A Hummer took a bite out of my Protege!

[rocktivity]

I've seen SUVs do gymnastics before--the reasoning seems to be, "So what if the roads are starting to get wet? I can keep doing sixty because I have four-wheel drive!" So when I saw a Hummer 3 in the westbound lane execute a sudden U-turn ACROSS THE GRASS MEDIAN into the eastbound lane (regrettably, I missed its opening spinout), I floored my Mazda Protege and almost made it.

I didn't feel a thing--just heard a bumping noise. I was already in the far right lane, and I wasn't struck hard enough to be knocked out of control, so I just eased onto the shoulder and slowed down. Then I looked out my back window and saw three completely totaled cars (along with the Hummer) and three more with major damage. My driver's side tail light was knocked off, with some dents around the gas tank door and trunk.

After giving my info to the cops (one seemed quite surprised that I kept my license, registration and insurance in one place in my wallet), and watching a victim get cut out of one car via the roof and get helicoptered to the hospital, I left-turn hand-signaled my way home.

My insurance company's web site must have e-mailed me my forgotten password by now.

:(
rocknation

[flvegan]

1. Wow. Lucky.

I hope the injured are okay, and the totaled are insured, too (and the driver that caused this, jailed).

I have a Protege as well, and I love it.

[BlueStorm]

2. Awww...

at least you are ok RockNation. I know how bummed one can get in an accident. My car has been dinged up a few times and since I only got PLPD I can't do much about it.

I hope everything goes ok with your insurance and all.

I have you in my thoughts.:pals:

[nuxvomica]

3. I'm glad you got out without serious injury.

I hope the others mend well. But a little OT, aren't Protege's great? I drove a Taurus rental recently and I was amazed how much better my '97 Protege handled after driving that car.

[seemunkee]

4. Quick thinking

Slamming on the brakes isn't always the smartest thing to do. Glad your unhurt and the car is relatively sound.

[rocktivity]

5. Maybe a special license is the answer

A regular driver's license doesn't entitle you to operate a motorcycle, limosuine, or truck. Maybe any vehicle with 4-wheel drive should require extra training and licensing, too, since you're sitting up higher and the braking isn't quite the same.

And the TV commercials for SUVs certainly don't help. You see them streaking up mountainsides, blasting through snowdrifts, skippling through mudholes, and channeling through rain and puddles--all at high speeds. I read once that you shouldn't go faster than 40MPH when your 4-wheel drive is on.

:think:
rocknation

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

7. Yeah, a lot of people with 4WD think they're invincible.

Yes, it is better for driving in the snow, but it doesn't affect your braking time in bad conditions. It just gives you more traction. The only thing I like about my Jeep is the 4WD during snowstorms, but I drive smart. I drive a lot slower than I do normally and I don't tailgate. It's amazing how many idiots seem to think if they have 4WD, they can go speeding through any weather. Plus, even with 4WD, pickup trucks don't handle as well because they don't have as much weight in the back.

I'm normally a very fast driver, but I seem to be one of the slowest drivers whenever it snows around here.

[Haole Girl]

6. OMG

I'm glad you had the quick reflexes to floor your car and almost make it out unscathed. All things considered, it sounds like you were the lucky one! Whew!

[Oeditpus Rex]

8. I don't think it's the 4WD

I think it's the size of those fucking things combined with modern safety equipment. Also, modern cars are so much better insulated than those of even 20 years ago, you don't really get a sense of the road.

I think we feel too safe in our vehicles these days.

[rocktivity]

9. Guess what happened on my commute this morning!

Nothing--for forty-five minutes. Traffic slowed to a stop, a couple of police cars went by the shoulder lanes, then a cloud of black smoke arose from around the bend. More police cars, fire engines, and ambulances went by, and the helicopter made two trips. Then, like the sanitation department after a parade, along came two tow trucks. All traffic was diverted to the right-hand shoulder while they cleared away a burned-out SUV!!!

:headbang:
rocknation

[swimboy]

10. I'm glad you're all right.

Good thinking and reflexes on your part. People drive crazily anyway and then we give them these behemoths and a sense of invulnerability and entitlement. Watch out!

:hug:

[Dude_CalmDown]

11. That really sucks but it could have been much worse.

Just imagine the people who have to converse with that asshole on a daily basis. Don't you feel better now?

[LibertyLover]

12. Glad to hear you are ok

but I'm sorry to hear about the damage, albeit slight, to your Protege. A couple of years ago I was driving my little Acura Integra to work. It was snowing and since I live just outside of Washington DC which, for some unknown reason, most drivers around here believe is located just a degree or two above the equator as far as snow goes, I was driving carefully. I was in the far right lane, driving at a reasonable speed for the road conditions (icy and slippery) when a large 4 wheel-drive SUV came up behind me at speed and started flashing his lights for me to let him pass. Um, excuse me, but I'm in the FREAKING FAR RIGHT LANE - I CAN'T GET ANY FURTHER RIGHT. I did not move. So the driver of the SUV got pissed that I was not moving onto the shoulder to let him pass, sped up and passed me, barely missing my left bumper, doing at least 65. I have to confess that I smiled when I went around the curve in the highway not too long after that and saw said SUV doing 360 degree spin outs all over the 3 lane highway. By the time I passed him, still in the far right lane and doing an appropriate speed for the weather conditions, the driver had managed to get his SUV stopped, without hitting anything (traffic, fortunately, was very light that morning) and was straddling the line between the middle and far left lanes. I did however refrain from waving at him as I drove past.