Driver Fails To See A Guy Walking His Dog In Pitch-Black Darkness, Feels Guilty As He Might Have Killed The Canine

After the driver stopped to check if the dog was harmed, he saw that he wasn't even close to hitting the dog and its owner.

May

• Published in Animal Stories
• March 4, 2023

Drivers have a huge responsibility on the road. They take control of a machine that may cause death or damage to property if they're not careful.

There are many ways how one can maintain responsibility as a driver. First of all, it's always important to follow traffic rules.

Drivers must also follow the laws of their state by avoiding drunk driving and distracted driving. They should not drive aggressively.

In other words, they shouldn't change lanes all of a sudden, tailgate, or drive at an excessive speed. Doing these things can easily lead to accidents.

Today's story is about a driver who encountered a dog and its owner while he was out driving early in the morning. It was pitch black, so he tried to navigate the road carefully.

A user named SkeeterX69 shared about this incident on the "Am I The A**hole?" (AITA) subreddit. The original poster (OP) stopped his car at a stop sign and looked around to see if there are people.

But since he didn't see anyone, they decided to proceed. The OP saw a dog at the corner of his eye while making a turn.

Suddenly, a guy walking the dog yells out, cussing at him for not being careful. The driver stopped to check if the dog was harmed, but he saw that he didn't come close to hitting the owner and his pet.

The OP is wondering who's at fault in this situation. He decided to ask the AITA community for their opinion.

A driver wanted to know who's in the wrong between him and a dog owner he encountered on the road.

It was pitch black outside, and yet the dog owner didn't bother having his dog wear anything reflective.

Most users believe that the dog owner lacked responsibility. He should've used a reflective leash for his dog.

The dog owner not only lacks responsibility, but also lacks common sense, according to this Redditor.

Why did this dog owner choose to wear black clothing it pitch-black darkness?

Even if some users believe it wasn't his fault, the OP still felt bad because he might've hurt the dog.

Reflective clothing is a must when walking a dog while it's dark outside.

Dog owners also need to carry a light so that drivers can easily see them when it's pitch black.

This Redditor believes that both sides were responsible.

The driver needs to be more aware of the surroundings while the dog owner and his pet need to wear something reflective.

Dogs should always wear a leash. So the dog owner is at fault for walking his dog outside without it.

High-vision clothing is necessary when walking while it's dark outside.

A few Redditors believes that it's all the OP's fault.

Since the OP is in a vehicle, he needs to be more aware of the surroundings, according to a Redditor.

People who walk outside while it's dark need to be responsible for themselves.

They need to wear clothes that will make them easily seen by drivers.

While it's not really the OP's fault, the situation is a learning experience for him. Now he knows that there are people who don't bother wearing reflective clothing even when they head out while it's dark.

We also hope the dog owner learns from this. Even if there aren't any people outside early in the morning, he still needs to leash his dog.

May