Oversized Bumper Cars -- not so much fun it turns out

[greyias]

So, I was planning on making a very thought provoking post about Amazon-Fail, censorship (intentional or not), and how to make a proper apology (ie: "I am sorry. I am so sorry, we did not mean for this to happen. Please accept our apology as we attempt to fix this" over "It's a glitch, just hold on and it'll be fixed. Gawd.")

Sadly, those plans were cut short by being granted the opportunity to share with everyone yet another fun-filled car story, this time with direct involvement!

Not-so-long-story-short: I am fine.

Actually, it's not a very long, complicated, or nearly as hilarious of a story as the last one I was able to share with everyone. Basically I got invited, by the front bumper of another car, to join in a very minor traffic snare on my commute home this evening. I've been embellishing a little and calling it a "four car pile-up", but that's probably unfair, because there was very little piling involved. More like a slow-paced, domino effect of one car bumping the other, and with me at the front end of the train. Long story short, as it usually happens someone couldn't stop in time and slammed into the car in front of her, and that person hit the one in front of it, which was bumped forward and would have missed me had the driver behind me... not stepped on his gas?

Yeah, luck of the Irish, right?

Welcome home, Grey, we've missed you--*CRUNCH*

I was moving at a low-speed though, the person behind me wasn't going very fast either, so it felt more like a bump on my end than a full-on collision. Luckily, I leave an obscene amount of space in front of me usually, so the game of bumper cars ended with me. Since there were so many cars involved, we did have to wait for the police to come (and the obligatory tow-truck brigade... and the ambulance that I couldn't figure out if any of the other cars needed... and a few members of the toll road authority... for a second I thought a fire truck was going to join in, but it passed us up.)

Rather uneventful after that, as it was mostly waiting for the police report to be written. Other than a dent in my trunk and some scuffing on my bumper, my car is fine -- and I'm feeling no ill-effects myself. So for an unexpected afternoon full of bumper cars, I think I got off pretty easy!

Comments

[fic-kitty.livejournal.com]

Horaaaaaay crumple zones!

Though rly a bumper can't even quite be considered a crumple zone. Maybe more like a crumple... area? A crumple spot?

Glad you're well and have gotten a funny story out of it :P

[michelel72.livejournal.com]

Meep! Glad you came out of it okay and your car mostly so, and here's hoping you don't have a lot of hassle dealing with any aftermath. That sort of stuff is supposed to happen before the vacation!

And you're so right about Amazon. Watching that unfold has been interesting. I've been speculating astroturfing myself, and thinking that Amazon's extensive automation and offshoring were going to bite them some day anyway, but wow have they ever not been helping themselves here.

[sgatazmy.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you're safe and not injured. Welcome back!

[trystings.livejournal.com]

Glad you're okay and glad you're back and good for you to leave insane amounts of room between you and the car in front of you. That will save you a lot of hassle in this case. How was your trip?? (I'm browsing backwards on my flist, if you've already posted a 1000 word entry with pictures of leprechauns, ignore me)

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

Yikes! Glad you're not hurt. D:

[amalthia]

I'm glad no one was hurt.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Eep, glad it wasn't too serious. Real cars do not make good bumper cars.

[gnine.livejournal.com]

*ack*!! Glad no one was hurt and it was just a bump. Been in rear endings three times, and they are NEVER fun, cause there's just nothing you can do about 'em. I leave obscene amounts of space in front of me as well, but there's no way to control those behind you, ne? *sigh* But glad you're all right! *huggles*

[leesa_perrie]

*hugs* Glad you're okay and the car isn't trashed. I try to leave lots of space myself as well - it's always a good idea!

[aelfgyfu_mead]

Sorry to hear about that! I'm glad you're okay, but it's a hassle at minimum.

[twit1217.livejournal.com]

Holy cow. When you mentioned traffic snarl yesterday, I didn't imagine this. Due to the road construction in front of my office, I was thinking there was some kind of street repair going on or water main break that slowed traffic.

Glad you're okay. Ooooh, dent in the new car? That sucks.

I'm the same way about obscene amount of space in front of me. The vehicle behind me usually makes up for that though and is on my ass. And, no, it's not just my somewhat faulty depth perception. My sister's is fine and she's noticed it, too.

What's the deal with Amazon? I feel so out of the loop.