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So last night as I was taking Sharon and Sam home, I almost had a collision with another car.
What makes it worse is I'm pretty sure I was at fault.
Now, nobody was hurt, and no damage done, so you could be forgiven for wanting to call that a good thing.
Not me.
I have always struggled with my focus and concentration, and almost all the problems I have had behind the wheel have to do with that, but today was a good reminder than a lapse in either while driving could have serious consequences.
Plus, now I have a brand new incident to join with my other flashbacks, so that's going to be fun . . .
ah, well. Hugs appreciated.
Comments
I do not miss
Driving much since this stroke put me in a wheelchair. If I were to regain the use of my left side of my body I probably still would not drive.
Yikes!!!
Me too. *raising hand* Ya don't want (no, really. You Do Not Want) the details.
It may be that night driving is 'no longer my sport'.
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As always, Huggles are on their way. Delivery is at the Speed of Thought.
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Just how fast is the Speed of Thought?
Consider the Big Bang (or the Creation of your choice.) Consider Now. Consider, a Star very close to us (yeah, =that Star=) entering it's Red Giant phase. Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars will be within the Sun's atmosphere. This will be in about 5 billion years. I just had your thoughts traverse some 18 billion years. =That= is the Speed of Thought.
Hugs!
Many of us probably know this kind of thing all too well. My own story might be painful to read so I’ll leave that be and say this again: Hugs!
Using public transport
Back in South America about 10 years back I came to the conclusion that it would be wise to restrict driving after dark to the absolute barest of minimums. Because the bright lights of the oncoming traffic were so blinding to me, and they had the tendency to pull me over into the opposite lane for a potential head-on collision. Not to mention the fact that bright, blinding lights sometimes tend to trigger seizures. Even driving in the bright noon sunshine, or worse even into a setting sun, also became a risky proposition.
After moving to Europe a few years ago, I learned that I would have to invest around 2000€ to transfer my drivers license to a lower class. And with the prevalent and well developed public transportation infrastructure, I decided to cancel my drivers license back in South America. Sure I have given up some flexibility and freedom. But I have also greatly alleviated my financial burdens.
As you well know, to travel in your own vehicle has a lot costs that are not so obvious at first: acquisition, fuel, insurance, parking space, maintenance, taxes, registration fees, license taxes, extra tires, etc. And since I have to option of using any and all local and regional public transit buses and trains (no high speed intercity connections) in the whole country for just 50€ per month, it just makes sense to me to use that option. And I have not driven a car since May 2021 when I was last in South America.
Though given how most of North America is so keen on venerating and worshiping the automobile to the detriment of a widespread public transit infrastructure, I can understand that giving up your drivers license can be rather traumatic. And if you have to rely on taxi services, it can also become expensive. Though I doubt that having your own car is cheaper. Mainly because when you own your car, you tend to do a lot of trivial driving around.
I Gave Up Driving
About a year ago when it became obvious that I was technically blind in one eye. The other eye is great but it means that I can't give proper attention on one side.
Public transport is not great in my city, but I've found Uber to be very good and I go shopping twice a week, which costs me about $70 (back and forth) to my favourite shopping center. That equates to about the same annual costs of car ownership and operation. The only thing is that you lose a little bit of flexibility.