Neighbor ran over my RC Car today.
 

Dang it...I'm trying not to be pissed about this because it's just a stupid little RC car but the driving that led to this could have easily done worse than just flatten my brand new RC car.

Now, the RC car in question is actually a truck. Here is a link:

Losi: 1/18 Mini-Desert Truck RTR: Blue: Losi (LOSB0202T2)

It's a 1/18 scale 'desert truck' and it is, well, was fun as heck.

Now it's pretty well flattened by the Acura SUV.

My 5 year old son was driving it in front of the house with me and she came barreling around the corner like she always does. We live on the corner and she's the next house in so it's a nice racing arch for her to get into her driveway which runs to the back of her house. She does see that we are driving cars in the road and she stops. My 5 year old was trying to drive it toward the curb and out of the way when she goes before being certain it was clear and runs it right over. She was going fast around the corner so when she came to a halting (not quite screeching) stop she stopped just before the toy. My 5 year old handled it well, I immediately told him 'it wasn't his fault and it's okay' cause he was driving my car while I was fixing something on his. She gets almost into her driveway and stops and rolls her window down and yells to me asking if she ran it over. I yelled back yes, she yells and apology and I yell 'these things happen' but only because I didn't know what else to say and I didn't want to walk over there angry.

I'm trying not to be angry about it but the situation just has me really ticked off - plus she hasn't even come over to offer to replace it or even discuss it.

Like I said, I don't want to go over there angry so i haven't gone over there myself. We are friends with them and have always gotten along but we aren't like 'best friends'. Our kids are similar ages, play on the same teams and we get along fine. This won't affect that and it's only about $100 but still...

Am I wrong to feel like she should bear the responsibility for replacing or paying for what I need to repair it or not? I don't think she's 100% responsible because after all, we were driving in the street where real cars go. But she barely gave me a moment to get the truck out of the way before she went. I know she's generally a very impatient person ( I see it all the time in her interactions with her kids and family) and well, I think it's that part that has me hot under the collar.

GRRRRRR

That truck is pretty nice. I just got an RC plane, and have flown it twice around the neighborhood. I put a camera on it, and it's already addictive.

If there is a bright spot, you can get a better truck. Think of the children!!

I'm probably going to get a helicopter next.

Ouch!

I remember when my best friend growing up had just finished building a Wild Willy. He lived on a street that had another, younger kid across the street. Since the streets were pretty quiet back then, we all pretty much freely crossed the street without parents worrying... We were out giving the Willy a go and the little kid came out. We went over to his house and my friend let him drive. The kid had no concept of "STOP!!!" and aimed it right into the street as a VW bug was driving by, well, the bug actually drove over the Willy as it went by. I don't remember the outcome, but my friend was pissed and I think his dad was too.

Because I'm a total jerk, I'm going to say this.

The toy did not belong in the road. The roadway is not a play area.

Now that I've said that, I will say this.

If I had been driving, and ran over your son's RC car, I would have felt the need to IMMEDIATELY come over, apologize directly to the both of you, and offer to pay for the car.

I am a total jerk, but I do like to be nice about it.

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Not a problem. Replace it with one of those RC helecopters with a camera and get some pics of her titty bathing around the back of her house and pop a print in all the neighbours letterboxes.

That's a bummer. In my world the two of you would split the cost for a new one.

Maybe she just watched Magnum Force and thought it was a bomb.

Well, I'm not saying you're wrong but I think the expectation that the street in our residential neighborhood can't be used for anything but traffic is unreasonable. This is the reason the residential speed limit is 25mph, because it's a residential zone and you can expect crap like this. Also, the turn she was coming around is a blind turn. It's a right turn and you can't see past my yard because my lot is higher than the street level and my retaining walls block the view (I can't do a thing about it).

Kids ride their bikes in the street (though there are laws for that on their side), kids play ball in the street, hockey, etc. In a land without much 'open space' the street is where it is at. Residential streets are specifically called out as slower speed zones due to the activities of children. It's not the good old days though and I don't let my kids play even outside my yard on the sidewalk without supervision because for the most part these days everyone (myself included I guess) tends to be an idiot.

Actually, I guess I am disagreeing with you.

I do RC everything except boats. Helicopters, Cars, Airplanes. All of it, I've been doing this stuff since I was 8 years old myself and in that more than 30 years this is the only time I have ever even SEEN an RC car much less one of my own get into it with a full sized vehicle that wasn't parked and unoccupied. In all of those years and even with my youngest who is far from the quickest reflex, I've never had someone have to stop that short or not be nice enough to wait for my car to be verified clear of their path.

While I agree that your neighbor is insensitive and impatient, legally she is not at fault. Would have been a nice gesture to come over and make sure the kid has a way to get a new toy, even if it would mean chipping in for it. But it didn't happen. This is why you are upset, because she is insensitive. But IMHO you need to let it go, spend $100 and get a new one. If you go over there, she will not understand why you are upset or even concerned. Neighbors do not have to be friends, but you do have to have a neutral relationship at the least. I am always extremely careful not to escalate anything with the neighbors, unless it is very serious. So not bringing this up further will help in that regard and it will be $100 well spent.

G

It has been made clear to me before that my opinion on this is unpopular. My children, for example, find it unfair that I don't let them play in the street like the neighbors' kids do. Except that we live near the high school, and sometimes the high school kids drive through the neighborhood, and, well...

You get the picture.

I do think the road is primarily a place for vehicles (motorized and person-powered) and not a place for recreation. I think if a person does do recreation in the street, one should expect toys/balls/whatever to meet untimely ends, due to the lack of attention by drivers and because even when drivers are paying attention, they do not expect a basketball or an RC car to come out of nowhere. This does NOT excuse the driver from paying attention, even more for a person who knows that there are kids in the neighborhood (like, seriously WTF, neighbor lady???). But I have always held the opinion that cars do indeed own the road, and not because of philosophy, but because of physics.

All that said, if I had run over any toy of yours or your child's, I would have paid for it. And apologized. Especially to the child, who probably feels badly enough already.

I do.

I think we're both 'right' and I am disappointed that she didn't come over and say anything to me. Especially considering both of our involvement's in the community to support our kids in various sports. We help each other out, we coach each others kids, I've fixed their kid's RC helicopter myself, built custom shelves for her in a closet.

Grrr...

I want to let it go but I also want her to stop driving like that.

This is what makes neighbourhoods tick.

OP, what if another neighbour had come by on his $10,000 TdF road cycle, or his 30k H-D, met the RC truck and splattered himself and the bike?

Now, we all know the RC truck shouldn't have been on the road.....

Don't expect others to have the same degree of thoughfulness as yourself. Buy your son a new rc toy and tell your neighbor it's not a problem. No point in losing a good relationship with a neighbor over a $100 toy. :)

As mentioned above rc toys should not be on the street but it is a risk you want to take so you take your chances...

Also if you had run over somebody else's rc toy you likely would have paid for it but don't expect others to behave like you.

G.

if I ran it over I would pay for it - case closed. RC car, dog, kid makes no mind. In the hood you should not be driving to the point you can't react. Period. She's a craphead and I would have shaken my fist at her and give'n her what for...

I would have paid for it, but I don't see how she is obligated to. My son's first "real" R/C was a Traxxas Bandit buggy ($250), he let his uncle drive it one day when they were visiting. Uncle proceeds to drive it behind my neighbor's SUV as they were backing out of their driveway. My neighbor, who we are good friends with, apologized profusely and offered to buy another multiple times. In this case I saw no fault in his actions and refused to let him pay. Said uncle and his parents didn't seem that concerned about the whole incident. I told my wife that her family sucks and took my son to the hobby shop, he got a Traxxas Slash out of the deal which is nicer anyway.:)

I've had the same situation occur on a few occasions when we lived in Greenville. Once stopped, I would always wave politely, then step in front of the car until the RC car is safely out of the way. Step away, say thanks and enjoy the rest of the day. You're both at fault. Go buy a new truck.

Indeed.

You learned something about your neighbor. I'm sorry that knowledge cost $100.
I'd file it away; I have a good memory for things like that.
Jim

Well your kid shouldn't of had the RC under the car in the first place....