October 26, 2015

Be Careful Out There


image: skyloader 
By Crabby McSlacker

This post is going to be a bit of a downer, sorry. It could be disturbing to read. (And not just in the usual way my rambling prose, illogical conclusions, and inconsistent adherence to rules of grammar are disturbing. I mean sad and sobering and depressing in a bigger sense).

But a semi-abandoned blog seems as good a forum as any for me to process stuff "out loud," right? As they say, blogging is cheaper than therapy.

And when life slaps you in the face with a graphic warning of the horrible ways in which one momentary lapse in judgment can have huge consequences, it feels important to take it in. And even share that warning more broadly, however unpleasant the reminder might be.

Gosh, sounds like a fun blog post, huh?

So here's what happened:

We were driving back home Friday afternoon on the main highway that runs the length of Cape Cod, on the last leg of a trip we took to New York City. We were on a section where the road is two lanes in each direction, with businesses on either side.

A cyclist was up ahead looking to cross the road.  You know where this is going now, right? You may want to leave it at that and just remember to be careful on your bike and skip down to the usual cranky editorializing below.

Anyway, if you're still here: the road was busy in both directions, and with four lanes, even apparent gaps in traffic were hard to judge. We felt nervous even seeing her standing there contemplating a crossing.  There was a traffic light further down the road; while it was a ways away, it would have seemed a better choice.

We were both horrified to see the woman suddenly ride off into traffic and go for it, trying to reach the other side of the road.

She didn't make it far. She was struck and thrown shockingly high in the air, it looked to be 12-15 feet, and when she fell back down and lay there not moving we feared the worst. Like many others, we pulled over; I thought about offering to help with CPR but others closer were already heading over to help.  (Thank goodness; I've been trained but my skills are purely hypothetical).

I am not a person who is calm under pressure.  It took me two tries to type in my 4 digit phone password to dial 911, my hands were shaking so badly. Once I did, it took much longer to get connected to the right local dispatcher than I would have hoped. From her questions it sounded like no one had reported it yet. Fortunately my wife has a clearer head and a better sense of geography and could tell me exactly where we were; had I been on my own my report might have been far more muddled.

After we'd given all the information we could, we left the scene; bystanders were directing traffic and doing CPR; they apparently managed to keep her alive until some time before she reached the hospital. But she didn't survive.

Reading about it later I was especially depressed to discover: the cyclist was one of us.

And by that I mean she was a responsible, mature, active woman, who cycled and hiked frequently and was described by a family member as a "health nut." She was in her early sixties and was out there biking instead of driving because, well, she's the kind of person we are. We know why we do stuff like that.

I'm fairly sure I wouldn't have made that particular decision to cross the highway at the place and time that she did. But I'm sure it looked safe enough to her or she wouldn't have done it.  And how many times has impatience led me to do something arguably slightly risky as a cyclist, or a pedestrian, or a motorist? Countless times.

This was a sobering reminder of how high the stakes are when you cut corners with personal safety. There are few instances I can think of where being a few minutes late would be worth risking your life, and yet I suspect we've all been guilty of being slightly less vigilant than we should when in a hurry.

It sounds like she was a lovely woman; I can't imagine the grief all who knew and loved her are experiencing right now. And the trauma the driver has undergone: she was terribly distraught at the scene even though there was nothing she could have done to prevent it. We were only a few cars back, it could have just as easily been us who collided with the cyclist. Even just being bystanders has shaken both of us up a bit.

I really wish I hadn't seen the collision. On the other hand, might the horrifying memory save my own life one day?

In Defense of Caution As A Mindset

In the health and fitness world, we are constantly being urged to challenge our fears and expand our comfort zone and to "go for it."


image: pixabay

It is seen as somehow not living up to our potential if we avoid high risk sports, or refuse to walk or hike or cycle where there is more than a miniscule chance of something terrible happening.

In my own personal evolution, I've become much less of a worrywart. I've acquired more confidence in my own skills, and in the low probability of terrible things happening to me.  Which is mostly a good thing! And yet as a result, I probably take more risks than I used to.

I'm rethinking that now.

Are you guys pretty careful out there? Have you ever experienced a compelling reminder to use more caution?

35 comments:

  1. Crabby, what an awful thing to witness, but good for you for writing about it.
    A similar thing happened to me, though nowhere near as sobering. About 30 years ago in downtown Edmonton I watched a woman, likely in her forties and dressed in a nurse's uniform, cross against a light. A car made a left turn and smacked into her. She was thrown about 10 feet and her wig was flown about 12 feet.
    She got up right away, cursing. Most of the cursing was self-directed.
    Never cross against the light>

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    1. Thanks Leah, and I love your story, especially the happy ending!

      I can't say I'll never cross against a light, but at least I'm going to be 100% sure no one is coming. Not 98% sure or 99% sure. Thanks for sharing that!

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  2. Oh man, what a terrible thing to happen...and to witness? I can't imagine how horrifying that must have been. I'm pretty cautious when it comes to me vs motor vehicles while I'm running, but I will admit to jaywalking instead of waiting for the light to change. There's no reason to do this, and your post is a sobering reminder to take the time to be careful, for sure.

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    1. Well I'm a jaywalker too Shelley, and I think it can be a reasonable and safe thing to do when extreme caution is used. But... how easy it is to get too overconfident about it!

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  3. So sorry for everyone who was involved with this tragedy!

    We all have to find our own way when it comes to your question, I think. The world will tend to constrict us as we get older and it's important to push back against that, yet make reasonable decisions as to our safety.

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    1. You strike me as one who balances risk-taking with common sense, Dr. J!

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  4. Oof. That's harrowing.

    I'm pretty sure that the word "careful" would show up in the top 10 words people might use to describe me. And yet still, I know there are times when I've crossed against lights, etc. to save some time. It's never a bad time to remind ourselves that we have to balance risk, and if it's me against a large metal object, I am never likely to win.

    Be well, Crabby.

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    1. Thanks OTF. (And "cautious" would probably be on my top ten too--if there weren't so many synonyms for cranky on it!). I bet you are extremely careful and don't need the reminder, but you're right, it doesn't hurt to be reminded how high the stakes are when we go up against a moving car.

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  5. Someone I admired deeply and had known for decades died in a back country accident a few years ago. She was early 60s as well. I have never forgotten it. I did change my life and I never even saw her fall. I am actually more reserved than many of my back country peers, so it didn't change me much in that regard, it was more of a "life can be abruptly" over sort of experience. The world is a lesser place for her dying.

    Because of your background, I think you know the image and the experience will have an impact on you that you may have not even fully felt yet. I feel sorry for her, sorry for all the witnesses, sorry for the person that hit her. Terrible all around.

    Take care, Sam

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    1. I'm so sorry about your friend who died QD. So wrenching. And yeah, while our own stress seemed minor compared to the impact on the people actually involved, we were both pretty freaked out after seeing it all unfold. Fortunately the Lobster and I spent a lot of time talking and processing in the hours afterwards, which I think goes a long way in helping to keep the memory from messing with our heads.

      Thanks Sam.

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  6. PS
    I do think we need to take some risks to get the rewards that so often result, and to build our confidence. But the risk-reward ratio is super important, and too often not calculated. Save a few seconds by crossing against the light on a busy street? No matter how unlikely such a terrible outcome may be, to me, any such possibility outweighs any possible benefit. Surely we have all made hazardous choices ftom time to time. It is so sad that we must keep learning from such terrible lessons.

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    1. I was thinking of you DRG because you are the sort of cyclist who NEVER would have crossed that intersection, yet I still worry about you being out on the roads so much where careless drivers might hit you!

      Also, for some reason your original comment isn't showing in my version of the blog, I'll reprint here in case it's not just me:

      DRG original comment:

      Oh, how terrible. I do think cyclists generally take too many risks, at least in San Francisco. But I also understand the feeling we probably all share: that it was ok last time, so will most likely be ok again. But we really need to calculate the level of risk more thoughtfully. I am so sorry thinking what everyone involved is going through now

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  7. I have been contemplating lately how fragile life is, and how easily it could end. I was hit from behind by a truck long ago while on my bike. I suffered a compression fracture and a concussion, but I survived. It has changed the way I live. I am so sorry you witnessed this and have sincere sympathy for both the victim and the driver. :-(

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    1. Oh no DJan, your experience sounds horrible! Glad you survived, but sounds very traumatic. I do wish we'd put more resources into safer routes for bikes; this country is far too automobile focused.

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  8. Locally a young woman cyclist was killed when a boat trailer dislodged from the truck towing it and hit her. I will not ride on busy traffic streets. I don't know if the boat tower was legally charged.

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    1. Oh my goodness, what a horrible thing, sharon!

      As it happens, I was just starting to contemplate doing more street riding lately, but after seeing the accident this weekend I'm beginning to think that sticking to dedicated bike trails might be safer.

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  9. Ouch...sorry you had to witness that. But you are right....it could save your life....or it could save one of our lives....as we have received the reminder through you!

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    1. Thanks MaryFran, and yeah, there's something about a "real life" event that is way more powerful than a hypothetical probability.

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  10. I'm sorry you went through that. Gives a little bit of the shakes reading it.
    I am super careful to the point that I often resent the restrictions I put on myself. My family and I would love to ride bikes and walk beside the country roads up at the cottage like many other people do but there have been too many accidents. In the city I have to cross the on ramp to a highway to get home and everybody that bikes talks about the horror of that bit of road. Nobody has been hit there to my knowledge but I am really getting fed up with asking the city for a change. They have painted the bike lane in glow in the dark green but cars buzz through the lane at high speeds anyways. They are focused on getting up to highway speed. Every few months it gets to be too much and I stop biking for a while.

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    1. Cindy, I so hear you on the frustration of not being able to do what's "healthy" by biking when roads are so dangerous!

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  11. These sorts of events are certainly good reminders that none of us are invincible - it *can* happen to us. Thanks for the reminder Crabby.

    Life is full of risks though - and sometimes the benefit does outweigh risk - that's for each of us to determine for ourselves. It's the other way around that doesn't work.

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    1. Good point LuckyMama--most often the risks of an activity are so small and the rewards so high it doesn't pay to worry about it! And living a life of fear and sloth comes with risks as well.

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  12. Crabby,
    I'm sorry you went though that, it sounds terrible.

    Your cautionary tale is valuable. I'm not exactly a thrill-seeker, but I can certainly think of times that I probably took an excessive chance, and usually for no good reason.

    Dave

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    1. I suspect you are very sensible in your approach to risk-taking Dave! But guess we can all use the reminder every now and then.

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  13. Terrible and shocking for everyone involved…especially the woman and her family and friends. Hugs to you and your wife as it must be hard to witness an accident like this.

    I won't ride a bike outside at all…too nervous for that. I am not much of a chance taker…for example the ocean was pretty rough during my recent visit to the ashram, so I didn't swim much (only three or four times in 16 days). I didn't even walk in it as another woman who was walking actually got dragged in by a wave she wasn't expecting.

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    1. Wow, sounds like a good call on the rough water, Kimberly. Because, yikes, getting pulled in by a rogue wave sounds like a terrifying and dangerous experience, hope she wasn't too freaked out. I'd be pretty shaken up if that happened to me!

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  14. Oh man, Crabby. I'm so sorry you had to witness such a horrible event. We really do throw so many hazards in our own way these days, don't we. I have dedicated my November to the idea of SLOWING down. Our October is always crazy busy and stressful (while also full of fun and delight) and it takes a toll on our health. It also makes us take chances we most definitely don't need to. So in November there will be limited events, a lot of home cooked meals, and time spent together as a family either on the couch watching movies or out walking our trails when weather allows.

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    1. LOVE the idea of a month dedicated to slowing down bdaiss! Especially since December is not generally known as a month bereft of obligations. A november chill period sounds like an excellent idea!

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  15. As the daughter of a Coast Guard officer I grew up knowing that life is full of danger and that safety regulations and guidelines have reasons. I've never been much of a risk taker--except when it comes to solitude. I've lived alone most of my life, and I walk alone in the woods, because those are things that are worth the risk to me.

    Mary Anne in Kentucky

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    1. Mary Anne, I had no idea your father was a Coast Guard officer, bet he had some stories!

      And I am a frequent solo hiker myself, as it one of those "worth it" sort of pursuits even if it does come with some risks depending on the territory. (Every now and then I get spooked by the prospect of mountain lions or bears depending on where I am, but it rarely stops me unless there have been recent reports of problems. Otherwise I go with "ignorance is bliss").

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    2. He went in the Reserves after the war, and had interesting active duties like attending New York City Fire College!
      I'm not so spooked by the prospect of mountain lions as of breaking or spraining some part of me essential to mobility and dying of thirst before anyone notices.

      Mary Anne in Kentucky

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  16. OMG!!! I am so sorry that happened & you witnessed it! I see a lot of this in southern CA with everyone in a hurry! Me, nope, I am very careful when I am out & about.... words of wisdom!

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  17. OH my goodness! Have no words. That's terrible. Ugh. :(

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  18. So sorry that this happened, and that you were there to witness. These things tend to stick with you.

    I am generally careful, but I have had a couple of scares due to moments of inattention/distraction, and even years later I find myself breathless just thinking about it. One small mistake can definitely lead to serious consequences.

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