WOW!!!! Yesterday I was on the LIE driving towards Mellville at the time when traffic was relatively light, which means that traffic was traveling at about 70MPH pace. On the left lane the driver in front of me took advantage of the empty road in front and decided to speed up. And of course I kept pace and so did a large cargo van behind me. Keep in mind that the space between that driver in front and myself was plenty. Then right after exit 26 the driver started slowing down but suddenly started braking hard. Reacting to the changing situation I also braked very hard and so much so that the brake pedal was pressed flat against the floor. But that was not enough to prevent a collision. In a moment of panic I pulled on the hand brake, which stopped my car inches from the person in front. At this point my heart was pumping so loud that I could hear it. But this is not the end of the story: I had forgotten about the guy in the back. A mili second later I heard a loud screech: the van behind me couldn't maneuver anywhere and did not have enough space in front to come to a safe stop. Next thing I know that while braking he turned his wheel to the left causing van's tail end to swing to the right. He did come to the full stop but part of his tail was hanging in the middle lane. For about 30 second both of just sat there contemplating the "What Ifs" while trying to gather collective composure. What if that guy couldn't stop the car or didn't have the mind set turn the wheel in order not to run into me head on? I might have become a decoration piece on the van's grill. The guy in front of me had no reason to brake hard. He/she was probably just trying to get into an accident and collect on a settlement. who knows... I think someone's (probably parents') prayer saved me from what I think could have certainly ended in a fatal tragedy. Either his, his passenger's or mine.
you know mate, when i was reading your post , I literally shivered ... had similar experience ... in dubai a few years back... two cars racing and zig zagging the tracks ... one ahead of me , one almost next to me ... before i knew, the one ahead pulled a sharp brake and i hit into it ..seconds later the car next to me hit me at high speed ....
3 cars glided .. mine in the middle ... and i ended up sideways in between the truck lane and the middle lane... and the minute i opened my eyes , I saw a huge lorry containing cement bars just two seconds away from me ... the drivers side ( me ) would get hit from the side ....
that second ... remains unforgettable till date ... I thought i was finished ... said my kalma and life flashed before my eyes ... i was so numb and given up hope of being alive ...
the lorry hit my car's engine and in the bid to save me the driver took a sharp turn and the lorry overturned .... i was safe !
I didnt know i was alive until some people pulled me out of the car and started the usual aid for shock !!! the minute i reached home , i couldnt stop hugging my family thanking god that i was seeing them yet again ....