h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

There's a very good reason I haven't gotten my driver's licence yet. All joking about being too lazy and whatnot aside, it's a simple premise - I'm afraid of cars. I don't have the confidence to drive, and it's a severe issue my even being in one. I'm never comfortable when I am (unless I'm nicely toasted, but that's another issue entirely), and I have real issues with the idea of myself being in charge of a good couple of tonnes of high-speed metal coffin. Sorry but no.

This has all come to a head, though, after having a car accident last night. The Housemate was turning right onto a main road, someone was coming directly straight on toward us and, well, you know what happens when two rather heavy objects try to stop in an impossibly small amount of space - space which both objects are trying to occupy at the same time. Inertia and physics and whatnot. Boom.

Suffice to say, I don't ever want to get in a f*cking car again.

No one was hurt, luckily. Very luckily. I would have been the one who copped the most had either of our vehicles been going at any great speed, given that we basically hit passenger front corner to passenger front corner. I'm glad for the fact that the Housemate's bonnet is (was) long and built to crumple. That didn't stop me going into shock, however, and completely breaking down in tears when I phoned my mother to let her know we'd had a car accident. And my neck's a bit sore too, but I'm alive and in one piece. Just awfully shaken up.

The Housemate's car is undriveable, so this means we have no car again. No more going out for us. And because it was his fault (He came out into the intersection without checking the traffic properly), he now has to pay a $1600 excess before he can claim on his insurance. Plus he's getting a ticket for dangerous driving or some shit like that. Yayfun.

I'm still all wigged out, though. As I said, I never have liked cars and this only reinforces my severe dislike of them.

Oh. And we got approved for the lease on the shiny, beautiful new duplex in Fairfield too, so we're moving in a fortnight - sans car. This'll be fun.

I'm a like leary of car's myself I got into a car accident going 120 & Walked away without a scratch. I know something was looking after me but I also know I wasn't saved for no reason, so I do me to the fullest & stay out of trouble as much as possible which is going really well I've gotten in trouble a little bit since then but I just learned from it & kept moving on while making sure I take care of myself to the fullest cause if I can't do that I won't be able to do all the other things that I do. Me-Hoe-Na-Lee-Moe-Oso-Na-Lee-New-Ma-boabow-Oso-6-Na-la-boo-Nabow. Tu-Toe-Re-Boa
From Zero

I was 17, standing in the back of a mini moke driving on some dirt tracks up near Foster when the driver lost control and went over the side of the track before hitting a tree. I went flying and theguys in the front would have been crushed to death if it wasn't for the roll bar.

This might have something to do with why i only got my license in my thirties when i was forced too due to Rebeccas impending birth.

Mind you i felt fine learning that time, whereas i felt a bit like yourself the other times i had tried.

So who knows, you might get over it eventually...or not

Poor

I know what you mean though - I swore years ago never to learn to drive - from what I can see there are enough idiots behind the wheels of cars already - and I can do without the aggravation that they all seem to go through

Not being a driver - I make a great passenger

One day I'll get my licence. It's more or less inevitable, and my intense and utter dislike of public transport makes it more or less a necessity. Just not anytime soon, I think. I'm still really just not ready to get behind the wheel.

That said, what gets me is that I seem to know more of the road rules than most of the drivers I see out there...

Firstly - I am glad that you are alright.

Secondly...it's understandable to reinforce a fear...though it's better to overcome it. Being a driver myself, I understand that there is a lot to know - I totally am aware that it is not only mine, but the lives of other people in my hands when I am on the road - not just those of in my car, but those in others.

I am not a person to drink and drive. Generally (last meet excepting) I will not drink if I am driving - only one or two if necessary - allowing time to recover. This meet we had was the first time that I have ever gone back on my word...and ended up having to get Tash to drive back to Parra as I did not want to get behind the wheel of my car, as I did not feel comfortable about it.

My friends and I are quite sensible about it, and everytime we go out, all of us take each other's car keys and refuse to give them back unless the person is deemed fit to drive - alcohol or lethargy or whatever influence they are under.

I totally agree that there are quite a lot of idiots out on the road, which is why I tend to be overcautious (to compensate, I guess). I used to live on a major intersection when I was younger, and after watching a few people die in front of me in horrific car crashes, it was enough to teach me to be a cautious driver (imagine if you will, an 11yo Shrillian vowing never to drink drive, or drive recklessly). In the end, it is up to the discretion of the driver.

If you feel that you are responsible enough to drive a car, then go ahead. You should be able to judge for yourself on how competent you are. I have a few friends that I absolutely refuse to get in a car with as they are atrocious drivers (drink drive, reckless, just hopeless in general - i am such a superiorist when it comes to being in a car - it has to be me driving!!!! )

Anyway, my point is - don't let it get you down....I love driving, and the only time I'll stop is when I physically can't. I've seen enough and been enough to know what can happen - but then again, lightning can strike me right now...fate is fate.

Shrillian