Dear Paul B Readers,
Lately, I have been writing to you, because of the many experiences that I have been privy to. I guess life does indeed have its twist and turns (pun intended.)
Traveling to a McDonalds for my senior coffee (no I’m in my fifties and I fudge my age,) I was shaken up by a Honda Pilot plowing into my side of the car. I was pushed to and on the curb in about a three second surge of a 2500 “torpedo” that came out of nowhere. It’s been 9 years since my last collision, so it was about time, however, you never get accustomed to it. I was stunned, but after taking an inventory of body parts and blood un-spilled, I was now collected. This young boy stepped from the 2003 Pilot and asked if I was alright, as I returned this question with the same. We were both fine. His two passengers (both young teenage girls) were hugging, but were uninjured. After a short huddle between the three, the two female companions were running off to the townhomes from where this car had emerged to slam into me. I thought nothing of it, and waited for the police to arrive. David explained that he just started driving and was scared about this accident, but shared that he felt his tires slide as he turned his vehicle next to me. He also felt that his tires were very old, and that the rain must have caused him to slide when he turned. Obviously, he was going “to fast for conditions,” and admitted his mistake. Bad tires, rainy roadway, not waiting for my car to completely pass the intersection, novice driver not familiar with these hazards, and TWO PASSENGERS IN CAR…Ouch!
The last comment here was a very serious violation. When you are 16, you may not have more than ONE passenger in your car. Now, I knew why these two friends were running the 400 meter. They were only going 2 blocks to the corner McDonalds, but this was a trip that David may pay heavily for. When the police officer (Jennifer) arrived, she asked if there were additional passengers in either vehicle, and David told the truth. The “Truth Does Hurt.” I offered to David that I would not appear in court to testify, but I fear the judge may take the law into her on hands, truth be told. He is a nice young man, but The Law Is The Law.
I frankly don’t know if David would have driven differently with one passenger, no passengers, or five passengers on this rainy night in Lincolnshire, but I can tell you that all you new drivers best know the law, and abide by this and other laws designed to keep us alive.
David could lose his driving privileges for a year or more. I share this experience so that we may all learn from it. I was eager to tell my fifteen year old son. I have taken several pictures of my car to remember that life is a privilege, and can be short…. Thank God that we were all safe.
Paul B
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