Al's Opinions

is a chancy proposition. The other day after buying a greeting card in a drug store, I walked to my car parked in one of the marked stalls in the parking lot in front of the store. I got in the car, disengaged the "club" which grips the steering wheel to discourage car thieves, started the engine, and looked out through the three rear view mirrors to see what was behind. I waited for two cars to pass in the aisle between parking stalls. I waited for a man walking to his car. Finally, everything seemed clear. I started to back out, but was stopped by someone beating on the back of the car. A woman walked by, gave me a dirty look, and got into the small SUV parked next to my car. I did not return her glance.

If I had hit her, it would of course be my fault and I would be the defendant in a costly lawsuit. However, the woman herself drove a vehicle with poorer backward-looking visibility than my car provided. Why wouldn't she have been a bit more careful and have given my car a wide berth, knowing that I probably didn't see her?

I myself often am in parking lots and I am careful to stay well away from any car or SUV or truck that is occupied and shows that the driver is about to back up. I've noticed that very few people are that careful or even that observant.

Any comments?