I wake up and realize that it is way too early for people to be moving around. I want nothing more than to sleep, but she has to go to work and this isn’t my place. Groggily, I get up and get my disheveled self together. We say our goodbyes and I get into my car at 7am. “What the Hell am I doing up anywhere near this hour?” I think to myself as I start driving and realize how tired I still am. I wouldn’t drive if I didn’t feel comfortable with my ability at that time, but that in no way means I’m in top racing conditions. As I drive the thirty minutes back to my house, I go into autopilot and look forward to sleeping in my bed for just a few more hours. Suddenly the car in front of me swerves from the fast lane into the carpool lane. I start to make some comment about jackass drivers when I see it, a parked car in the fast lane about 50 feet in front of me.

I have always prided myself on my quick reactions and decision making and this encounter has only strengthened that. I had the forethought to check the lane next to me and then make a quick escape from the deathtrap parked car before I slammed into it. I was definitely awake at this point. I tried to report the parked car, but by the time I got the CHP’s number it had already been reported. As I finished my drive I kept thinking about how lucky I had been to have a quick enough reaction to escape a 70mph collision. I started thinking about things my friends had talked about, including Caleb’s post about bad drivers, involving these situations and realized a few points that probably kept me from harm.

• 1. I never drive if I feel like I’m not capable of making that particular trip, even if that means missing something.
• 2. I focus on the road and minimize distractions. I even bought a bluetooth connector for my car stereo so that if people call me I can answer it on the stereo and don’t have to mess with my phone for every call.
• 3. I actually listened in driver’s education when they said to always know what is ahead of you at least seven seconds down the road. I watch people’s speeds and driving patterns and keep in mind if I see someone going really fast, really slow, swerving, etc.
• 4. Last and probably most important, I have learned to avoid being a “deer in the headlights.” I don’t freeze up and make a squeaking noise when presented with a situation. I let my instincts kick in and react as quickly as possible.

Our Damsel and the Rabbits

One thing that has always baffled me in nature is when animals freeze up when presented with an immediate and impending threat. Deer are especially known for doing this, hence the famous saying. If you’ve ever driven down a road next to a farm, you will have undoubtedly encountered the frantic scattering of rabbits. They almost always find it safer in the crops, but like to venture out onto the road or across it. This causes a problem when a speeding car is quickly approaching and separating them from the safety of the crops. So, rabbits run as fast as they can back across the road to safety, which actually puts them into danger by crossing right in front of and sometimes under a speeding car. On the one hand, the rabbit is actively trying to escape a threat, but really it is just throwing itself into even more immediate danger. Its “flight” mechanism overrides its own logic or safety and all the rabbit wants to do is make it to the field at all costs.

Most of us aren’t immune to this phenomenon. When something loud or sudden happens in a room full of people, what happens? Some people immediately look for cover and some try to confront the danger if it’s obvious, but most scream or cringe and stand perfectly still. I’ve never understood the impulse to scream in the face of danger. It does nothing to improve the situation and only singles the person out further. I know that it’s caused by fear overriding your ability to react, but it seems like something that if I did on any regular basis, I would definitely want to work on it. I think that all it could really take is learning how to be productive when frightful. If you are one of these people and find yourself about to scream or tense up, just do something. Do anything. Anything is better than doing nothing. This kind of action will help you keep calm when presented with something as I was the other day, in that case a parked car in front of me as I was going 70mph. Instead of freezing up, react. You will be much happier and more likely alive.

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Filed under: Thoughts by Cory