I know I complain about driving, a lot (see “Driving Frustration” and “On the Road”) but lately my South Florida driving adventures have hit an all new level. After some very close calls, I have actually become scared of driving, especially with my children in the car.
Five times (that I can remember) in the past few weeks I have been nearly side-swiped. Somehow cars just don’t see me and think they should come into my lane when I am already there. It happened twice just yesterday. The first one was when I was driving home from teaching with Doodle, only about ½ a mile from home at an intersection where I regularly walk. I was in the outside lane of a double left turn. The car in the inside lane decided they actually wanted to turn right immediately after the corner. I saw the car riding the line as we made the turn and then it continued to come over into my lane until the car was nearly in the space where my car was. I was forced to slam on the breaks, hard enough to send my purse flying forward, and scary enough to make me lay on the horn and shout words (many words) that I would not have said if my girls had been in the car. The person didn’t even flinch or acknowledge his/her mistake. I then noticed s/he had a “Choose Life” license plate yet this person nearly smashed into the side of my car where my newborn child was seated. So abortion is not okay but endangering a newborn’s life by driving recklessly is?
The second time yesterday I was luckily by myself. A car turned left out of a shopping center onto the two lane road going in the same direction where I was driving in the right lane, but instead of turning into the left lane, they continued into the right lane, again, right where I was. So again, I laid on the horn only this time I didn’t scream or curse, I cried. It scares me so much to have experienced this so often lately and to have it happen twice in a matter of hours put me over the edge.
I’ve tried to analyze what I may be doing wrong that causes this to keep happening but I can’t figure out how staying in my own lane and paying attention (thankfully!) to the other cars puts me at fault. I feel invisible and I am becoming terrified of driving with my children. Even now just thinking about the outrageous number of close calls we’ve had lately makes me tear up. I feel it is inevitable that I will eventually get smashed into and I worry for the safety of my two little munchkins that are seated by the doors. If we do ever get hit, I know it won’t be my fault because I know I am the safest, most conscientious driver I can possibly be but I also know I will forever have massive mommy guilt if anything were to happen to any of my babies while I am at the wheel.
Just read and I remember when we were in coral spring, FL and people for look when they change lanes we have a huge truck F250 and people would almost hit us I was like seriously