04-20-2014, 05:06 AM
I think it's good to watch stuff like that from time to time, just as a reality check. Over the years I feel like I've developed a pretty good "spidey sense" for potentially dangerous on-the-road situations...but nobody's 100%, and the occasional reminder that we're playing for all the marbles isn't a bad thing.
For me, there are two times when I know I need to be especially careful: 1) Anytime I just don't feel "right" for any reason--whether I can articulate it or not; and 2) When I feel like everything's perfect.
I'm not a religious person, but I had an experience some years ago that made me wonder about guardian angels. I was riding on the freeway in very light traffic, good weather, middle of the day. Only one car nearby; it had recently merged and was maybe 100 feet ahead in my lane. Not super-close. All of a sudden, for no reason I could identify, the strangest feeling came over me--very uncomfortable, anxious; a kind of dread. Totally out of the blue, like nothing I'd ever experienced. It was powerful enough that I almost immediately backed off the throttle and started putting space between me and the car ahead, because that was the only thing around that might cause a problem.
Just a few seconds later, for no reason I could see, the car just *slammed* on its brakes: total panic stop, from 65 mph down to 20 or so in the middle of an empty freeway. By that time, I was far enough back that I swerved and went around with plenty of space. Would I have reacted quickly enough if I'd stayed where I was? I like to think so...but I also think there's a good chance I'd have gone for a short flight without wings. And that was back in my pre-ATGATT days.
Since then, I pay more attention to "gut feelings." On several occasions I've walked out to the garage, stood there for a minute, then turned around and walked right back in the house.
For me, there are two times when I know I need to be especially careful: 1) Anytime I just don't feel "right" for any reason--whether I can articulate it or not; and 2) When I feel like everything's perfect.
I'm not a religious person, but I had an experience some years ago that made me wonder about guardian angels. I was riding on the freeway in very light traffic, good weather, middle of the day. Only one car nearby; it had recently merged and was maybe 100 feet ahead in my lane. Not super-close. All of a sudden, for no reason I could identify, the strangest feeling came over me--very uncomfortable, anxious; a kind of dread. Totally out of the blue, like nothing I'd ever experienced. It was powerful enough that I almost immediately backed off the throttle and started putting space between me and the car ahead, because that was the only thing around that might cause a problem.
Just a few seconds later, for no reason I could see, the car just *slammed* on its brakes: total panic stop, from 65 mph down to 20 or so in the middle of an empty freeway. By that time, I was far enough back that I swerved and went around with plenty of space. Would I have reacted quickly enough if I'd stayed where I was? I like to think so...but I also think there's a good chance I'd have gone for a short flight without wings. And that was back in my pre-ATGATT days.
Since then, I pay more attention to "gut feelings." On several occasions I've walked out to the garage, stood there for a minute, then turned around and walked right back in the house.