If a pedestrian is distracted and walking into my path (sometimes directly head on!), I give a usual “On your left” or “On your right,” then take evasive maneuvers, and if all that doesn’t work, “heads up!” in a sharper and louder tone.
For imminent mortal peril involving a motorized vehicle, especially one with a loud diesel engine, what I seem to default to is a surprisingly loud and deep “Hey!” Not very inspiring that that’s the most I can come up with when my life is passing before my eyes.
For the self proclaimed “speed demon” (yes, I heard him call himself that) who clipped a plastic bollard while passing me too closely on the trail, sending it into my front wheel, I regret that my automatic response involved, as my mother would put it, taking the Lord’s name in vain.
Liz
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