Some perspective on today....

[L Stegall]

Driving to work this morning, just a few exits away from the office, traffic was smoothly flowing when an 18-wheeler swerves into my lane. Fortunately, I was able to swerve onto the shoulder and avoid him, but glass, plastic and metal started raining down everywhere. Turns out there was a 2-car accident in the left hand lanes - one car went spinning across the NB lanes and the other (SUV) went over the median on I-35, flipped on it's side across 3 lanes of traffic. I guess the 18-wheeler I had to avoid was swerving to miss the car spinning across the NB lanes - it had it's entire trunk sheared off. Car jumps median on I-35 in Dallas | Dallas - Fort Worth News | wfaa.com | Local News This shows the car, in the NB lanes, which is circled, but if you look close, you can see the undercarriage of the SUV in the southbound lanes (to the left of the semi).

I am happy to be here. I almost wasn't.

[Debbi]

I heard about that this morning. Glad you are here as well.

[DigitalScape]

After that experience, you probably did not need a cup of coffee when you got to the office to "wake up".

[venchka]

Glad you are ok.

[Digigeek]

Just goes to show we live minute by minute.

Glad you're okay.

[L Stegall]

Thanks everyone - we really do indeed live minute by minute and that shows just how much so. I was just telling my assistant that if I had been 10-15 feet further ahead, I wouldn't have seen the 18-wheeler swerving into my lane fast enough to react to it (he would have clipped the rear of my car) and if I had been 10-15 feet further behind, I would have gotten nailed with all the flying debris. This is the second time in the past 6 months that I have narrowly avoided getting caught in someone else's accident (the other was in Ft. Worth, with other family in my car). Count me as a complete convert to hanging up the phone and driving when behind the wheel.

[venchka]

Working is too dangerous. We should all quit working.

[L Stegall]

Wayne, I wish!

My friend Jim said that clearly, it just wasn’t my time and that I must have some more good things to do, which is why he's a big proponent of procrastination. I tend to agree.

[texkam]

Wow! ... You should buy a lottery ticket.

[mmuhlenkamp]

Glad your okay, I think too many people forget to focus on driving when driving, myself included.

[venchka]

Originally Posted by L Stegall

Wayne, I wish!

My friend Jim said that clearly, it just wasn’t my time and that I must have some more good things to do, which is why he's a big proponent of procrastination. I tend to agree.

I'll think about that tomorrow. Or the next day.

[heathercaptures]

yikes! Glad that you are okay.

[Hanky]

Happy you survived that, those mediums are perfect for launching cars into the air.

[shutterfire]

Glad to hear your OK!!!!!!
Its scary sometimes with the traffic and MVC's in the metroplex. I drive a small convertible ft 6 ft 2 and weigh 200+ lbs Not a little guy. I joke with my wife a lot and tell her if anything happens just have them dig a hole and bury me with the car. she worries about me driving it and that some 18 wheeler wont see me. I will stop saying that. I sure don't want to make it a reality and don't need to increase her fear.

[Brains]

Originally Posted by L Stegall

Count me as a complete convert to hanging up the phone and driving when behind the wheel.

Just imagine if EVERYONE hung up the phone and kept their eyes on the road - less road rage due to inattentiveness. Less traffic congestion due to inattentiveness. Fewer lives lost due to accidents, caused by inattentiveness. We're all to blame for the very things we all complain about, yet we often do nothing to improve. Kudos for taking that step!

Its amazing how often, if you're actually paying attention, you will see amazingly stupid or clueless acts on the roadways. Seeing them and having a chance to avoid 'em is better than a phone call

Just today I watched a guy's hood wrap around the top of his car. The front of the car was already smashed up, which is obviously why the hood latch failed. Thankfully he calmly pulled into the turn lane and pulled of the road without any drama.