Summary

The article "Shell Shocked! 780 Collisions and Still Counting!" details the author's experience witnessing a staggering number of car accidents from their bedroom window over 13 years at a busy intersection, leading to a sense of trepidation about driving again despite a desire for independence and mobility.

Abstract

The author, Justiss Goode, lives at a bustling intersection and has observed over 780 car accidents in the past 13 years, averaging about 5 accidents per month. This frequent exposure to collisions has left the author feeling "shell shocked" and reconsidering the idea of driving, despite having an updated driver's license and the financial means to purchase a car. The piece reflects on the impact of these accidents, the author's desensitization to them, and the internal conflict between the need for personal transportation and the fear instilled by the constant sight of crashes. The author also questions the societal norm of high-speed driving and encourages readers to slow down, while pondering the potential for a car-free lifestyle that relies on public transportation or rideshares.

Opinions

The author expresses a sense of disbelief and concern over the high number of car accidents witnessed, emphasizing the abnormality of this frequency.
There is a clear internal conflict: the author desires the independence that comes with owning a car but is hesitant due to the overwhelming number of accidents observed.
The author admits to feeling desensitized to the accidents over time, indicating a shift in emotional response despite the initial shock and concern.
The piece conveys a critique of society's driving habits, with a call to action for safer driving practices, specifically urging drivers to slow down.
The author has an old-school mindset regarding modern rideshare services, equating them to hitchhiking, and seems to prefer the idea of personal car ownership for autonomy.
Despite the accidents, the author is ready to engage more with the world, acknowledging that this may necessitate overcoming the fear associated with the frequent car crashes witnessed.

Shell Shocked! 780 Collisions and Still Counting!

I saw every one of these car crashes right from my bedroom window.

Night Collision — Photo Credit: Justiss Goode

If you got a chance to read my story about the 10 things I’m grateful for this year, you know about the man in the street, and how I live on the corner of a very busy intersection.

10 Things I’m Grateful for this Year that Most Folks Take for Granted

Do you ever stop and think about just how good you have it?

justissgoode.medium.com

Well this story, in all honesty, is merely to vent about this damn intersection, because in the past 13+ years I’ve been living here, I’ve seen way more than the 780 collisions I mention in the title.

Allow me to break the numbers down for you.

780 Collisions Based on:

The 780 figure is based on the fact that I calculated 5 accidents per month, times 12 months which gives me a total of 60 over the course of one year. Think about it.

Have you seen as many as 60 car collisions in one year? I doubt it. But that was just ONE year.

Then, I took that 60 and multiplied it times 13 — the number of years I’ve been living here, and I came up with the 780 figure that I mentioned in the title. If you’re thinking: “Damn! That’s a helluva lot of accidents!” You’re absolutely right.

I have honestly started to get shell shocked about the idea of ever getting behind the wheel again.

I’m an older adult, but I’m in total control of my faculties (debatable), I just don’t happen to own a vehicle at the moment. My driver’s license is even up to date, although I actually haven’t driven in a couple of years.

I don’t have a life, and no place in particular to go, other than errands, so I typically (prior to COVID) take a bus, or metro rail, if I don’t want to be bothered riding with my son or nephew (I don’t particularly care for either of their driving).

My point is, although I don’t drive right now, I sometimes think about buying myself a car, especially since money is no longer the barrier to me having one. The thing is, every single time I think seriously about it, another one of those damn car crashes happens, and lucky me, I get to witness it all, right from my window!

So far, I haven’t personally seen any morbid results like serious injuries or decapitations, although, honestly, I never watch the aftermath long enough to find out. It’s really weird, because in some ways, I’ve actually become desensitized. After the initial impact, and running to see what happen, I’m over it pretty quickly.

Of course, I jump out my skin and swallow my heart, every time I hear that loud crash, followed by the sickening sound of metal against metal. Immediately afterwards, there’s usually a lot of yelling and screaming, mostly about the condition of the vehicles than any potential injuries.

But once I look out my window (and sometimes go out on the balcony) to assess the situation, I generally go right back to whatever I was doing, business as usual.

My feeling that I’m becoming shell shocked is worrisome because I’m typically a very independent person. After a year of COVID hell, and another half a year trying to establish some kind of normal, I know I’m ready to really get back out into the world, and create the fun and enjoyable life that I know I can have.

There’s no way I can see doing that without getting myself a car. I think I have an old school mindset when it comes to Ubers and Lyfts. I did a lot of hitch hiking back in my day, and to me, these rides are the equivalent to hopping in a stranger’s car for a ride. I may or may not need a car right now, but I really do think I want one — I’m just feeling nervous because of all the collisions in my memory.

First Responders Arrive — Photo Credit: Justiss Goode

The saddest thing of all, is that the 780 figure is truly just a low estimate. I’m pretty sure, we average at least 2 accidents a week, not just 1. I’ve actually witnessed 2 in one day, on multiple occasions.

So doubling the weekly number would basically cause all the figures to increase, bringing the total over a 13-year period to a whopping 1560 car crashes! Now that’s enough to make anybody shell shocked.

TAKEAWAY

“Everybody please slow your asses down!”

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