Pixies Place Forums - View Single Post - ?What made you CRINGE today?

Quote:

Originally Posted by PantyFanatic

3 seconds that lasted 10 minutes in a near-miss

During a rush hour snow squall (of course

) I was stopped at a red light intersection of a main, divided thoroughfare and watching the three lanes of cross traffic to my left ease to complete stop as the light changed for me. I started to move forward, hoping my slow start would not cause me to spin on the slippery-as-sail-snot street when I see headlights in the inside lane on the intersection far side still moving passed the other two lines of stopped cars. I was less than through the first lane on my side and hit the break as no way that thing was going to be able to stop. That free-fall feeling of moving when you don't want to be flips you into a time warp when your watching the SUV with locked up wheels start twisting sideways but continuing to move straight ahead to the same meeting point directly in front of you.

Even though it was three to four times further away from the target spot than I was, you have time (at least it seems like it) to do the mental vector velocity/mass/distance calculations for both vehicles and realize that the physical law of no two particles of matter can simultaneously occupy the same point in space is true. You are still gliding slowly forward and can do nothing but test the pressure rating of your break lines and the density of the material your steering wheel is made of.

For the rest of the ride your thoughts drift to what percentage of increase your insurance premiums is going to be and the fact you didn't wear heavy enough coat to be out on this wind tonight after the crash that's coming. Just as the SUV crosses your line of sight you realize you have stopped almost a foot short of that meeting point and that you wouldn't have been concerned if you had done the coefficient of friction calculations instead ............. then you breath as you hear all the superlatives echoing around inside your car.

Why don't these people that got their 4-wheel drive realize they ALREADY had 4-wheel breaks and need to slow-the-fuck down for bad road conditions.

That's what made me cringe today.

PS
My pulse rate almost returned to normal by the time I got home.

I missed this one the first time around too, but I can relate...amazing how time slows down for a pending crash, you do have time, it seems, to think all kinds of interesting things. I cringed when this made me recall the time some mumblety years ago when I found the ONE remaining ice patch in Music City...driver's ed still fresh in my mind, "steer in the direction of the skid" was not an option, that would point me directly into the lake

I instead focused on the one tree along the edge that was just big enough to stop a half-ton ChevyVan, but not so big that it would shove the engine further into the cabin. I was right...and then there was the Wile E. Coyote moment afterward as gravity took me off the shoulder towards the lake anyway.

Fortunately, old fencing made a great basket catch, so gf & I didn't end up testing the temp of Radnor Lake...but it took Two tow trucks to get the van back on the street that night.