Every time I drive past a few bumped cars on a crawling freeway I think to myself, "Why can't people focus on the road while driving." I have never bumped into a car in front of me (did get real close one time in Mumbai when I almost ran into a stopped truck, but that is a different story, the truck fella was stopped in the fast lane and changing tires), atleast not yet, and I hope to keep that record intact. But this time, I am sitting in a stopped traffic jam on the freeway, I see a car's headlights in my rear view mirror, the car breaking hard, and immediately sense that it isn't stopping in time. Sitting like a lame duck, there is nothing I can do except embrace for the impact. How do I prepare myself for it? What am I supposed to do? I do what I've seen and felt is the most common thing to do - clench my eyes, hold on to the steering wheel, and await that dreaded metal-on-metal impact sound that is all so familiar with the number of accidents I have witnessed.
And then it happens, THUD! Followed by another THUD! This time from my car bumping into the car in front of me because of the force of impact from behind. Then there was a third THUD, the sound of me bumping into the car in front of me again, and I realise my foot is off the brake and my car is in motion. Slamming down on the brakes my first thought is, "Wow! No airbags!" I see the guy in the front car get out and try to walk to my car, but the cars around us have started moving again, and he does what seems most sensible at this moment - gets back into his car. The traffic around us is moving, and I sit here not knowing what to do. Looking back & forth I sense that everyone involved wants to get off the freeway, the fastest way being pulling over to the shoulder. We manage to maneuver ourselves there. Everyone steps out. I move the 3 of us behind the last car in order to keep us from getting smashed between one of our cars and the center divide, in case another car decides to join the party.
No one is hurt. I call 911. After confirming our location and no injuries I am asked the description of the 3 cars. A Mitsubishi Mirage in front, my Toyota Solara in between and a BMW behind it all. Wait a second, a BMW?! Over the past few years I have this thought brewing in me about BMW drivers. Driving a BMW seems a pompous proclamation of one’s recklessness. I once heard a fellow comedian comment on it, and I distinctly remember laughing hard at it.
I own a BMW myself, the difference - it's a motorcycle! I bought a touring bike. I remember the day I first walked into the BMW motorcycle dealership. Lo behold, the dealer offers me a 40 minute test ride. I ask him, "How come you allow test rides when no other Motorcycle company/shop does?" He said, "It’s because guys who come to us, who are thinking about a BMW, are a matured breed. They understand the thrills and frills of a motorcycle and have become responsible riders." What a paradigm shift! As a BMW Rider I am a mature, responsible person on the road; a BMW driver - rash, abrasive, reckless!
At the scene of the accident, we all exchange information and drive on. In the days that followed I heard quite a few people mention, "Thank God, you were not on your motorcycle at the time." WRONG! If I was on my motorcycle at the time, I would not be stopped in the traffic behind a car; I would be splitting lanes and passing all the stopped cars. Somewhere along the way I would probably see a few cars stopped in the middle of the freeway, bumped into each other, and think to myself, "Why can't people focus on the road while driving?!"
Friday, February 6, 2009
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