Car accident right in front of me....

[radiopilot]

Driving home this evening with my wife in the Spider, I was in the left lane (concrete barrier on my left) and a Cadillac on the right lane just slightly 1 car length in front all of a sudden swerved left and hit the concrete barrier at full impact (45-55mph) then swerved back to the right because the left wheel is now totally seperated from the car... the car then landed on the right shoulder (had the concrete barrier not been there oncoming traffic both lanes would have hit this car... a total disaster indeed) ... I'm seeing this in slow motion as I let off the gas and hit the brakes as did other drivers behind me...

I stopped and called 911 as I approach the car with an young man coughing holding his chest, an elderly women in the front seat in pain, and an older passenger in the rear not hurt... apparently the driver was sick and had a coughing panic which led him to give gas while losing control of the car... it was surreal seeing this and my heart was at my throat because I decided to let the car get ahead of me and not be head to head with the car because if I did he would have pushed me into the guard rail and who knows if I'd be typing this right now...

I stood there with the driver insuring they did not move to lessen any more compounding of injuries until the ambulance and police came as I would not allow the driver or the passengers out of the car.... I took the keys and turned off the car so that it would not explode as it was pouring gas and fluids out the car... the car was totalled... out of towners visiting family during this holiday... what a disaster for the family... I feel for them. I hope there were no serious injuries when they took them to the hospital.... Fourth time this has happen where I had to get people out of the car or be first at the accident, some others weren't as lucky as this one... sad to see.

Nick

[mdrburchette]

I'm glad you weren't part of the accident. That's something you don't think about being a danger is a coughing fit.

[narfire]

Lucky, Lucky, Lucky.
Really glad you were not on the wrong end of that 4000 + pound cadi. Big cars always win.
Sometimes not easy to do, but if first or second on scene, park in front of the accident,cause the road can be blocked, when emegency crews show up, for quite some time. You do what you can, statement ect. and good to go, not in a lineup.
I was at a bad accident on the Sea To Sky (hwy to whistler) and the road was closed for 21/2 hours waiting for the coroner to show up and pronounce. Huge line-ups.
Again want to wish everyone good health and a happy new year.

[radiopilot]

Yes... very lucky we were... During this time of year when a lot of travellers are new to the area or just driving away from home I give all right of ways to them, will give them the courtesy to pass, get out of their way, etc. simply to avoid what just happened... but unfortunately some incidents are unavoidable... as in my previous thread about fast drivers... it just isn't worth the pain and aggravation of hospitals, police, ambulances, crash reports, collision garages, and of course the claims agents...

Please fellow Spider drivers and their loved ones... be safe on the roads this holiday season and always...

Nick

[mdrburchette]

We definitely need to practice defensive driving when we're in these little cars. I'm amazed at the people I see texting while driving or gabbing on a cell phone while in heavy traffic.

[narfire]

We definitely need to practice defensive driving when we're in these little cars. I'm amazed at the people I see texting while driving or gabbing on a cell phone while in heavy traffic.

Denise, BC just passed a law.. as of Jan 1st none of that allowed while driving, $165 fine if caught. There are no shortage of unmarked police cars on the hwy's here.I suppose if one gets into an accident or incident as they are starting to be called, and a cell phone was shown to be an issue I guess more $$$ is comming out of the wallet.
Hands free still OK though

[htchevyii]

All except hands free is illegal in CA, but I still see it everyday. Usually young people. Glad you stayed out of harms way.

[jimincalif]

Lots of people in California ignore the law, including the Governator's wife, Mrs. Schwarzenshriver.

Even when I was riding home in the tow truck with my spider a couple months ago, the tow truck driver was making calls.

[spidernut]

Glad to hear you're O.K. and hope they recover fully. I just drove from Northern to SoCal (7+ hour drive). Despite the laws here on texting and cell phones, everybody has a *(@* phone stuck to their head. One moron was driving in his Pontiac Fireturd doing 70 in the slow lane while texting at night on a crowded freeway. I had to refrain from doing something stupid to get his attention.

I'm amazed at how impatient American drivers are (especially after living in Japan for three years). Due to traffic bottling up, I was barely one car length behind another driver at 70 miles per hour (and decelerating to back off), when a guy in his SUV speeds up on the right and cuts between us! He couldn't have been 12 inches off my bumper at almost 70mph at the time...of course, the guy behind me was no more than one car length back. If there was ANYTHING that would have caused a single car to tap the brakes, we'd all be dead right now....this happened Christmas Eve. When capable, I backed off and let them all go by. There was no valid reason for him to cut in like he did. Some people think they're immortal.

I always take an informal inventory of the worst speeders/most aggressive drivers based on the make and model. This time was slightly different than in past years.

1. Worst and most reckless award goes to: Cadillac Escalade (a multiple repeat top of the list winner)
2. Chevy Tahoe (a consistent number two multiple years in a row)
3. Mercedes sedans (new to the list)
3. Acura (multiple model four door sedans)
4. Lexus (four door sedans only)
5. Ford Expedition

The next greatest offenders were full-sized pickups...mainly Chevy and Ford.

[So Cal Mark]

I'll agree with most of your list, only with Expeditions at the top. That cutting in situation is one of the most aggravating experiences while driving. Those drivers that do that should be crucified (imho)

[radiopilot]

Many a time have I had to dodge the bullet because some idiot was on the cellphone and turning blindly into me, as soon as I honked my horn to let them know did they correct their driving otherwise they would have caused an accident. Everytime I see these idiots on the cellphones while driving reminds me of why the government needs to make laws because people aren't adult enough to make correct driving behaviours on their own.

Yes... I agree with the list above along with a multitude of Asian car drivers with mods and mufflers making all sorts of stupid noise as if they're on some drag strip zipping by to get to the next traffic light or stop sign. Too bad I'm not a traffic cop or undercover police officer... hahahaha... would I just love to take the course and have that 'hidden' power while driving!

Nick

[mdrburchette]

That just happened to me this weekend! If anyone has driven in Winston Salem, they'll know how much attention needs to be paid to driving on and off on ramps. They are so close together that people have to stop on the ramps to find a spot to merge while others are after the same spot to come onto the ramp. I was following a guy in a little car full of people off the ramp and he just kept merging straight into a big SUV. If the SUV in the right lane and the two in the left had not paid attention, this dude and his family would have been in serious trouble. Even with bumper to bumper traffic, the SUVs in the left lane parted enough to allow the one in the right lane to merge left and make room for the idiot talking on the phone and not paying one bit of attention to his surrounding. I felt like laying on the horn just to wake the dumbass up.

[jimincalif]

when a guy in his SUV speeds up on the right and cuts between us! He couldn't have been 12 inches off my bumper at almost 70mph at the time...of course, the guy behind me was no more than one car length back.

It is really crazy to cut people off like this in California, you never know when the other guy might be packin' heat out here! Even though I have a 4 door Lexus, I try to never cut anyone off!