What a close call
Tonight I was diving home when I got a real scare. The weather was windy, with light rain, and I was at a T-intersection preparing to make a turn along the curb. I looked left, then right (where the traffic in my lane would be coming from), then proceeded to slowly make the turn. All of a sudden, a bicycle without a light on and riding on the wrong side of the street appeared from my left. I slammed on the brake, and the bicycle passed a few inches in front of me without coming in contact with me. I remained stopped halfway through the turn for about 10 seconds, trying to regain my composure and watching the bicycle continue down the street. I'm glad my car has a very short "snout", because just another few inches and there might have been contact. If there had been contact, it would have been my fault because of the traffic law in Japan.
And when I slammed on the brake, my foot was only halfway on the brake pedal. I used to wonder whenever I read about how people involved in accidents tried to brake but hit the accelerator instead. Now I understand how that can happen.
