had a close call...

and it coulda been alot worse.

Saturday afternoon.. in the rain.

happened while I was merging from one interstate highway to another, coming onto a 2 lane bridge with an exit right after that. Car in front of me did a panic stop because traffic going onto the exit was backed up onto the bridge. I slowed and immediately hydroplaned off into the left lane trying to avoid the car in front of me. I was hit by a Toyota Highlander that was traveling in the left lane. I spun off into the median and ( somehow) managed to avoid the steel guardrail at the end of the bridge, a 4 ft square temp road sign that was laying in the grass and stopped just short of a line of jersey barriers.I got pulled out of the mud and grass and managed to drive away, while the 'yota had to get hauled off on a flatbed. Everyone escaped without injury

I'd like to think that my small amount of racing experience helped me keep this incident from becoming worse than it was. Only thing I was worried about was getting the car stopped, not trying to spin it out or save it and continue on down the road.

Now, I don't always wear my seatbelt. Usually it's only when I drive the interstate. Kind of dumb, yes I know. I think after this little incident, I'm gonna wear it more often.

Glad you're ok.

Hope the Neon isn't too damaged

Glad to hear you're ok and that you were wearing your seatbelt this time.

Glad to hear everyone is unhurt.

Definitely wear your seatbelt. Always.

That's not a close call. That's an accident.

Good to hear it wasn't any worse. Glad you are okay.

If more people would get better driver training, our roads would be a better place. Then I would actually consider riding a motorcycle to work again.

Glad everything is OK in the end.

hotrodlarry wrote: Now, I don't always wear my seatbelt. I think after this little incident, I'm gonna wear it **every berking time I get in the car.**

FTFY. I can't imagine NOT wearing my seatbelt - I hate not feeling connected to the car. Out of curiousity, why don't you? I'm always interested to hear people's reasons for not belting up.

All that aside, I'm very glad you weren't hurt, and the car looks very fixable.

Glad you're OK. Good job on keeping your cool with things went wrong.

How do people still not wear their seatbelt?

I'm confused, what was the close call. Going off the road or driving a Neon?

pinchvalve wrote: How do people still not wear their seatbelt?

Why do people admit stuff like that on the internet?

glad to see you survived with only a nasty dent

carguy123 wrote: I'm confused, what was the close call. Going off the road or driving a Neon?

I think it was "Going off the road while driving a Neon. Oh and something about big concrete barriers, too.

seatbelts... always

pinchvalve wrote: How do people still not wear their seatbelt?

People still litter. And smoke.

You can - maybe - argue that there is value to be had in smoking, despite the dangers. There is NO value in littering, yet it still happens all the time, despite years of education against it.

That's why I am interested to hear the value he perceives in not wearing his seat belt.

I'm glad you managed to avoid serious injury this time hotrodlarry. I am thrilled that you will consider wearing your seat belt more consistently in the future.

Zomby Woof wrote: That's not a close call. That's an accident.

There are no motor vehicle accidents.

They are crashes cause by inept drivers.

It's just something I never thought about growing up in a small town in a state with no seat belt law.

This section of highway that I crashed on has had a few accidents in the past couple years because of the "3 lanes to 2 lane bridge to 3 lanes" with a lot of traffic.It's just a crappy section of road. It would be better if they could widen it, but that would involve a lotta work because that bridge is atleast 100 ft or more above the river.

hrl, did your tires cause you to hydroplane ?

Anyway, glad it wasn't any worse.

Seatbelts "do" work.

fasted58 wrote: seatbelts... always

Agreed. On the flipside of the coin, I do have a friend that is alive because he wasnt belted in. He went roof first into a tree. When the car went on its side, he was thrown in the back. The roof caving in snapped both front seats in half.

However, I feel that this is the exception and not the rule.

Glad you are ok.

iceracer wrote: hrl, did your tires cause you to hydroplane ? Anyway, glad it wasn't any worse. Seatbelts "do" work.

I think so. They have plenty of tread, but the combination of standing water on the bridge and no ABS in the car may not have helped either. The brakes on the car are in good working order (fronts are high quality semi-met and the rear shoes were replaced 2 months ago)

The tires are yokohamas avid touring.They are not bad, but I just don't like them. I was going to wait and replace them next summer with some Dunlops or Goodyears, but I may put the order in before this summer ends.

iceracer wrote:

Zomby Woof wrote: That's not a close call. That's an accident.

There are no motor vehicle accidents. They are crashes cause by inept drivers.

I thought as I was typing, I should have said crash.

I refused to wear the belt in my MG. Offices agreed I was probably safer without it. No roll protection at all, I wanted to be thrown if crashed. Every other car I've driven, I always buckle up.

Then, I pass the seat belt enforcement zones on my bike and giggle in my head.

iceracer wrote:

Zomby Woof wrote: That's not a close call. That's an accident.

There are no motor vehicle accidents. They are crashes cause by inept drivers.

How about when a tree falls on your car?