I have been behind the wheel in exactly one accident. I can't say that time seemed to slow down. Oh, I can certainly
replay the whole incident, but it didn't seem any faster or slower than normal. Of course, it was one of those time
where I pretty well know I shouldn't be driving, but didn't have a choice, so I can't quite be one to pass judgement
there. In the end, minor collision, minor damage. Almost got off scot free. For the record, I'm the only member of my
family who has yet to total a vehicle.
The numerous near misses were similar though. It didn't feel like it took any more or less time to stop or react than
normal. Oh, I can almost do a second-by-second recount of most of them, but that doesn't mean all that much. Not many
seconds to recount.
I've been a passenger in a few others, and in the worst one (I was hospitalized for 4 days), I guess time might have
seemed to slow down a bit, but I'm not sure. It seemed like a mere 3-4 seconds between when I saw the flatbed trailer
and when we hit it. There was just enough time for "Mom!," "I know!," *CRASH.* If time slowed for my
mother, it wasn't enough to grasp everything that happened. She was still claiming she hit the steering wheel (instead
of the air bag) several days later.
The other accidents I've been in were all with me in the back seat of a van or minivan, and at least half asleep. The
major one, I had almost NO CLUE what was happening until it was over. I was dozing off, and suddenly got jerked
violently. then again. Next thing I knew we, were moving sideways, and next thing after that, we were upside down, and I
was grateful I hadn't had breakfast.
Also, for the record, of all the accidents and near-accidents I've been in, only two were a result of road conditions.
One was my accident, as I was driving back to Northern Michigan University from the airport, just after a fresh
snowfall. The other was when my father hit a white trailer in the middle of a blizzard. In both cases, caution didn't,
and wouldn't have, helped.
The one where the car flipped was during winter, and while I originally thought it might have been an ice patch, it was
a dog. Can't blame the weather.
The flatbed was at night, but inadequate reflectors and lousy location were the main issues. It wasn't meant to be
parked like that.
One near miss was what I can only guess was an oil slick. I didn't see anything, but I definately had a complete loss of
traction. Luckily I was able to jump into the next lane to avoid nailing the car in front of me.
All other instances were in broad daylight, on sunny or partly cloudy days, and wholly attributable to driver or
mechanical error. At least 5 of these would have been accidents if I wasn't alert and attentive. These are actually the
conditions for many accidents, and my advice: while it's prudent to be cautious in bad conditions, don't forget to be
cautious in good conditions as well!
