Yes. Today, it finally happened. I couldn't believe it. It was one of those things where you just think "that sort of thing just won't happen to me". Then it happens.

First, let's just clear this up. I'm 17 years old, and I don't have my license yet. I'm driving on a learner's permit. I should have my license within another month.

The irony of this just amazes me. I was driving (with my grandfather as passenger) to driving school. I come to an intersection which is maybe 3 minutes away from my house. I'm doing the speed limit, 35 mph. I'm a good driver; I don't speed, and I have yet to make a major mistake. So the light at the intersection is green. I drive on through, minding my own business. As soon as I pull out past the white line at the beginning of the intersection, the light turns yellow. Well, my town is covered in those god damned red-light cameras, which takes a picture of you if you run a red light. I was worried I wouldn't make it in time so I push hard on the accelerator. I'm probably going 45 through a yellow light.

There's a woman on the opposite side of the intersection, getting ready to make a left turn. I saw her, and I saw her turn signal. I obviously had the right of way. The next thing I know, this woman makes her turn WAY too early, doesn't yield; doesn't even LOOK at me at ALL. She pulls right in front of me as I'm doing 45 trying to beat the light. When I see her, it's too late. I slam on the brakes and swerve to the right, hoping to slide the car to the side and avoid collision. But nope.

I run right into the side of her car. My right headlight is destroyed and the bumper is dented and mangled. My car had to be towed away; she was able to drive her's home just fine.

Being the noble guy that I am, I immediately threw my car into park and jumped out, which was a stupid thing to do now that I think of it. I could've been injured and not realized it. I run up to the woman and ask if she's okay; she is. I'm fine, too. The police come, time passses, and she is eventually charged with failure to yield. I wasn't at fault, and I'll still be able to get my license without delay. Luckily, there was a cop just a few cars away when it happened, who saw everything. If it wasn't for him, I would be the first to blame, since I'm the teenage driver without a license.

Now I have to deal with all these damn legal issues. People will be calling me asking for what happened, I have to make statements, and I'll probably have to appear in court. All because some dumbass woman didn't feel like looking straight fucking ahead of her. 90% of driving, I've learned, is being able to predict other people's mistakes on the road.

Still, it could be worse, and I'm thankful no one got hurt. So what bad driving experiences have you guys had?

Goddamn that sucks man, that must have been scary! Luckily I haven't had an accident yet, although I've had some close calls, once I even pulled into a parking lot and sat there for a minutes because I was all shaken up.

Do you know how much it's gong to cost to repair your car?

That sucks but dude at least you're not at fault. It would be much much worse to have gotten something like that on your record.

Today, I Had My First Car Crash

This is not a good thing to say

Wait... you were doing 45 in a 35? How are you not somewhat to blame for this? Did the cop see you going 45?

I dont' think so.

45 is just an estimation, though. The point is I was just going faster to make sure I cleared the light. Because of that, if I hadn't hit the brake at the moment I did, someone probably would've gotten hurt colliding at those speeds.

So I was sent a crash report in the mail today.

The woman I hit said that she was in the middle of the intersection (I don't think she really was. I remember her being in the turn lane still.) waiting to turn when the light turned yellow. So she tried to turn really fast so she wouldn't get stuck in the intersection at a red light. So it was either turn then or get mashed by cars coming from her left and right. That's why I don't pull into the intersection when I turn left unless I can clearly see a break in the traffic ahead.