Reply #43: Two stories. Driving in town, suddenly a car 20 feet in front

[FailureToCommunicate]

of ours stopped and went into reverse. I saw the white reverse lights come on. I had our toddler twins aboard (and relearning to drive defensively) My honking didn't stop her car, in fact it seemed to be increasing it's speed towards us.
Time seemed to slow down... I put our car into reverse and moved backwards, looking in the rearview mirror to make sure no one was behind me. It was a four lane, usually busy, center of town. As soon as her bumper hit mine I braked to a stop, put it in park and ran to her window. I was assuming there're been some sort of medical mishap. The lady was elderly -well older than me anyway - and seemed confused when I asked why she had backed into me. She said she thought she was going forward. I saw that she was otherwise okay, the cars seemed undamaged, and stood there till she put her car in drive and moved forward. I didn't think to get her plate number or report it.

The second incident just happened the other day. A friend of my sons -now teens- had just gotten his license and offered to drive friends home from a dance party (where there was no alcohol) The kids that got a ride with him later said that he drove the whole way with the parking brake on, and only realized it -despite the warning light- after braked started smoking and they smelled it.

I guess my point is young, or old, misjudgments can happen. We are only human.

Glad you and your son are okay.