Driving Adventures - Part V

Today, while I was driving to work, the traffic suddenly became slow. After few moments I realised that an accident has taken place ahead.
A while later, I crossed the spot or accident and saw a man sitting on the road and people were trying to help him to get up and guide him to the side of the road. He wasn't much injured maybe just shaken up.
Somehow, it reminded me of another accident victim ....

Few years back, I used to drive around the city extensively as that was the demand of my work. On one such occasion I was on my way to a meeting during the afternoon, I was running late and the traffic was not cooperating. On a particular stretch the traffic was painfully slow. I was in the middle lane and it seemed to be moving fastest. There was a mini-tempo ahead of me which suddenly stopped and cut to the left and I pressed the accelerator harder to speed up but applied the break immediately. Right in front of my car was a man, lying on the road and covered with blood for nobody knows how long! There were many people around but everyone was a mute spectator. I don't know what happened to me, I jumped out of the car. I had no idea what I would do. The man was shaking violently and was in pain. A scream escaped me and I shouted at no-one in particular to help me get the person in my car so that I could drive him to the hospital. Suddenly it seemed that a trance was broken and many rushed to help. Few more drivers stopped their car and someone told me that I should step back and he would take the injured man to the hospital and before I could say anything, he guided others to put him in his car. Two more people from the crowd volunteered to go along to help and assist. I waited till the car left with the injured man. After they left it stuck me that I should have taken the number of the man with the car so that I could later ask him about the injured man's health.

I do at times wonder if that man survived or not ...

Earlier posts....
Driving Series:
Prelude
Part-I
Part-II
Part-III
Part-IV

Driving Adventures - Part III

This incident happened more than a year back but is still very fresh in my mind!

The work day ends & I leave for home. Like always, there is traffic.... Heavy traffic.
On my way back I had to take a right turn from a signal under a flyover & then move on to go on another flyover.
So, I take the right turn and move further. The traffic is slow moving and then it stops. Something seems to have happened in my lane. I was in such a position that I could see the three cars ahead of me. We were at the beginning of the flyover. The first car had stopped & there were two cars behind it & then me. It soon got clear that the person driving the first car had recently learned driving and was unable to move the car ahead. He was on a point where the road was elevating & everytime he would try to move forward, due to the slant, the car would start moving backward & he would apply the brake. So, till this guy moved, we were stuck. The guy in the second car got down & went up to the first car & said something. What followed was something rare you see in a fast moving city.

The man in the second car asked the first car guy to slowly let his car come back till he touched the second guys car! Once that done, the first guy's car wouldnot run back and he could take his time to accelerate & move again.
Somebody letting a new driver hit your car is not an everyday event.
I developed high regard for the gentleman driving the second car.

The pile up resolved & we continued our respective journey. Further ahead I had to stop at another signal, take a right again & get on to a bridge. I was first in the line of waiting cars & as the signal changed, I moved ahead. Suddenly from nowhere a bike appeared & came right infront of my car. Thankfully, I have good reflex & I applied the brake just in time.
This behaviour irritated me & I accelerated to catch the bike. I managed to do that, cut infront of the bike & stopped. I got down from the car & gave a piece of my mind to the person on the bike.
The bike rider seemed to be in his own world & said, "Why are you so upset, nothing happened". This angered me and I told him that, since nothing happened today, was it ok to drive the way he did? I added that, if we would have had an accident, nothing would have happened to me, the car would have got damaged & I could get it repaired or bought a new vehicle. But, what about the biker himself? He could have injured himself badly or got killed. Would his family go to the market & buy a new guy?

The whole discussion in the middle of the road had lead to another pile up behind us. Just then I heard someone very politely say, "Excuse me ma'am, let it go, they will never learn". I turned around in my agitated state to give a piece of my mind to the defender of the biker.
It was the same gentleman who had helped the new driver earlier. My anger/irritation melted seeing him. I said, "I think you are right" & started moving back towards my car. Just then the biker spoke & apologised.
I was slightly taken aback. This man who was till a second ago fighting & arguing with me suddenly seem to have turned a new leaf!

It was, I believe, the effect of the gentleman. Some people are healers & maybe this gentleman was one of them.

I have travelled on the same route many times but never saw the gentleman again!


Earlier posts....
Driving Series:
Prelude
Part-I
Part-II

Driving Adventures - Part II

Another hectic day at work comes to an end! I step out of office & it's dark already. Its not too late but, it's a winter month so by 5.40 the sun has set already & traffic is at its 'peakest'!

As always, my music gives me company & keeps me cool through the maze of traffic. I come down the last flyover on my way & again, as always, instead of going upto the signal to take the left turn, I turn into the slip road. The slip road has few potholes but is still faster & traffic free.

The car infront of me seems to be reluctant to reach where it's suppose to but I am not in a mood to overtake it. The car's driver suddenly decides that he needs to take a left & does so. I am a bit taken aback by the sudden swaying of the car. My speed is very less so it was ok & I was at a safe distance. Some people, I think!

There is a car coming towards me from the opposite direction & the one behind it is desperate to overtake! I calculate that if the second car does decide to overtake, he would hit me head-on. So I move to my left slightly. Guess this was my mistake. The car which was desperate to overtake, overtakes & there is no place for me to move further left. The car hits! Thankfully not head on.. The car hits my car on the side starting from next to the headlight to the tail-light! My rear view mirror flies off & the door glass bursts on my face.... The car slows down but doesnot stop & then speeds away!

Fortunately, I am not hurt other than a slight throbbing on my right cheek due to the impact of the door glass breaking! I am filled with glass from head to toe. There is no point if I stop & get off my car. So, I drive home. Access the damage, feel bad & upset. But, what is done is done.

Driving the car next day morning is now a challenge! It's cold & I don't have a window! Anyhow I drive to work with Jacket, muffler & gloves on!
The mechanic is contacted & car repaired in few hours. Other than few thousand rupees, I did lose my confidence a notch.

It's all history now! I still wonder if the other car had stopped, what would I have done to the driver.. Hit, abuse, called the cops or made him/her pay up... Maybe, I would have just let him/her go!


Earlier posts....
Driving Series:
Prelude
Part-I

Driving Adventures - Prelude

Image via Wikipedia

I love driving!!!!

I believe that I belong to that rare breed of people who enjoy the drive even within the city limits!

One tends to observe, note, encounter many types of situation, people & reactions while driving. I would be starting a series on my encounters/incidents/accidents/experience while on wheels! Some I'm sure would be fun, some amusing & maybe a few sad ones too!