Something weird did happen today. I mean, weirder than usual.

[Baitball Blogger]

Actually gave me a scare. I was driving through a residential street, which is a main drag in and out of the larger community. A distance ahead of me someone let an older teen kid out of the car. He was pretty big, actually, and wasn't facing the street as he fiddled with his glasses and adjusted his backpack. I was just twenty feet from the crosswalk when he turned around and walked into the street without looking. I slammed on the brakes and was happy to discover my car has a quick response. But I was shocked. The young man never even acknowledged me. He seemed very absorbed in those glasses.

I wasn't sure, but I had a feeling he might have been a special needs kid.

I really have a bad feeling about this situation.

[UTUSN]

1. Uh... (Why do all my Replies to you start with "Uh..." - well, TWO/so far)

"a special needs kid" - maybe using high tech glasses? Distracted

Anyway, I had a scary near collision. Me taking a right turn and this kid on a bicycle barreled from across the street, NOT at the corner, further in a non-crossing place, right in front of me.

I slammed the brakes and he smiled the biggest smile and flashed a thumbs-up.

And I wagged my finger, "*NO*!" and mouthed, "I will *NOT* make up!1"

What are the consequences of a car hitting a kid on a bicycle? - the presumption of guilt for the car driver. Loss of job, loss of EVERYTHING. But I digress.

[FakeNoose]

2. Parents don't teach their kids anymore

Sure you have to start when they're small, like when they're 4 or 5 years old. By the time they're teenagers hopefully they'll have it figured out. But parents just assume that everyone else looks out for their kids, so they don't have to.

[Laffy Kat]

3. A teenager should know better, though.

It does sound weird.

[rurallib]

4. do you live in a college town by chance?

Seems to happen all the time around college towns. Some youngun in a hurry popping out of a car and running in front of traffic or just bounding from between parked cars.

That kind of stuff and the famous 'right hand turn out of the left hand lane.'

[Baitball Blogger]

5. I wouldn't call this a college town.

There is a university nearby, but there isn't a college effect that has taken hold around here. This is more of a red, conservative community, suspicious of inquisitive minds. And no wonder, there is a lot of inappropriate things that take place around here.

The kid might have been slightly autistic. Distinctly felt like he wasn't connecting with his surroundings.

[zanana1]

6. Kids in black hoodies...

In my town, for some reason they like to dart across the road without checking for traffic first, especially at night. The only reason I can come up with is that, at that age, they don't think anything can hurt them. Idiots.

[Stuart G]

7. ....You didn't hit him..car responded well, kid did the wrong thing, you did the right thing.

While you may have a bad feeling...you saved his life... He was/is clueless....You are a good person and deserve the very best...