger animal such as a dog or perhaps a horse?  Not only would the victim have been injured or killed, but so may the driver. 

Please let my loss serve as a reminder.  We each owe each other a duty of care on the roads.  Vigilance is everything.   



Deborah Blackmore

Chartered Legal Executive - Personal Injury team