Smash, you're it!

I was minding my own business, stuck in traffic at 16:00, when I heard the sickening screech of tyres. I was almost too scared to look in my review mirror, but the look of horror on the face of the driver next to me forced me to take a peek. And what I saw scared the living daylights out of me.

Behind me was this monstrous vehicle swerving across the lane, wheels spinning and smoking, heading directly for me. I was shocked and frozen as it slowly dawned on me that there was no way out. I was stuck in the far right lane on a three-lane highway, with cars in front of me and next to me. I had nowhere to go.

Amazingly, some sort of calmness came over me, and my mind immediately switched into survival mode. I heard my dad telling me once that if somebody's going to knock you, put the car in neutral to stop you from flying forward and knocking somebody else. And that's what I did. I pulled my handbrake up, put the car in neutral and put my foot flat down on the brake, just for good measure, because frankly, there was no way I was prepared to knock the expensive BMW in front of me.

And then it happened, the sickening crunch as metal hit metal. And as soon as it started, it was over. The actual impact is still all just a blur. I remember the first knock, and the second knock, I remember the other car scraping my car and pushing it over, and that's it. I don't know what happened to the other cars around me, I can't remember seeing anything happen. I think it's because I just kept my eyes tightly shut and only opened them once I knew for sure everything was over. And once it was, I couldn't help but say a prayer of thanks that I could open my eyes again and wasn't hurt.

I rolled my car onto the shoulder of the road, just sat in a daze for about 10 seconds and tried to force myself to get out and check the damage on my car. But like an angel sent from heaven, a police car pulled up in front of me and I realised that it would be ok. I could allow my shock to take over and I just slumped over my steering wheel and surrendered to the tears. This was my first accident and I had no clue what to do. And after losing two family members and a good friend to car accidents over the past five years, the full impact of what had just happened hit me.

I have to thank the police for stepping in and taking control of the situation. A kind lady moved my car out of the road for me and allowed me to make the necessary calls, while the policeman took down all the other driver's details for me, and made sure the driver also had all my details.

And then there was the really nice traffic cop who came to the scene and sorted everything out. He moved the entire accident scene further down the road to a bigger area, and stopped traffic so that we could get into the road without any difficulty. And the best was that when it was time for me to leave the scene, he stopped traffic again so that I could get into the road with ease.

Their helpfulness has certainly erased any doubt I had about the police and traffic services in Cape Town. They were nothing but helpful and so kind. Ok, so my car needs a lot of patching up and my neck hurts, but at least there were kind people who helped me get through this traumatic ordeal.

Afterwards, I thought back and wanted to kick myself for displaying such weakness at the scene. After all, I consider myself a strong, independent woman who has A mind of her own and doesn't need anyone to help her, but then I realised that at times of trauma, we turn to family and friends to help us and comfort us, and that it's ok to break down and cry.

We're only human, and I can tell you that nothing felt better than getting hugs from my close ones and being able to tell my folks again that I loved them. Ok, so I looked really stupid sitting on the barrier on the side of the road crying into my cellphone, but at least there was somebody on the other side telling me I was going to be fine - thanks dad!

So be safe on the roads this festive season, tell those close to them that you love them and appreciate your friends and family.

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