So I was almost in a car accident today

MunchWolf · « **on:** August 29, 2006, 06:38:12 PM »

Slight rain (it's Seattle, you think people would get used to it), and off to the right 4 cars that had been in a pile up. Up ahead traffic is at a stop due to a light. I stop. The car behind me doesn't, but swerves to my right and misses me. The car behind that doesn't stop either, and swerves to the left, almost T-ing, but also missing. The car behind that doesn't stop at all, and smacks into car #2 (front hood totally smashed in). Car behind that doesn't stop either, but manages to swerve. Car behind that smacks into car that swerved, and has the same hood smashup. I think I saw about 2 other cars that were damaged.

Finally the cops came (I felt like waiting, and the lady in Car 2 just had her wisdom teeth out .. which I can relate to). He said since I wasn't in the accident, and technically didn't see anything (I had only heard car 3 hitting 2) he told me to go .. so I did ...

-Munch "although on closer inspection there is a tiny scratch on my car I can't identify ... hrmmm" Wolf

Palomine · « **Reply #1 on:** August 30, 2006, 08:22:21 AM »

Close calls like yours (almost getting rear ended by inattentitve drivers going too fast for conditions) seem to happen so often... to me anyway. I kind of think that there should be something in each car that causes the driver to briefly experience the fear/shock/stress of that near-miss EVERY TIME they start their car, so that the memory of it will be fresh in their minds each and every day they go out. Maybe fewer folks would die in accidents each year as a result.

DruulEmpire · « **Reply #2 on:** August 30, 2006, 02:14:31 PM »

Funny about the rain. A few Thanksgivings ago my father and I were driving back home in a rental car on a Sunday morning when the rain was cold and bad. (Looking back on it, we should have left later, waiting out the bad stuff.) We hydroplaned, went up against a rail, and finally stopped. We just sat there awhile, and then I realized it was raining in the car, because the frame had warped enough that the top of my door didn't close all the way. Interesting how "organic" a machine like a car can look; a mere foot or so from where I was on the passenger side, it sort of resembled regurgitated beefaroni. We were lucky in some ways, one that no one was close to us when it happened. Police and AAA came through fine.

I don't travel much, but I've always remembered that the rental was a Chevy Malibu. I figure, if I'm going to get nearly killed by a machine called Malibu, I owe it to myself someday to go see the REAL Malibu. Seems only fair.

Zorro · « **Reply #3 on:** August 30, 2006, 04:12:59 PM »

Down here in South Florida we have many hazards .... whether it be bright and sunny out..... or during tropical storms/hurricanes.

These hazards are (and not in any particular order):

1. Snowbirds. Usually the blue haired (mostly New Yorkers) who don't live here year round. The majority of these are retired, deaf, mostly blind, and really should not be allowed to posess a driver's license anymore.

2. Haitians - Now not to sound racist or anything, but these idiots seldom have driver's licenses, insurance, and/or common sense....most own Toyota Corollas.

3. People who insist on talking on cellphones, reading a newspaper, eating a sandwich, and **94** anything.....all at the same time or any combination thereof.

4. Folks who have issues with bikers. (I actually had a woman cross 6 lanes of traffic to try to hit me making a right hand turn!) Now this woman was black.....and to my good fortune the witnesses at a bus stop were all black as well and my neighbors! These good samaritans yelled and screamed at the female driver so much she was in tears. I just asked for help picking my bike up where I had dropped it and rode away. By the way the car was about 2 feet away from where I had laid down the bike!

I realize that I take a chance every time I throw my leg over my motorcycle, but I do love riding so!

You got to be careful and alert out there folks..no matter how you get around!

Doesn't Brianna have an "Alert" tongue?

Palomine · « **Reply #4 on:** August 30, 2006, 04:54:09 PM »

Quote:

I don't travel much, but I've always remembered that the rental was a Chevy Malibu. I figure, if I'm going to get nearly killed by a machine called Malibu, I owe it to myself someday to go see the REAL Malibu. Seems only fair.

Glad to hear that you were OK. I was in Malibu last weekend... it's nice, but over-rated IMO.

Re: So I was almost in a car accident today