Oops.

[Dwayne Hicks]

Hello.

Its weekend again. But we don’t have a car so we can’t go anywhere. I had a message at about 5pm on Thursday afternoon from my wife asking me to call her. I had no money on my phone, so I didn’t. I was on my way to the shops to buy something for dinner, and I bought a voucher for my phone as well. She was only supposed to have two classes on Thursday, and be home by about 4:30, so with it being now about 5:30, and she had not yet called me from the home phone, I gave her a call.

She had had a car accident on the way home from university. Was going down a street, bumper to bumper in two lanes on the other side of the road, but her side was clear. All of a sudden, a banged up pick-up appeared right in front of her, going across the road. I suppose the guy was waiting for a gap, didn’t see her, then drove across the road. She hit his vehicle side on, then swerved off the road and hit a lamppost. Both airbags came out. She is alright – has bruising across her chest and upper arm from the seatbelt, a bruised and swollen nose, and a split lip from hitting the airbag.

The pick-up had about 20 guys on the back of it, they all went flying. Lots of broken bones, and the driver and passenger had to be cut out of the car. Our car has been written off by the insurance company. Police and paramedics arrived within minutes on the scene, and the police are filing a charge of reckless endangerment against the other driver.

So.

How’s your week been?

[Atlas68]

Wow! Glad to hear she's OK and on the mend. Sounds as though it may take quite a while longer for the group in the other vehicle. I was thinking how fortunate she was that SHE wasn't riding a bike. Yes, airbags can be brutal, but needed nonetheless.

[inspiron]

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but ...

Why does everyone accept that cars are required to be fitted with airbags, but then fight tooth and nail against helmet laws? Using the same logic that I'm hearing about "freedom of choice", shouldn't you have the option to buy cars without airbags, seatbelts and other safety equipment?

[Trapper]

Glad your wife is ok, Dwayne. Jeez you guy have had some crappy luck lately.

[Clint]

That's rough, Dwayne. I hope your missus is fine.

For the second time in a week, though, I see one of our members mention race in a situation like this, as though that particular group is more likely to have done what this one did. First I cringe, then I wonder whether you had a sound reason for doing it. What's the deal? Please tell me it's not outright bigotry. I can't imagine that being the case where you are.

[ELGOLD C50T]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

That's rough, Dwayne. I hope your missus is fine.

For the second time in a week, though, I see one of our members mention race in a situation like this, as though that particular group is more likely to have done what this one did. First I cringe, then I wonder whether you had a sound reason for doing it. What's the deal? Please tell me it's not outright bigotry. I can't imagine that being the case where you are.

Grroooosss!!! Where's the part that said "MY WHITE WIFE.....". I guess the writer didn't find it necessary to state her color. I'm certain there is forum for Biggots, Racists and othe Idiots out there where he can share his feelings. This is a bike forum and should not be polluted with this type of trash. Maybe all this bad luck is just a result of his own hatred.

[Trapper]

Easy now. He's in South Africa, and although they have there own race problems you can't pretend to know what it is like over there. It's a totally different culture and way of life. I noticed it too and chalked it up to his locality.

[Dwayne Hicks]

Thank you for all your comments - yep, my wife is fine, spent all day at an art class with her mother.

Yes, what I said could be construed as a racist remark, but as Trapper said, it goes with the territory here, and I did not even think about it when I typed it. It was in no way intended to be a racist remark. I am not a racist by any stretch of the imagination. That way of thinking has gone by the wayside over here since the mid '90's. I grew up, went to school with, and work with black people, and have no problem with them at all. But it depends on their class, or mannerisms. (Still not wanting to be racist...) In America I believe they are called "hicks". It was one of these people that had no consideration for other people, and drove in front of my wife without looking.

I do not want this thread to become a racial debate, so please, if you have any problem with me, or what I said, and I have since edited out, please PM me, and we can talk it out.

Thanks again
Dwayne

[ELGOLD C50T]

Well done Dwayne. Hope everything turns out well in the end end your wife is going to be OK.

[Clint]

Thanks for clearing that up, Dwayne. I hope it was clear that I gave you the benefit of the doubt when I mentioned it.

[blackie1491]

The important thing is your wife is fine.

[wayout1]

Whoa.. glad your wife and everyone else only had relatively minor injuries.

Hmm must have been edited because I dont see anything about race. Granted I had to check his location thinking he was in southern california or arizona - and I envisioned the typical truck we see on the roads here full of migrants and presumably legal residents. Its not racist its a fact of reality here when you live in the path of massive illegal border crossing. This happens all the time here.

[Danr]

Originally Posted by inspiron

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but ...

Why does everyone accept that cars are required to be fitted with airbags, but then fight tooth and nail against helmet laws? Using the same logic that I'm hearing about "freedom of choice", shouldn't you have the option to buy cars without airbags, seatbelts and other safety equipment?

+1

[Dwayne Hicks]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

Thanks for clearing that up, Dwayne. I hope it was clear that I gave you the benefit of the doubt when I mentioned it.

Yes, indeed. Thank you for that.