<Life Lessons from a Road Incident: Trust and Recovery>
Written on
Your Life On Four Wheels
You’ve completed your driving test. Do you think you're fully aware of the dangers on the road? Think again, especially when it comes to uninsured drivers and the repercussions of a traffic collision.
TRUST.
That's a significant word, isn't it? Especially when related to driving. You might be a responsible driver, but ultimately, you’re placing your faith in other motorists to act safely and not cause an accident.
> "It takes 10,000 bolts to assemble an automobile, and one nut to scatter it all over the road."
> Quotes about Bad Driving.
Hold on… not those kinds of nuts!
Curious about the number of uninsured drivers in the UK?
The statistics are startling:
> According to the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB): > - One million drivers are uninsured daily in the UK > - Approximately 3,000 uninsured drivers are apprehended each day > - 1.5 million vehicles have been seized in the past decade due to lack of insurance
> Forces Compare, 2021.
The Metropolitan Police Force advises that if you're involved in a road traffic collision, you must:
- Stop at the scene; it's a legal requirement.
- Turn off your engine.
- Activate your hazard lights.
- Check for injuries to yourself and any passengers.
- Exchange information with other parties involved, including names, addresses, and vehicle registration numbers.
- Provide your insurance details if requested.
But what do you do if you're in a ‘hit and run’ situation and can't obtain that information?
That's a tough question. Unfortunately, I discovered this firsthand last week when I became a victim of a hit-and-run incident.
Shortly after the collision, I penned a brief article about the experience, which was published in The Short Form on Medium. You can read it here:
You Think You’re Safe Out There?
You may consider yourself a cautious driver, but be wary of others on the road.
However, in a state of shock, I managed to guide my vehicle safely to the roadside, switch off the engine, and activate the hazard lights. I then ensured my passengers were unharmed and took care of any injuries.
Using the Global Positioning System (GPS) emergency system, also known as the automatic collision notification, I alerted both the local police and the motability collision support network.
Toyota Corolla Emergency Assistance (e-call system)
This telematics system utilizes the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), embedded within my car's onboard computer.
After that, all I could do was wait for the emergency services to arrive…
About an hour later, the local traffic police arrived. The incident occurred around 2:30 PM, but we didn’t reach home (just 35 miles away) until 9:30 PM that night.
I’m grateful to say there were witnesses who checked on us after the incident. One even witnessed the collision and kindly offered us food and drink while we waited, extending an invitation to her home.
> These witnesses also took the initiative to contact the police to provide their statements.
This proves that there are still compassionate individuals in our community who genuinely care for others.
Fortunately, despite the severe damage to my car, my wife, daughter, and her 11-month-old son were physically unharmed, aside from a few cuts from shattered glass.
But that’s only part of the story.
What about the mental toll following a hit-and-run incident?
My wife experiences PTSD, which she has detailed in two articles linked below. The first discusses her experiences with PTSD, and the second is an open letter to the driver who fled the scene.
PTSD: It Isn’t Something You Should Joke About.
My True Experience.
A Letter To The Driver Who Crashed Into Our Car Last Friday.
You Have No Idea What You Have Done To Us.
Car accidents can lead to severe consequences, particularly when PTSD complicates daily life. This incident has adversely affected my wife.
Our adult daughter, who has an 11-month-old son, is now anxious about going out. Her worry for her toddler, who was safely strapped in during the accident, has intensified her anxiety.
As for me, I’m frustrated by the fact that the hit-and-run driver left the scene without consequences. I currently feel apprehensive about getting back behind the wheel, despite reassurances that the incident wasn’t my fault.
Even with reminders that I’m a safe driver, I can’t help but wonder about those who don’t drive responsibly.
At least I can still find humor to help me cope!
Hopefully, the police will track down the driver and hold them accountable. Perhaps this incident will serve as a wake-up call for them.
However, the outcome could have been significantly different without the witnesses who came forward. Thanks to them, the local traffic incident police can now pursue the hit-and-run driver.
Thank you for taking the time to read my account today.
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Jonathan D. Townend, RMN. Top Writer in Space.