Baby Part Two

"Baby" Part Two: Inattentive Driving


So you would think I would have learned after getting into three accidents with a cement pillar in a parking lot I would be a very cautious driver. Yes, that's right. Three accidents. Once with my mother's car, once with my dad's car, and once with my own car. Needless to say I don't park in that lot anymore, and I AM more cautious when I park. However, I have always been very nonchalant when it comes to driving.


A month or so after "Baby" part one happened, I was on my way to a Young Life small group at Andrea Morgan's house. (see Andrea's blog here: http://www.kandamorgs.blogspot.com/) it was a typical Sunday. I went to church with my family and was a helper in our twos and infants room for second hour. Gotta love the little ones (:

Later that day I did homework and contemplated whether I reallyyyy wanted to go back to school tomorrow or not, as I do every Sunday. And, as usual, I decided I did not want to.* At around 6:30 I left the house to go to Andrea's for our girls' cabin time. Andrea lives pretty close to my house, just a straight shot down North Ave mostly. She also lives pretty close to my old house where I lived from the time I was one year old until I was 16, so it wasn't like I was going to get lost on the way or anything.

I drove down North Avenue about a block and, as usual, was stopped at the first red light. And so to pass the time, I took my eyes off the road. You all know what I'm talking about, and don't you dare judge me because I know for a fact that most of you have done it at least once while driving.

They say that most accidents happen within a mile of your home.
They aren't kidding.....



So I'm keeping myself busy waiting for the light to change, and out of the corner of my eye I see a green light shine. Perfect! I think. So instead of looking up and then moving forward as I should have, I just went forward.
My car has a pretty good acceleration on it evidently.
Apparently that green light, was simply a left turn arrow and my light was still red. Crap.

So I accelerated straight into the bumper of the car in front of me.
My mind went blank. Was this really happening? I had never been in an accident with another car before.

So, having no clue what to do, I followed the lead of the short, heavier looking woman who I had just rear-ended. She got out of her car, I got out of my car (forgetting to put my hazards on of course). Since my mind was still blank, I couldn't think of anything to do besides start apologizing and crying...Pathetic. This woman probably thought I was 12 years old or something.
Thankfully, although she was mad she was nice enough to not start screaming at me or be mean at all really.

She called the police, I called my mommy.
Both came around the same time and the cop directed us to a parking lot near the scene. Of course, I received an inattentive driving ticket (although I did not say exactly why I was not paying attention. Texting & driving tickets are hundreds of dollars...oops I just admitted to lying. Stay in school kids!).


It's been a very long time since then and I have yet to have another accident. I don't text and drive anymore especially when I have someone in the car with me. It's one thing being told about the dangers of it, but it's another being involved in an accident because of it. You just feel like an idiot. The whole thing could have been avoided if you had just been paying attention.


Don't be idiots guys, don't be me. Don't let it take rear-ending someone or worse for you to realize that it's a dumb idea. Be smart. This is your life and the life of whoever you're driving. If you think you're grown up enough of know how to drive well, you should be grown up enough to know that text can wait.


Sorry for the public service announcement! Next time I'll make a commercial ;)
Love you guys!
XOXO
Jessie