Never in my life have I felt the way I am feeling right now. I have experienced car accidents a few times in my life; twice with my dad and once with my mom. But never when I'm the driver. For all you people out there who have been involved in car accidents before, you would know how I feel right now. And for the rest of you, let me fill you in on how I reached to this state.
First thing's first;
I got involved in an accident!January 14th, 2010Yesterday, I had no car to use. Lin Ji's back from her workshop and mom's boss is here in town, so I can't use any of their cars. Dad flew off to China at 11 A.M. in the morning, leaving his car my only choice of transportation. Just when I thought everything is going to work out smoothly, after work at 5 P.M., I drove my dad's Lexus GS300 to the airport to meet up with Lin Ji to get the keys to my tuition place from her. It was raining. Driving on the left lane on my way to Gadong, there was this very big and long truck/lorry, whatever it is you call it, was in front of me. Very heavy and slow. So I decided to overtake it; usually what everyone does. True?
On the right lane, I sped up in order to overtake, driving at a speed of about 80km/hr; leaving a gap of about the length of two cars in front of me. The GT car in front of me then suddenly stepped on the brakes to a complete stop. And of course I stepped on my brakes as hard as I could. However, before being able to come to a complete stop; my car was still moving, the car behind me crashed into the back left of my car. This impact caused my car to move forward at such a speed that it made my car bang into the front car and got both cars wrecked like eff! If my car was at a complete stop, my front hood would either get a slight damage or no damage at all. But, the otherwise happened. The impact was so huge that my car went under the GT car. Obviously, you can tell that I stepped on the brakes and got pushed from the back to move forward and bang! Or I wouldn't be under the GT car, would I? My state of mind is so not at peace right now, I can't even think straight.
When all cars came to a complete halt, I was dumb-struck. The accident blocked both lanes of the road, causing a massive jam. I didn't know what to do. At all. The front car driver came out of his car, walked towards me and checked if I was alright. I then came out of my car and checked around, and was effing surprised that I wasn't externally, physically injured after finding out how damaged my car was. Not even the slightest bit. To top that, the airbag did not open. Weird. A total of six cars are involved in this accident. I was the third or fourth victim. I called my sister, Lin Ji, first since she was the last person I was with, and at that precise time, the closest to where I was at. Then I tried contacting my mom, but she didn't pick up. She was busy with her boss. I was so scared, yet I felt so stupid not knowing what to do. Thank God, the people who were involved in the accident were patient and calm. Unlike some people, they come out of their car, start cursing and blaming people for the accident; causing a big hoo-ha. I would have cried! LIFE-RISKING OKAY!
I was told by the driver in front of me that the purpose why the very first car stepped on the brakes so suddenly was to avoid hitting the car that suddenly switched from the left lane to the right lane. If he did not step on the brakes and stop abruptly, he would have to turn to his right and hit the railings.
Not long after, my phone started ringing off the hook. My mom managed to return my call. Few minutes passed and the policemen arrived. They started collecting our Identity Cards and Driving License; recording what's necessary. They checked if everyone was alright and started measuring the accident scene. After everything was done, none of the people I have contacted arrived yet. A policeman came over and asked me if I have contacted anyone from my family. I assured him I did, but they're all stuck in the jam. They asked me if I have called anyone to tow my car away. I went very still abruptly. I thought that was dealt by the police, but no. And then the policeman asked me if I want to follow them to the police station and let my mom meet me there or otherwise. After what seemed like a lifetime, Lin Ji arrived. Along came Rauf. Followed by my aunt. Despite how I felt at that precise moment, Lin Ji started blustering at me for wrecking such an expensive car, instead of asking me if anything happened to me. Yeap, very helpful and concerned she is. As if I didn't feel bad enough, she made me feel ten times worse. My aunt was relieved I was driving the Lexus instead of Lin Ji's Nissan Sunny. If I was driving the Sunny, I would have been crushed and severely injured; and by now be in the hospital.
There was this Chinese man. He's from a workshop. And he filled us in with the details of what to do, since none of us had any idea what the procedure of an accident is. Called the insurance company, BIBD, and asked them to provide us with a towing truck. We had to wait for half an hour, since the driver was busy with other damaged cars involved in other accidents. My mom arrived sometime later. She asked my sis, my aunt and Rauf to go home since it was raining heavily. At the meantime, we waited for the towing truck to arrive. While waiting, I got myself bitten by so many mosquitoes, since the scene of accident was close to a river. I was scratching the life out of me; hoping I won't catch dengue or malaria. After what felt like donkey years, the truck came. We followed it to the workshop, Bengkel Kereta Berakas Sdn Bhd, to have an idea where the place is.
With itchy patches all around my legs, soaked, exhausted and not forgetting the state of me being traumatized, my mom and I headed home. Got ourselves showered and eaten, we got several necessary documents readied; blue card, road tax, insurance policy, driving license and identity card, and made our way to the police station at Berakas to report my accident. We got lost at first, with my mom not knowing where the station is. Called up Rauf and had him describe how to get there.

Photo taken while waiting for the car to be towed.

Photos taken this morning at the workshop at Bengkel Kereta Berakas Sdn Bhd.

Once I got there, a policeman wrote a statement on my behalf that went precisely like this;
"Pada 14/01/2010 jam lebih kurang 17.40 hrs, saya memandu sebuah kereta berdaftar [car license plate number] jenis Toyota Lexus warna Premium Silver, seorang diri; perjalanan daripada Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa, Berakas hendak pergi ke Gadong, melalui jalan Lebuh raya Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Berakas. Kelajuan memandu lebig kurang 80-90 km/hr. Sampai di kawasan Lebuh Raya Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Berakas; waktu itu saya mengikut laluan sebelah kanan, waktu itu saya mengikuti kereta di hadapan saya, lalu kereta di hadapan saya menekan brake. Saya pun terus menekan brake dengan tiba-tiba, kereta saya telah dilanggar dari belakang, lalu terdasur ke hadapan terus melanggar kereta di hadapan saya di bahagian belakang. Saya tidak cedera dan harta benda kerajaan tidak terlibat."
After the police station, my mom and I went back to the workshop and cleared out the things in my dad's car. Getting it ready for repair. My mom talked in the car, of course. Siighs.
This morning, my mom and I went to the workshop and Insurance company again to get everything settled. An excess of $2590 had to be paid for the damaged car. Inspection by the Insurance officer will be done either today or tomorrow. Car repair will be done within a few months. 6 months at least? Parts need to be imported since NBT doesn't provide the parts for Lexus. Siighs. Car repair costs approximately more than B$7K. *Heart sinks to stomach*
What I've learned thus far;
- Do not drive a car [that you're not used to driving] alone at a fast speed to a far distance,
- Never rush even when you're going to be or already are late [better safe than sorry],
- Keep a distance of the length of more than 3 cars [I know everyone has learned this before they sit for their Law exam, but hardly anyone obeys that rule; don't deny this you moron!],
- Best not drive when it is raining,
- Be alert of what is going on on the road,
- yada yada yada
I know everyone knows these. But how many of you does it? Many loves to tailgate. And some love to speed. Others tend to step on the brakes for no logical reason. You never know what some crazy drivers might do. Hence, be cautious.
A great thanks to my aunt and Rauf for being there to help. =)