Tonight my wife and I went out for dinner, a coffee and a drive. On our way home I stopped at a red light, waiting to make a left turn. When it turned green, I waited for the traffic to pass, or so I thought, and proceeded to make the left turn. There were two cars coming, one in the closest lane and one in the farther lane which I thought was making a right turn.
As I pulled passed the near lane, I slowed down to let the dude in the far lane make his right turn… then my wife hollered “what are you doing?” That’s when I realized that the guy making the right turn was going straight and NOT slowing down! I immediately jumped on the gas and sped out of the way, narrowly escaping a T-Bone accident.
I’ve had plenty of close calls… but none of them rattle me more than the ones that would have been my own fault.
Whew!
Cindy
November 14, 2008 at 11:32 pm
I am glad you were not hurt…I did the same thing the other day pulled out in front of a lady and only for her good driving We would have had a very bad accident…well I looked at Kyle sat in the seat beside me and said well this is a good day…he thought I was crazy till I said well we never got killed
Paul
November 15, 2008 at 5:05 pm
First, glad you guys didn’t get hurt. Second, it takes a big man with huge shoulders to say, wow, that would have been my fault. Third, it can happen to anyone. I know for a fact Maureen has saved me from 2 serious accidents. My dad always told me you can drive 20 years accident free….then have 3 the next day. Sometimes, it’s good to get lucky. ;-)
Donna
November 16, 2008 at 12:20 am
Paul, more than likely I would have had to say that it would have been Steve’s fault, even if Steve didn’t say it.
rekounas
November 25, 2008 at 1:20 am
Never assume someone will make a right turn before the intersection. Your son would have been able to tell you that from YD.
I was on Rothesay avenue on the weekend taking a left on McAllister drive (there are 2 left turn lanes and I was on the inside one) The advanced green stopped blinking, and I was the only car that let the guys in the opposite lane go straight. The guys in the outside lane started blocking off traffic and I couldn’t see on-coming traffic so I just waited. The guy in the truck behind me could see clear down Rothesay and he started honking at me to go. Then he pulled in front of me passing me. Saint John drivers have quickly become Quebecers. I have seen way too many accidents when people assume cars are turning right and then they end up crashing that I just don’t chance it anymore.