Car accidents and incoherence

There was a time when I had to travel far just to get to the studio and do my radio recording. I had to do the driving myself. After a tiring day in the recording studio, I was on my way home when something happened.

While waiting for the traffic light to turn green, I felt a bump on the left side of my car and the sound of crunching metal gave me the hint that somebody has decided to reshape my car.

I looked at the side mirror, I could see no car, instead I saw a giant tire kissing and flattening the curved side of my two-year-old car. The young truck driver seems oblivious to what was happening as his big tire squeezed my car like a heavy person squeezing a toothpaste tube.

He only realized what was happening when I pushed hard on the car horn relentlessly. I got out of my car, looked at the damage, and it was not a beautiful sight.

I loathed the inconvenience the car accident has brought me and I was saddened to see the new contour of my car but somehow, a thought inside my head tried to reassure me that things would be all right. The car was fully insured but that does not discount the carelessness of the truck driver who has caused me this dreadful inconvenience.

My temper was rising but when I saw the pale ashen look on the young truck driver’s face, I could see how scared he was. A quick thought entered my mind. While I was upset with the car damage, this young person may be scared and worried that he might lose his job and he has a family to feed.

We went to the police precinct and the young driver was so nervous that he became incoherent. This elicited some sarcastic remarks from the impatient policemen who could not understand what he was saying when asked to describe the accident according to his own account.

I encouraged the poor guy and requested the police to be gentler with him because the man obviously was in a state of shock.

When accidents happen, some people are totally in control while many others may be so shocked they become incoherent.

This reminds me of a material I kept that listed the comments of individuals wrote down on their insurance claim forms following their auto accidents. This compilation came from a Toronto newspaper. Look at how funny or even ridiculous these statements are:

1.) I misjudged a lady crossing the street.

2.) Coming home, I drove into the wrong house and collided with a tree I don’t have.

3.) I collided with a stationary street car coming the opposite direction.

4.) I heard a horn blow and was struck in the back – a lady was evidently trying to pass me.

5.) I thought my window was down, but found it was up when I put my hand through it.

6.) My car was stolen, and I sent up a human cry but it has not been recovered.

7.) The truck backed through my windshield into my wife’s face.

These are my favorite:

8.) A pedestrian hit me and went under my car.

9.) The guy was all over the road. I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him.

10.) If the other driver had stopped a few yards behind himself, the accident would not have happened.

11.) In my attempt to kill a fly, I drove into a telephone pole.

12.) I had been driving my car for 40 years when I fell asleep at the wheel and had an accident.

13.) My car was legally parked as it backed into the other vehicle.

14.) The pedestrian had no idea which way to go, so I ran over him.

It is funny and it doesn’t make sense but then again when accidents happen, the involved party may or may not be in control of his faculty and we need to be patient and keep our own temper in check.

The reason why they are called accidents is because they were not expected or designed to happen. They just… happen and we need to keep our cool. Incoherence and provocation leads to road rage and when this happens, a plain accident leads to something else that would turn out to be regrettable.

Everybody is stressed, the hot summer days will test our temper and we need to be reminded to keep our cool. So don’t be too hard with others.

Cars are made to be bumped, scratched and dented and you just can’t help it unless you keep it securely covered in your garage.

Thank God you are safe and do not let a car dent ruin your day no matter how big the dent or how expensive your car is.

(Experience two inspiring days of leadership training with Francis Kong in his highly acclaimed Level Up Leadership on July 5-6 at Makati, Shangri-La Hotel Manila. For registration or inquiries contact April at +63928 559 1798.)