well,
since you asked:
left school late to give out make-up quizzes to a few students (all but one stood me up). on the corner of 3rd and rossmore in downtown Los angeles, about 4 minutes from the campus, I made a left turn on a freshly turned red. I wrongly assumed that traffic would stop for me. My mind was upset at how i had stayed an extra hour for nearly nothing, and so I must confess I was distracted.
Anyway, I turned, looked to the right, and saw the front end of an audi a2. impact 1 second later - i had reflexively hit the brakes.
BAM.
i'm not sore, anything at all. crash i was in two years ago knocked me breathless for 2 minutes (i was just a passenger that time). I get out and the other driver is cussing at me. i point to the light - it's well, surprise - red. he says, "well, it's red NOW!" as a precaution, I unclip my folder from inside my belt and put it in my laptop bag
i figure insurance will screw me either way, so I just hand over the card, and ignore him until he gives me his card. my ford t-bird is still somewhat drivable. his car is pouring out radiator fluid profusely, mine dripping a few drops of tranny or oil fluid. he has hit me right behidn the front right wheel, and then went on down the side culminating in a final hit to the rear right tire, flattening it.
we both call LAPD. 1st call: busy. 2nd call: redirect to non-emergency number.. then drops me. 3rd call: picks up - "are you bleeding? is he bleeding? is there city property that is damaged?" I reply, "no." The nice lady informs me that we can settle this on our own and the LAPD does not respond to crashes unless someone is hurt or city property is damaged.
The end result is that both of us dodge cars in rush hour traffic intersection for 20 minutes, hoping no one hits our cars.
his insurance's roadside and my aaa plus arrive soon after to tow us away. my car is towed 30 miles, free.
I'm still kind of in shock, so to speak; internally i've developed a sudden, hopefully temporary, irrational fear of driving because somehow part of my psyche thinks that I'm a lousy driver. I keep it sharply suppressed but time will have to take care of this one. this is my second crash - my first one was 7 years ago.
I've decided to form some rules of driving, based on the gun rules.
Rules of Driving
1. Distractions and Driving do not mix! Cell phones, Maps, Sunglasses, and girlfriends should be taken care of before ignition.
2. Drowsiness and Driving do not mix, either. If you're sleepy, pull off the road for a minute or two. Better yet, get at least 7 hours of sleep a night.
3. Cars must be carefully maintained in good condition. If your brakes or transmission becomes spotty, get it fixed or don't drive. You wouldn't shoot a gun with a cracked barrel, would you?
4. EVERY CAR IS A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. it is better to be late than to not get there at all. Screw the clock - drive like you would a school bus.
feel free to add or detract.
