Whenever people tell me their OH **** stories, I like to tactfully ask what they learned from them.
I'm a firm believer that there are very, very few "accidents". I think we should be as serious about our driving (and taking responsibility for mistakes and near-mistakes) as pilots generally are. In other words, cars don't often "go out of control," but people lose control of them all the time.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thatguitarguy
Early in my driving life I got hit a couple of times from the rear, so I became vigilant about watching my rear view mirror, especially when things start to go sour in traffic situations.
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Man, it's so good to read someone who's aware of rear crash risk! Nice work! (Used to teach defensive driving; mirror work is a big part of it, as was simulated rear crash avoidance manoevers. I've taken evasive action once myself to escape a rear crash situation.)
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My only non-hoonage off-road excursion:
I was driving my '82 Rabbit on a nearly deserted rural highway in a howling blizzard, and the car was wearing GTI rims & tires (mistake #1).
Going maybe 70 km/h, came out of a tree-sheltered "alley" into a curve in a wide open clearing where the full force of the wind slammed the car from the side. Pushed me into deeper snow on the shoulder, the car immediately yawed, and I plowed off into the snowy ditch despite a valiant counter-steering effort. Got completely stuck on the belly, wheels suspended in deep snow.
2nd mistake was: too fast for conditions (failing to take cross wind into consideration)!
I found a set of skinny 155/80/13's for the car not long after that episode.
