What is your worst experience when traveling by car?
@GardenGerty (160978)
United States
November 9, 2010 8:25am CST
I am meaning this in the sense of accidents and repairs, I guess. My experience last Friday was a bit of a bummer, but not too bad, as far as repairs go. I once had a blowout doing 70 mph on the interstate, with six other women and children in the car with me. A trucker changed my tire. I also once blew a timing belt, and scored a piston, again doing 70, on the interstate, and it was July 3 or 4, very hot, and it was a Sunday and it was just my Daughter and I. There were so many break downs the highway patrol did not get to us for a couple of hours. We were then able to get help from family members, borrow a car and get on with what we needed to do. It cost thousands of dollars to repair and the car was never right after wards. This weekend we just had a breakdown, away from home. The total cost, including a motel room was around $400. I tried to blame it on it being an old car, but what actually happened was that we were hit by some kind of large metal disk that flew off another car while we were headed for our destination. It went thump, and we got a rattle. The actual damage did not show up until we were headed back home and doing a lot of driving. I guess that debris bent up the under side of our car, and it mangled the harmonic balancer, which then chewed up a belt. When the belt split it was the first indication that this was serious. The car was still drivable, with care, and we were able to get to an automotive repair place in the closest little town. (Pop. 5,000). If it could not have been fixed we would have just taken the train home or something and sold the car for junk. I guess it turned out okay.
14 people like this
41 responses
@celticeagle (168318)
• Boise, Idaho
10 Nov 10
I was about 12 or 14 when my aunt, two cousins and my mother and myself were traveling from Boise to Los Angeles. We were in my stepdad's new buick stationwagon. My aunt was driving when a deer stepped out into the highway and my aunt was unable to swerve to miss him and we hit the poor thing. My cousins and I were in the back sleeping and my mom and aunt up in the front seat. My aunt was very shaken and I remember a truck driver stopped and helped us. He looked over the damage, calmed down my aunt and took us into town for help. What a nice person he was. Two women and three kids traveling.
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
10 Nov 10
Deer have long been a driving hazard. We hear about it more now, but I know it has gone on a long time. It is good you met a kind person.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (168318)
• Boise, Idaho
10 Nov 10
Yes, the saying 'deer in the headlights' has been around a long time.
1 person likes this
@holesworth (220)
• Australia
11 Nov 10
I had just turned seventeen and had received my provisional licence which allowed me to drive solo. I was travelling out of town when I was pulled over by a policeman who gave me a speeding ticket which had - from memory - a fine of approximately $150 attached to it. Slowing down as requested by the officer, I journeyed for another 20 minutes when a kangaroo leapt onto the road in front of me and - unfortunately - suffered an early demise.
My car was significantly damaged at the front, but still drivable, so I continued on my way. I got home and called a panel beater who advised me to drop my car off at his garage in the morning.
The next day arrived and I was on my way to the garage when a car failed to give way and rammed the tail end of me. Thankfully, all involved were okay. My car was as dented as my pride at the time; but now I can laugh at the experience.
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
11 Nov 10
It made you feel like you had a target that said "hit me" I would bet. In the US your insurance costs would have gone up considerably after that day.
1 person likes this
@CoffeeAnyone (3210)
• Canada
10 Nov 10
Mine was sitting in the cab of a tuck that was hanging over a cliff. I am not sure why I didn't panic but we managed to get out before the front of the truck tilted downward but held its place.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
10 Nov 10
Now this needs a back story. Why were youin the cab of a truck that was hanging over a cliff. This reminds me of an action movie or something. Yikes!!
1 person likes this
@gdesjardin (1918)
• United States
10 Nov 10
The worse experience I had when traveling by car was when my middle son got sick in the car. My husband and I were in the front, and my 3 kids were in the backseat of our car. My middle son was sitting in the middle and he started to throw up all over himself and his siblings. It was late at night and we were driving home from Florida. We were almost home when it happened and it also was raining outside. We had to get all the kids out of the car, and wash him off and half of the other kids off...all in the rain. We took the shirts off the boys and drove then to the closest gas station and went through the luggage to get clean shirts. It was a mess...literally!!! Needless to say as much as we tried to clean the car out, we really couldn't get the smell out, so it was a terribly smelly ride the rest of the way home.
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
10 Nov 10
I was in a four seater plane for my first plane ride when the passenger in the front threw up. It was really gross. It does take a long time to clean up that smell.
1 person likes this
@llbo1981 (1237)
• China
10 Nov 10
One day,some people of our company go to travel by car.At the beginning,all of us are very happy and enjoy the travelling.Suddenly,the car stopped.What is wrong with the car?It is broken on the road.All of us waiting about several hours.It is my worst experience when travelling by car.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
10 Nov 10
It is awful to have to wait around for help. I am glad you were with others, though. That makes you feel safer and gives you someone to talk to.
1 person likes this
@santosmarichris (1849)
• Philippines
10 Nov 10
Hi! We we're riding a cab, late afternoon and we are on a highway, when I noticed that the cab driver is falling asleep. OMG. The car is running fast and all and we can't stop because we're on a highway. So, I woke up the driver and he kept on slapping his face so he won't fall asleep. I kept talking to him and offered water/ candy. We we're so scared. I'm just glad we reached home safe and sound.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
10 Nov 10
Sounds like the cab driver might have been sick or intoxicated. It is good you noticed and did what you could to keep him awake.
1 person likes this
@SViswan (12051)
• India
21 Jan 11
In December 2009, our son got a chance to play the keyboard on a TV show and we had to reach our native place in 3 days time. Since it was Christmas season and people were travelling, we couldn't get tickets in a train or bus and my husband decided to drive down....which is 12-15 hours drive. As we were cruising along on the highway, from nowhere a bus decided to cross into a sidelane. We were a distance away but we were going so fast and the bus driver got confused when he reached the middle of the road and wasn't sure if he wanted to continue going or not. Despite applying the brakes as soon as he could, our car crashed into the back part of the bus and our bonnet was stuck. Fortunately all of us had our seat belts on (which isn't compulsory here) or else we would have been thrown out with the impact (ours is a small car). We were exactly half way through our journey.We weren't sure if we could continue. Got the car checked at a nearby mechanic's place....and we drove the rest of the way with the radiator getting heated up...throwing water through a small gap (we couldn't get the bonnet open and the front part was all smashed up). That was one scary experience. It still gives me nightmares.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
23 Jan 11
I am glad you still got to finish the trip. That has really not been that long ago, just over a year. No wonder you still have nightmares.
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
9 Nov 10
well at least you did get it fixed but how did you run over this with out seeing it unless the car right it front of you threw it?
A couple of year ago going to a family reunion a pice of wood 1x1 flew up and hit my hood I ducked thinking it was coming into the window so glad it didnt but put a dent in my hood.
and that came from under car in front of me and it was from construction on the road way.
anothe time me hubby and kids were traveling to get to a place in Wyoming for work with no money we ran out of gas about 50 miles from friends house
GOt a ride and they bought gas and took us back to van filled us up and then we stayed a few days withthem till money could be sent from home!.
thats all I can think of us that happened to us on the road with all our travels across this big country.
good thing though we have friends in almost every state!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
9 Nov 10
We were in heavy traffic and the thing, whatever it was, came rolling down the road on its side. It sort of looked like a wheel cover but it was thicker and more solid. We hardly saw it until it went under the front of the car. I wonder what that piece was, personally and hope someone else did not have a breakdown from it missing. It was a toll road, and the traffic was like after work traffic. You could not change lanes or anything.
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
10 Nov 10
It could have been. I hate toll roads, because if you need help there is no shop or anything really convenient to help you.
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
10 Nov 10
Well it's been eons since I've been here on the lot. Anyhow back when I was in my late teens I was driving cross country from Michigan to Florida when the car overheated in Indiana. I stopped at a rest area to tend to it. Dumb me unscrewed the cap and the antifreeze shot up wildly like I'd never seen splashing my chest and right side of my face. To this day I am short on chest hair in that area and my beard grows very thin in that area as well. Plus I was rushed to the ER because they felt I got some in my eyes as my vision was blussry. Luckily that didn't happen and I was fine.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!~
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
10 Nov 10
Hi ya friend. That was a hard lesson to learn in that way. You are lucky that it was not worse. They try to teach us not to do those kinds of things, but we do forget.
1 person likes this
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
10 Nov 10
Just last week a friend decided to surprise me after he completed my oil change and he washed and waxed my car for me! But just before I was going on a 5 hr trip through the middle of nowhere (in the middle of the night, too), alone, of course. He also decided to surprise me by detailing my engine. Wow, I loved that. However, he got some water too close to the computer (ECM), so about halfway there, right in the middle of an area with no service stations or anything for about 50 miles, the engine started cutting out. What is worse, this was also just after my cell phone went out of range. But after quite a few bumpy miles the air finally blew all the water out so by the time I got where I was going the car was running OK again.
Another time I had to take a car in for service about 25 miles from home for a recall notice and we had a big rainstorm while the car was being fixed and when I tried to leave the streets were flooded but it was not a part of town where we wanted to pull over. It was scary, but we eventually got home with no harm done.
Did you get the license plates of the car that lost the metal disk that damaged your car?
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
10 Nov 10
No, we did not. We did not even see for sure what car it came off of. It was a high traffic situation. I hope they are okay, though. If it was just a wheel cover, they would be alright. It just seemed heavier than that and it had a lot of velocity. Hubby is right, though. No matter what car we were driving, it would have hit us, and might have done even more damage. I am glad that in your instance the sputtering engine evidently cleared itself out.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
9 Nov 10
I've broken down a few times, ran out of gas once or twice. Nothing absolutely awful as far as break downs. The worst was when my car stopped on a busy road, I couldn't even coast to the shoulder. Someone came to help me push it into a driveway of a fast food place, but the driveway was uphill and the car was so heavy we couldn't get it far. Then hubby came to rescue me and used his car to push my car up the incline into the parking lot. I had both my youngest boys with me that time.. scary!
I've been in a few accidents too. A month after I got my license I rear ended an older couple, and I had my 1 year old son in the car with me. Nobody injured though thankfully.. just my car!
The worst was in 2001, I started skidding on some ice going over a bridge. I later realized that when I started the skid I panicked and hit the gas instead of the brakes. I lost control of the vehicle, slammed into oncoming traffic, and then became a pinball between the guard rails. That car was totalled! The other car I hit.. the girl hurt her elbow, but I don't think it was that bad. I got whiplash from it.. couldn't hold my own head up for a week. Still have neck problems because of it.. I get a lot of soreness and knots in my neck and shoulders. Thankfully though I was alone in the car at the time. And it turned out to be a blessing that the car was totalled because it was a lease that was almost up, it was over on miles, and it had bits of damage that hubby would have had to pay for.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
10 Nov 10
Hubby was hit by an unlicensed drunk driver a few years ago.. totalled our car. Hubby was not hurt though and nobody was in the car with him.
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
31 Jan 11
I've been in several really spectacular accidents, such as roll-overs, but it wasn't ever my fault! I don't drive! I don't even back seat drive! 
Maggiepie
“The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep & bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.” ~ Thomas Jefferson[/i]
Maggiepie
“The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep & bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.” ~ Thomas Jefferson[/i]@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
30 Mar 11
I guess you are fortunate not to drive, we would all be in danger.
1 person likes this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
30 Mar 11
Danger by association, eh? Well, I shouldn't be on the roads, as I really would be a traffic hazard, but for a real reason. I have a problem that causes my brain to "freeze" info & play it later. In other words, I might see a green light, & my brain will copy the image & "play" it later when I'm actually seeing a red light!
Nope, you do not not not want me to drive! 
Maggiepie
"If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man's life sorrow & suffering enough to disarm all hostility. ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, poet (1807-1882)
Well, I shouldn't be on the roads, as I really would be a traffic hazard, but for a real reason. I have a problem that causes my brain to "freeze" info & play it later. In other words, I might see a green light, & my brain will copy the image & "play" it later when I'm actually seeing a red light!
Nope, you do not not not want me to drive!
Maggiepie
"If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man's life sorrow & suffering enough to disarm all hostility. ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, poet (1807-1882)
@allamgirl (2140)
• Philippines
9 Nov 10
it was a couple of years ago. my family and i were going to my grandfather's birthday party at my uncle's house which is about 3 hours away from ours. we had to get up really early to avoid the traffic congestion. when we were halfway there, our car overheated. good thing though, is that we were near a gasoline station. the bad thing though is since it was a swimming party, i was already wearing my short board shorts and a kind of skimpy shirt. it was really uncomfortable hanging out at the gas station while getting the car fixed with that outfit.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
9 Nov 10
When we lived in California I had to remind myself not to wear clothes to go pick up hubby that I would not want to break down in. I am glad you could get to a station to get it fixed.
@ifa225 (14460)
• Indonesia
26 Dec 10
wow..that is a great damage.
i never experienced something really really bad. the worst things that happen to me was my car crash the tree. and thankfully it was not a big tree, just a flower tree.
we are so lucky this whole time i guess
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
23 Jan 11
You certainly have been fortunate. Really we seldom have problems when travelling, so we are usually more fortunate than this as well.
i just see a motor driver hit a walking person.
tough i know the risk of driving, i have to drive to make me more mobile.
try to drive careful and concentrate..i hope you are safe and sound 
@KrauseHome (36447)
• United States
30 Mar 11
Well, the worst experience for us was some yrs. ago when traveling from WA state to Montana to visit my Mom and sister and family. We had my nephew with us at the time, and it was supposed to be a very enjoyable time as we were going for my Birthday and also going to Glacier National park to just have Fun. We owned a Chevy Beretta at the time, and thought everything would be fine. Made sure and got the Oil changed, etc. before just to make sure we would be safe and then got on our way.
We ended up breaking down about an hr. before my Sisters place in over 100 degree weather. We luckily broke down right next to a little town and someone was able to help get us to one of the nearby restaurants to get some cool air, etc. while we waited to see what could be done next, as we knew we had no real $$ to get the car fixed,. My sister and BIL did come get us, and helped tow our car to somewhere to be looked at and fixed. Problem is that we still had lots of problems with that car afterwards, but were able to eventually get it back home to only trade it in a couple of months later for a 2002 Subaru Forrester instead.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
30 Mar 11
Your post reminds me of some of the other breakdowns we have had. I think when ever we have problems it is the worst, every time. I had a summer break down once as well. It is miserable. I can see that many people have had their share of breakdowns.
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
9 Nov 10
We have so many break-downs, but as for my worse experience traveling in a car was the few times we had no heat in the car. When the temps drop, I ended up staying at home until the car broke down completely and we bought another car with heat...
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
9 Nov 10
When my first husband was an over the road truck driver the car I had left behind had no heat for a while. I had a gas heat stove and we would heat bricks on the stove and each of the kids and I would stay warm that way. I have big sympathy for that situation.
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
9 Nov 10
Oh I hated it so much,...I can handle a car without A/C, but no heat, forget it..:(
@GreenMoo (11833)
•
10 Feb 11
Not in terms of cost, but in terms of disturbance was an accident we had whilst travelling to a family event. We were nearing the end of our journey so we were tired, and I accidentally left my handbag in a service station where we stopped for coffee. As we turned around and returned we had an accident which was not terribly serious in terms of injury but made an awful mess of the front of the car.
The car was still drivable so we continued, or we would have been missed. It meant we spent the next few days hiding the car around the back of the hotel and trying to pretend there was nothing wrong so as not to upset the host (elderly and likely to get all bothered). I had to get a lift back out to get my handbag and we would sneak out on various 'errands' whilst we desperately tried to buy new parts for the car.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
30 Mar 11
I have left a wallet before, and not remembered it at soon as you did. It was kind of you to try not to worry your hosts.
@kingparker (9673)
• United States
22 Jan 11
Gosh, sounds an awful experience of you, and you got to spend that much money to fix a car already. For me, my car still running good, it was just too much miscellaneous problem that cost me some thousands of dollars to get it fixed. Recently, I just got into a car accident, and the other party's insurance unwilling to pay. I was frustrated, and I am ready to file a complaint to our state insurance commissioner.
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
23 Jan 11
It sounds like you have a good plan, the commissioner will help you.
@rameshchow (4426)
• India
15 Feb 11
Although you are suffering with your old car, you are still love to do journey in that only.
And coming to me, I have been telling you that, i am living in my small village, till now i travelled in the car for just 4 or 5times only(Exactly say i am remembering 3times only).
First time i traveled in the car at my 15years of age.
I mainly use my byke only, and too wanna buy a car after i will get a good position in the society.
And you are right, to repair a car it takes too much money. One of my classmate, my childwood friend is a car mechanic. He is always telling about this car problems.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
30 Mar 11
It seems mechanics just love to deal with car problems. I think we should drive less when we are close to home and use a bicycle or walk more. I think it makes people healthier. It is strange that we who are used to cars forget that there are many people in the world who do not rely so heavily on cars.
@Kalyni2011 (3496)
• India
28 Mar 11
Hubby was driving our car on the highway, i was with him, my daughter in law and granddaughter too, we were going to our daughters place , just 200 kilometers away, we stopped at a railway crossing as the gate was closed.
after abot 5 minutes, i heard a bang and a jerk, another car dashed ours from the rear, there was minor damage, the insurance took care of this
thanks for sharing your story
god bless
have a nice day
kalyani
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
30 Mar 11
I am glad that you were safe from the train and did not hit it.
