It’s Friday afternoon. Just before 2pm. It’s sunny. My deadline is in. I’m on my way to the shops, planning to get something nice for dinner. The window is open, the radio is on, a chat show, a man complaining about dog poo on the beach. I put the indicator on to turn right, to drive into the car park I always park in, I slow, I turn and BANG… a car comes flying down on my right hand side, between me and the car park entrance… CRASH. 

The noise is loud. I scream. My body freezes. I see the man examining the damage to his own car. He scowls at me and begins to shout and curse. Streams of obscenities come out of his mouth, all fired at me. I am thinking: ‘I caused this crash, of course I did’.

Another man runs out of the car park and approaches my car. ‘Are you alright?’ he asks. I nod. He reminds me to call the police. That’s when I realise my hands are shaking. Shaking so badly, I can barely hold the phone. I tell myself: ‘You’re okay, nobody is hurt’. 

Meanwhile Man A is still shouting. Man B shouts at him: ‘Why are you shouting at her? You were on the wrong side of the road’. Man A and Man B continue cursing at each other. I am feeling calmer - Man B knows the accident was not my fault. I steady my shaky hands.

A woman driving out of the car park roars at me to move my car. I am blocking her way. She is also cursing. Man B stops cursing at Man A when he hears Woman cursing at me. He looks at Woman: ‘That lady was in a crash.’ He is pointing at me. Woman responds: ‘I don’t give a *** that she was in a crash.’ Man B responds: ‘Well, I don’t give a **** that you don’t give a ****’. 

Man A continues shouting and cursing although no one is listening to him now. Random people are staring because you know, it’s become a bit of a soap opera here. I call the police and move my car to the path. Woman drives off, cursing out the window at Man B - and at me. Man A stands in the middle of the road and angrily directs traffic, for no reason. Man B apologises for his cursing.

The policeman looks at the two cars: ‘I can tell he was 100% in the wrong’. Immediately, my anxiety calms, my trembling subsides. I really needed to hear it wasn’t my fault.

Things I am learning:

- Accidents can always be worse. The policeman’s words as he left the scene were: ‘No arms and legs on the road, that’s a good day’.

- There’s a lot of angry people out there. Keep your distance from them - if possible!

- My new-to-me car is only metal. I will learn to like it again.

- Angry people avoid responsibility: Man A is avoiding all communication with the insurance company.

- Whether at fault or not, it is possible to be kind.

- The crash has shaken my driving confidence. I hope it returns.

- Trust my gut. Don’t assume I’m always in the wrong.

Oh and one of the onlookers was so busy staring at the commotion that she collided with the police car! So, that’s another lesson: ‘Keep your eyes on the road’!

Safe driving to all Moodcopers today,

Salt Water Mum x

A Moodscope member