Glad you are O.K., John. Even a slow-speed collision is a scary thing.
When I was about 7 or 8, we were involved in a slow-speed head on. Dad was
driving a '51 or '52 chevy panel van. I was lying on a plywood shelf in the
back, with the flowers on their way to the greenhouse, mesmerized, watching
huge snowflakes hit the windshield. A car full of hunters suddenly pulled
out of the long line of cars coming down the pass, and Dad had time to just
start to pull over. The other vehicle caught the driver's half of our car,
throwing Dad into the steering wheel, bending it down and breaking two of his
ribs, and slamming his head into the windshield, breaking it (the windshield,
not his head, thank God). Mom was thrown forward into the all-metal
dashboard, receiving a large gash on her leg. I was thrown forward off the
shelf I was lying on, into the back of my sister, slamming her into the dash.
Somehow she and I both miraculously escaped injury beyond minor scrapes and
bruises. The vehicle was totalled.
"They don't build 'em like they used to"... is true, and thank God for that.
Cars today are built to progressively collapse forward, absorbing the energy
of the impact. Collapsible front ends & steering columns, seat belts,
airbags, and soft plastic dashboards and other interior parts are saving
lives. Is it perfect? Heck no. But it's better than just a few years ago.
Not to mention cleaner exhaust, better mileage, longer-lasting.
I was among the first teenagers trained to use seat belts and drive
defensively. Defensive driving has saved me being involved in DOZENS of
accidents. With people these days eating, talking on cellphones, putting on
makeup, reading, slapping their kids, making out, and WATCHING TV & VIDEOS
(!!!!) while they drive, defensive driving is crucial to staying out of
trouble with idiots, and probably more important that WHAT you drive.
Comment: as to those who don't want to wear seatbelts (or wear motorcycle
helmets, or drive without insurance, for that matter) getting what they
deserve: well, that sounds great, until you realize the rest of us subsidize
that stupidity with higher auto and health insurance rates, higher taxes for
emergency services, etc. WE pay for it. I don't like that one bit. Wear a
seatbelt, wear a helmet, carry insurance, idiot, or pay a BIG fine!
Glad you will not be an embarassment to the family, John! The OM family is
certainly proud of you!
Rich
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