Accident just happens: I hit the Pole

Whenever I see or hear about motor vehicle accident I did not understand the mechanic of such happenings. People just blame each other. Until the other day I had an accident & hit a pole at National Highway.

In my 29 years of licensed driving this was my first accident while myself on the driver seat. My first reaction was shock then self irritation.Reaction of my four friends were mixed but thankful for averting a major accident. The time was around 0830 PM & dark. Speed of our car was around 40 to 50 KM. Head light dimmed as had seen three or four truck were coming from my opposite direction,the sooner those truck passed I suddenly saw under my headlight beam three or four person on bicycle riding haphazardly towards my vehicle in the middle of the road, just about to heat my car. The person were seem to be drunk labour's a very common phenomenon on the roads of Assam. My co-passenger started shouting stop-stop, I just slammed my foot brakes & handbrakes simultaneously & swirled the steering towards left side of the road, the car skidded missing the cyclists & thud, hit the telephone pole on the roadside. My engine running & head light still on we got down. The cyclist were nowhere to be seen it was dark & cold outside. I inspected my car switched off the engine & light. Felt for any smell of diesel. Waited for half an hour for any passerby to help us as there were no police station nearby neither any habitat a lone stretch of the road. We discussed the situation then I telephoned my other friend in Solmara, Tezpur for help. After around one & half an hour my friend appeared with a vehicle along with toeing gear. The time we reached home was around midnight.

Reason for the accident: (1) May be due to one way & too narrow National High way. (ii) No street lights on the National Highway. (iii) Drunken pedestrian / driver on the roads.(iv) Very bad condition of road with lots of pot-holes.(v)MT drivers not following night driving rules & not respecting other co-drivers on the road.(vi) Rush driving (vii)No proper self illuminated side barrier on both side of the road. Lesson learnt : (i) You are not above destiny (ii) Be even more cautious (iii) If needed stop your car & let other pass you who are rushing.