tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8660690567853781399.post1700729123749409096..comments2024-01-28T05:06:34.857-06:00Comments on Kansas Department of Transportation: A Series of Wrong MovesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8660690567853781399.post-640380599573660342012-10-10T14:48:29.528-05:002012-10-10T14:48:29.528-05:00WOW. That was quite a ride.
My lesson in invulner...WOW. That was quite a ride. <br />My lesson in invulnerability at about that age didn't even scratch a fender, but had the same heart-thumping effect... it was quite educational. One of the other mistakes that young drivers make is that they should slow down - waaaay down when there is fresh moisture on a road which has been long dry. <br /><br />My adventure involved a couple of 360s on the Highway 1 road segment (California) knwon as Devils Slide... Its windy and very steep on both sides, cliff up and cliff down. There is nothing between the road and a 1100 foot sheer drop to the ocean except a very low earthen berm. It only slowed down cars already going real slow. We weren't. Taking curves at 3 am in a light drizzle, at a rate of speed which was fine at say 3 pm in the afternoon ended in near disaster. I had a handprint bruise on my right thigh were the poor schlub in the middle held on for dear life as I swung the wheel trying to regain control. I did, and we survived but it was close and quite educational. My pal riding shotgun had a matching handprint on her left thigh and for some reason the boy in the middle didn't wanna go up to Pacifica for pancakes after midnight anymore. Keep sharing that story - it one many folks need to hear. You are dead right its sometimes the little lucky and skillful things we do that make the difference between survival with or without damages and disasster. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8660690567853781399.post-46616628886204615752012-10-09T15:48:45.789-05:002012-10-09T15:48:45.789-05:00Steve,I am willing to bet all of us were a lot mor...Steve,I am willing to bet all of us were a lot more fearless at that age. It is a miracle we survive our teens. Unfortunately not all young, and not so young people, do escape with their lives in that type of situation. You, no doubt, look at life differently as a result of your nearly fatal experience. You undoubtedly feel blessed and I'm glad you have been able to share your lesson as you touch other people with your safety message. Karen Wagamanhttp://www.kansascontractors.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8660690567853781399.post-86978408132884034332012-10-09T09:13:16.097-05:002012-10-09T09:13:16.097-05:00Important lessons, if we'll only listen and le...Important lessons, if we'll only listen and learn. I've preached many of these same lessons to my children; unfortunately many of us are experiential learners and we have to learn the hard way. Glad that your lesson wasn't fatal. Thanks, Steve, for sharing your story.Kirk Hutchinsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8660690567853781399.post-46891335571662169722012-10-09T08:46:30.161-05:002012-10-09T08:46:30.161-05:00Steve, Thank you so much for sharing your story, I...Steve, Thank you so much for sharing your story, I'm thankful that you both escaped serious injury. In my driving years, I've had a number of close calls where I make a series of mistakes, but one thing or another went right, and I didn't crash. But I always come out of it wondering What if...? And each time I made a change to my routine driving behavior so that now I do much of what you recommend: I drive slower, I pay attention to the road, and I keep my hands on the wheel. I also try to anticipate problems on the road ahead of me: what if...a child runs in the road? ...the car in front of me has to stop fast? ...one of my front tires blows out? These 'what if' games help keep me alert. Thank you again for sharing your story, and I hope that folks reading it will take it to heart. Kristi Pylenoreply@blogger.com