Chasing cars
Thursday, April 26th, 2007Ever wonder how you would react in cases of emergencies?
When suddenly your mother fainted in front of you?
When the bus you are on skidded into a ravine?
When someone walks up to you brandishing a knife?
I was as usual enjoying the early morning drive to work (haha enjoying). The crawling traffic started to pick up speed, and yours truly gleefully engaged the gear to four. I had just popped a cassette into the cassette deck, and was throughly enjoying the music, oblivious to the traffic outside (my bad my bad my bad).
Not actually keeping tabs on the cars up front, I realized a tad too late that everyone up front was rapidly slowing down. There was some kind of a hold up up front, and yet I continued with my speed. As if alerted by the red rear lights of the car in front, I hurriedly jam on the brakes and yet I felt that my car was gliding ever so close to that in front.
Panic sets in.
I simply swerved into the next lane (I was on the fast lane), not realizing the traffic situation there. In my panic state of mind, I could ‘hear’ my brain instructing me to hit on the gas as fast as I could. It was a blessing that no vehicle was on the lane up front, though I could hear people honking at me. Immediately I hit on the accelerator and zoomed up front, and had the time to note a car was stalled on my previous lane. I continued my journey to work shaking from head to toe.
I somehow knew that if I stayed on the same lane, I will hit the car in front. I will be blamed for the accident, and I might be terrified to drive again. Which luckily did not happen that way, thanks to my ever vigilant reflexes.
Moral of the story? Never trust the morning traffic, it might be smooth flowing but by the next instance, it will suddenly come to a halt. Take care while driving. And trust your gut instincts, its God’s gift to us.
