It all happened so fast…
The road is a familiar and comfortable friend. We recently spent over 12,000km together over three months on a Queensland research tour. I developed an early love for the road from driving across North America in my Navy days to traveling sales across the USA. Between the three of us – me, my car, and the road – we share stories, review past lessons, develop future plans, and just enjoy each other’s company for hours on end.
But yesterday reminded me that a relationship with the road should not be taken for granted.
I was returning from Toowoomba to Ipswich – a quick 80-minute trip on a sunny Queensland winter afternoon. My thoughts passed easily between the playing audio book, new developments from the morning’s meeting, and the planned afternoon phone calls. The imperial speedometer in my 1970 VW Karmann Ghia wavered around the usual 60 mph mark, close to the metric 100km speed limit.
This is my second Karmann Ghia, the first being a 1969 model I drove on the US west coast in my 20s until rust took it in Washington. I take great pleasure out of driving a car I appreciate. I would not say I identify with my car, but more so enjoy the driving experience every time I get behind the wheel. It is like looking forward to eating your favorite meal or wearing those jeans that fit just right. Driving a classic car adds a sense of mindfulness to every journey, of being aware of the journey as much as the destination.
That said, my mindfulness did not extent to being fully aware of passing the flatbed truck. It was a pass, like thousands others. I cannot specifically recount what occured to see me resting against the guardrail. I can say that life is much different to a scripted action movie, even though my experience in the crash played out in slow motion like a movie.
One moment I was passing the truck, the next the car was shaking, and soon skidding backwards down the freeway to where I stared head-on into the truck I was just passing. It’s strange what goes through your mind in these moments. I recall thinking about turning into the spin to correct, hoping no one else would get hurt, feeling sorry for the driver of the truck who must be scared, and for some reason that in all the bumping and jostling that I did not want to lose my sunglasses.
The moments after the crash renewed my appreciation for humanity and the Australian spirit. A woman who happened to be a nurse rushed up to the car, asked if I was OK, and told me to stay in the car. The driver of the truck came up and we asked each other what happened (with blank faces either side). Other people got out and directed traffic and a few others came up and offered assistance. Ambulance, fire, and police services were minutes away. Our emergency response system is incredible. A tow truck driver was returning to Logan with an empty tray and offered his services. People and relationships can make any challenging situation better.
After a quick self-limb and neck check, I crawled out through the window and tried to figure out what happened. The car had spun around 180-degrees and the rear-left section was one with the guardrail. The right front wheel was blown and the right door had scrape marks where we bumped the truck and there were tire marks on the fender.
The best I can guess is they there was debris on the road or the tire blew out, although I do not recall feeling the tire go and my tires are less than a year old. There was a random tire tread, not mine, in the road in front of me – perhaps is got stuck under my wheel or came off a truck in front or the one I was passing?
I often consider the tenuous nature of our driving arrangements, with humans hurtling themselves down the road at high speeds in metal or fiberglass containers inches from each other. This may not have been prevented by autonomous cars, but they will make the roads safer.
As for the car, the assessment will determine whether it is a write off. It is unfortunate, as I just had body work done and a new paint job to clean up some issues developed on the Queensland trip before I continued a national tour later in the year. Ideally we will be able to get her back on the road as I am keen to keep up the numbers of Ghias in the system. If not, I expect I will pick up another and continue the life journey. I also considered whether I take the opportunity to invest in the electric conversion, but expect that will also need to wait.
We were very fortunate that no one was hurt. In the end, it is not about the material car but the experience and people to share it with. It is about our collective experience on the journey and whether the road is a better place for others to come as a result of our travels.
Finally, stay safe on the road. Whatever you may think you can do when you lose control at 100km, you are likely mistaken. It happens so very fast.
And try to hang on to your sunglasses.