At the end of April, I was involved in a serious car accident, and as August is National Road Victim Month I thought I’d write about it. It was brought about to honour those who’ve been killed or injured on our roads and was designated following the death of Princess Diana on 31st August 1997.
I never, EVER thought that I’d be a victim of a car accident. I mean sure, I’ve had bumps, scrapes and narrow misses over the years, but not once did I think I’d be in an ambulance after being hit at high speed. It just goes to show that it can happen to anyone.
I used to drive like I was invincible. I’d tear off at the lights like a ‘boy racer’; I’d be about to miss a turning and risk taking it at the last second; I’d apply lipstick, I’d take a call, I’d even eat a chicken club sandwich! I’d put my trust in my own reactions but wouldn’t ever consider the guy in the other car who was maybe texting his wife while eating his own delicious sandwich.
And that’s just it. We trust ourselves and we have faith in others…maybe too much.
On the day of my accident, it was sunny, and I was pootling along a country lane. I was singing along to ‘Copa Cabana’ on the radio, and thinking about the great chicken club sandwich that I was going to have for lunch. Life was good.
The next thing I knew I was shaking my head like Road Runner after having a boulder dropped on him from a great height. My car was stationary, all the airbags having deployed, filling the car with smoke, and I was trapped from getting out of the driver’s side door. My brain was desperately trying to catch up.
I had to deal with police and ambulance crews who valiantly sorted out the mess of both me and the cars. Believe me, I would’ve enjoyed the uniforms much more if I could’ve stopped shaking and wasn’t in so much pain.
The whole experience was not one I ever want to repeat, but it could’ve been a whole lot worse. I was one of the lucky ones.
So, the moral to my story is this. Concentrate when you are driving. Pay attention to what you are doing, and what everyone else is doing. No sandwich is worth dying for.
Sherry x
