Tuesday, May 06, 2003

squinting?

I'm driving north along 2100 East near 1300 South at about 7:45 this morning. As I enter the intersection on a green light, an eastbound vehicle on 13th south fails to stop at her red light and enters the intersection. I swerve. She finally sees me and hits her brakes. We don't collide. She continues on eastbound up 13th. I continue on northbound along 21st, trying to put this together. Possibly the sun was in her eyes, she squinted at the traffic signal, mistakenly thought it was green and continued on her way. Fortunately, I wasn't distracted and had a quick reaction time this morning. Also fortunately, she slowed down as she came through the intersection. If she'd been going just a little faster or if I hadn't responded when I did, it would have been ugly.

I immediately thought of Jim Stewart's recent blog entry on his near accident on I-15 in Davis County. Jim's experience was more dramatic than mine, but I like the way he thought through it and chose not to let it anger him too much. If I hadn't have read Jim's blog I doubt that I would have cooled off as quickly as I did. I doubt that I would have remembered that I've also done some pretty dumb things and other drivers gave me the benefit of the doubt. Or there was some kind of unseen intervention. Or both.

p.s. Just went back and actually re-read Jim's entry to add in the above link. Jim, I don't think I quite gave you enough credit above. I see your entry actualIy had a great deal to do with my much-calmer-than-usual reaction this morning. Thanks.

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