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Re: Seatbelts & Bumpers

To: <spitfires@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: Seatbelts & Bumpers
From: "Laura Gharazeddine" <Laura.G@141.com>
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 12:03:41 -0600
>>I'm sorry. I hope everyone was ok?
>
>Yes....they were only small shunts, only one caused any visible 

damage.
>
>>
>>I'd be curious to know the reason each had as to why they 

couldn't 
>>be bothered to stop when you did. For my own amusement.
>
>
>1, Stopped at an intersection. Red light. There were 4 Police 

officers jumping on a man in the gas station on the corner of the 

intersection. The woman driving the car behind me was more 

interested in the unfolding drama in the gas station than stopping 

distances.  She gave the excuse that her car would not stop!!!!!! 

 (I was not convinced!!) I recommended that she park the car, and 

get a mechanic to check the brakes before proceeding.  She 

declined my suggestions!!!
>
>2, Stopped at an intersection. Red light. (Does this sound 

familiar) 

Yes, it sure does! Each time I've been rear-ended, it's been 
because I was stupid enough to stop at a red light. I'm nervous to 
stop on a yellow anymore, as I see so many people going through 
the yellows without slowing, and going through reds.

Yes, I support the red light cameras. 

>I heard the scream of tires.......whack!! I jumped out 

to talk to the driver, who then declared that I reversed into 

>her!!!!!!!  When I drew her attention to the skid marks on the 

road leading to her tires, she did admit that it MAY have been her 

>fault!!!! (Unbelievable)

What is wrong with people that they cannot admit it when they are 
wrong?

>3, Stationary in a parking lot. I reversed into a vacant space 

and there was a space behind me. You guessed it! Some one reversed 

into the vacant spot behind me and straight into my van!! His 

reason....Shit happens!!  But there was no damage and he was twice 

the size of me.
>
>I am now convinced that the extra collision protection on US spec 

Spits/GT6's was essential to prevent them getting battered to 

pieces.  Is this typical of US drivers, or was I just unlucky??

Well, 3 in a 2 week period is a bit much, but I'd say it's pretty 
typical.

I've had some pretty close calls. Frighteningly close-as when I 
had stopped, turn signal on, to make a right. The traffic in front 
of me was stopped-and as we waited (I had a friend with me) we 
heard coming down the road the screech of tires. I looked at Chuck 
and he said-hang on! I white late model T-Bird sat within inches 
of my rear bumper-smoke coming off tires and brakes-and the guy 
flipped me off!

Another time, I was slowing, to turn into a drive-way. FOr this 
drive way, you realy have to stop and slowly proceed. Just before 
I put my foot on the gas, I heard the car behind me screech to a 
stop-it was a young woman-not more than 21-and she was laughing 
hysterically and pointing! My friends in the driveway said they 
thought sure she was going hit my car. And she was laughing! She 
thought it was funny!

Another time, on the 405, just after LAX, the car pool lane ends 
and merges into the far left lane. On a heavy traffic day, the 
traffic will slow drastically in throught there. A white Toyota 
filled to the gills with teen-age/college age kids came up behind 
me-stuck in wall to wall traffic and slammed thir brakes on-smoke 
came off the wheels. I was hanging on for dear life-and the kids 
were all laughing and laughing! 

To me, driving is a serious thing-even when it's fun, it's 
serious. How these people think that recklessness is soooo funny, 
I just can't fathom!

On the other hand, the guy who disregarded that I was turning 
left, sped around me and cut me off and was going so fast, he 
couldn't/wouldn't brake (as it would should how fast he was going 
in a 25mph zone)  lied to the cop as to the location contact was 
made (it was obvious as there was debris in the road from my 
car-which I pointed out to the cop. I remember he gave the guy a 
whithering glance!), and then gave false phone number, address, 
employer! He was driving a Chevy van and I was driving my 
Sentra-it was only 6 months old at the time! And I had no hair 
from chemo and looked an felt awful. I just sat and cried as he 
berated me for wanting to turn left into the parking lot fo the 
YMCA!

Anyway, I've had so many close calls over the years, that I 
consider an accident per car not to be too bad. Still, I'd rather 
have none at all.

Laura G.

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