Danger

[Randy]

Have you ever been in danger?

What is the most dangerous thing you’ve done?

Which parts of our lives are the most dangerous?

Do you do things in your life to avoid danger?

 

[Dee]

Have you ever been in danger?
Yes.

What is the most dangerous thing you’ve done?
Sat down on the floor of a Nissan in my mom's boyfriend's car and went 120+ mph down PCH (not restrained).

Which parts of our lives are the most dangerous?
Driving.

Do you do things in your life to avoid danger?
Yes.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

I'd say every time you get in your car you are risking your life. Whenever you're crossing the street too. Cars are so deadly. Hard to avoid driving though, so you just have to accept the risks and be careful.

 

[Torque]

I once tried to alleviate my mom's nerves about flying by informing her that she is way more likely to die in a car crash and she drives every day so what's flying matter? It didn't have the intended effect.

Definitely the most dangerous thing I've ever done was drive recklessly on a country highway once many years ago. Nothing else even comes close. I guess the second most dangerous thing was when my brake line snapped while driving through New Orleans. Have you ever had that nightmare where you're standing with your full weight on the brake pedal and the car isn't slowing down? I lived it! And it's exactly like the nightmare. Cars, man.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Have you ever had that nightmare where you're standing with your full weight on the brake pedal and the car isn't slowing down? I lived it! And it's exactly like the nightmare. Cars, man.

That sounds pretty scary!!

Glad you ended up okay.

 

[Torque]

That sounds pretty scary!!

Glad you ended up okay.

Yes, so my plan was to find "a soft place to crash" (lol) because I didn't have much time to think about anything else, we had already blasted through one red light and were barreling right towards another that had cars waiting. I was standing on the brake with both my feet at that point. It was pointless and the feedback I was getting from the pedal was rapidly diminishing, which I learned later was because the brake fluid was draining out.

Fortunately my passenger grew up driving beater cars that failed him regularly, he'd done this before so he reminded me the hand brake exists. Duh! Used the hand brake to gently* guide the car into the nearest parking lot and called for a tow. My thoughts went from "how do I kill the smallest number of people in the next 5 seconds" to "well I hope this shoe store doesn't get too mad at me for taking one of their three parking spots " in what was probably the most dramatic tone shift of my entire life.

* When I tell this story I always make sure to say that it's vitally important to remember not to pull up on the brake too fast or you'll die. So I'm adding that here in case any younger people with less driving experience are reading. The hand brake/parking brake is a force multiplier. It is significantly stronger than the brakes you control with the pedal. Don't pull up on the brake hard. The force this will generate is equivalent to slamming your car headlong into a wall. The faster you are going, the harder you will stop. The anti-lock braking system will not work and it will not save you. Exert a calmness you may not feel and use small, slow, gentle pumps to slow the car and you will be safe. Practice in an empty parking lot while driving slow slow slow. Don't be like me and do it for the first time when your brakes fail.

 

[MrDawn]

Yes, so my plan was to find "a soft place to crash" (lol) because I didn't have much time to think about anything else, we had already blasted through one red light and were barreling right towards another that had cars waiting. I was standing on the brake with both my feet at that point. It was pointless and the feedback I was getting from the pedal was rapidly diminishing, which I learned later was because the brake fluid was draining out.

Fortunately my passenger grew up driving beater cars that failed him regularly, he'd done this before so he reminded me the hand brake exists. Duh! Used the hand brake to gently* guide the car into the nearest parking lot and called for a tow. My thoughts went from "how do I kill the smallest number of people in the next 5 seconds" to "well I hope this shoe store doesn't get too mad at me for taking one of their three parking spots " in what was probably the most dramatic tone shift of my entire life.

* When I tell this story I always make sure to say that it's vitally important to remember not to pull up on the brake too fast or you'll die. So I'm adding that here in case any younger people with less driving experience are reading. The hand brake/parking brake is a force multiplier. It is significantly stronger than the brakes you control with the pedal. Don't pull up on the brake hard. The force this will generate is equivalent to slamming your car headlong into a wall. The faster you are going, the harder you will stop. The anti-lock braking system will not work and it will not save you. Exert a calmness you may not feel and use small, slow, gentle pumps to slow the car and you will be safe. Practice in an empty parking lot while driving slow slow slow. Don't be like me and do it for the first time when your brakes fail.

Damn. Just thinking about what you've been through sends shivers down my spine. I fell asleep behind the wheel once from my sleep apnea. I woke up and found myself speeding down down a hill off of the highway. I hit the break and the car stopped and I was able to safely go back up the hill. Thankfully there were no trees and the grass was mowed. It really scared the shit out of me.