I don’t have a car and I love it (most of the time). Living in Portland, and previously in New York, I haven’t needed a car and have utilized public transportation. More recently, I’ve been biking everywhere. I feel good about my transportation budget and my contribution to the environment.
But not too long ago, I was living in Los Angeles, where you really need a car to get around. If you have a job, and have friends, you need a car. While LA has taken strides with their public transportation, it is still a car city.
I was always lucky that I got hand-me-down cars to drive, so I never had a car payment. My parents were also pretty generous with helping out with gas and insurance in my younger years and for that I was eternally grateful.
When I got my first career job when I was 22, I was very excited, eager and motivated. I lived only 5 minutes away from my job and didn’t really need to drive to work. My boss at the time was having medical issues that prevented him from driving to work, so the staff was taking turns driving him to work. I had just started the job, so I eagerly signed up for a shift. I had only worked there for three weeks and was the “new girl”, so I wanted to show that I could be a team player. I had also been an “approved” driver as I was one of the few staff members who had a crystal clean driving record.
I left my apartment early to go pick up my boss, who lived in a much nicer, residential neighborhood. At the time, I had a lot of things on my mind; starting a new job, living in a new apartment, adjusting to living and working downtown, and a new flame. Somehow I got utterly distracted by all of these things and drove through a stop sign.
Within a second, I was hit and my car flung to the other side of the street. My heart was racing and all time stopped. The radio was still on and I couldn’t help but think:
What the hell happened?!
I got out of my car, shaken up, frantically looking around. A guy approached me and with a stern tone said, “What were you doing?! You drove through a stop sign!” The side of my car got hit, but it was 100% totally my fault.
I was three blocks away from my boss’ apartment and was mortified, terrified, and depressed. I called my boss and had to shamefully admit why I was late and confess what had happened. He took it very well and arranged a ride with someone else.
After talking to police, and getting my car towed, I managed to roll in to work a few hours later. I kept fielding questions about what happened, while simultaneously dealing with the pain and shock my body was enduring. On one hand, I was very lucky that no one was hurt. We were able to walk away from the scene.
I went home that night feeling so low and confused. How could I have let that happen? I was daydreaming and made a stupid mistake; a mistake that ultimately cost me $1,800 in deductibles and repairs (thank goodness I had an Emergency Fund then!). My insurance went up.
Two years later, I got in an even stupider accident, if you can believe it. The terrible thing about my two accidents was that they were very silly and totally preventable. At this time, I knew I was heading to New York soon and I was excited to live a life sans car. When I was in New York, I vowed to never have a car again. I don’t think I am a bad driver (contrary to what it may seem like confessing all of this), but I can be careless in the sense that I get easily distracted and stressed. It wasn’t an inability to drive well, but stress seriously affected my ability to be discerning while driving. I self-selected and took myself off the road. I didn’t want to be in this situation again, where I had to drive. I think it’s important to know if you may be a hazard to other people and really know your strengths and weaknesses. This was a painful realization for me, but I realized I was much happier not driving.
Aside from my terrible record, I spent so much money on parking tickets, parking lots, parking meters, repairs, gas, and my increased insurance. When I moved to New York and became carless, I felt free. I wouldn’t have to worry about driving, I could drink without doing something illegal and hazardous, and I had peace of mind.
Now I only drive a few times a month for work, and the occasional Car2Go ride. I am more confident now that I know not to rush, or be stressed. Deciding to be carless has been a great decision for me, and probably beneficial to others as well.
I am literally saving thousands of dollars per year being carless.
What about you? Have you been in an at-fault accident? Is your driving record costing you too much money?
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17 comments
Well I think EVERYONE has made stupid mistakes in the car. You’re not alone. The serious accidents I’ve been in were not my fault, but have been in a few silly fender benders. Once not too long ago I was in the car wash and I was wiping the inside of my car as I went through it and accidentally pushed my car out of neutral. I tapped the car in front of my lightly. He was pissed and there was a tiny scratch on his nice car (my car looks like a piece of shit after all these years-lol), so I gave him my info but he never called me! And I’ve done the same thing to other people who have bumped me. Just not worth it. But luckily that’s it and it’s never affected my record. But parking tickets…that’s another story. BUT, my new year’s resolution this year was NO parking tickets, and so far so good! Couple months to go and hopefully I can keep the trend going.
In LA it is so easy to make stupid mistakes! So many cars and everyone has somewhere to go. That’s pretty funny about the car wash (now). Parking tickets were the bane of my existence in LA and am so glad to not deal with that. Biking is suiting me just fine, but I better be prepared as it gets colder and wetter here 🙁
As you know, I am not the best driver either. 😛 Some of us were just meant to rock public transportation and look good doing it. 😉
I am glad you are the not-the-best driver club too 🙂 I loved public transportation in NYC…In Portland, biking all the way!
I am the queen of stupid accidents. I’ve only gotten in to a couple, but my first was two weeks after I turned 16 and I hit a parked police car!
Chicago is similar where you can go without a car or use car sharing programs, but many of my friends unfortunately live in the burbs where it is much harder to get to them. If they didn’t, we’d be car free in a heartbeat.
Oh wow, now that’s a story! I’d love to know how that went down! I really want to visit Chicago. Glad the public transportation is good, but yeah having to go outside of the city necessitates a car.
Oh man, that sounds scary with the first accident – I’m just glad you and the other driver were okay! I haven’t been in accident (knock on wood), but there are times when I’ve had close calls being distracted and it’s really scary. Cars are expensive to deal with (I don’t have car payments, but it’s a 97 so the repairs are becoming more frequent), but unfortunately it’s a necessity around SoCal. I’m hoping the trolley system will expand (rumor has it that it will) in SD!
I am really glad we are ok too. It did a number on my self-esteem, but no one was hurt! I think the number one cause of accidents is being distracted. I don’t think cell phones are making it easier!
My driving record is clean, no parking tickets either. 🙂 I got a speeding ticket when I had my probationary license but that’s long gone and off my record. The only accident I’ve ever been in was in my old car that needed the brakes fixed. I was coasting from one stoplight to another when my brakes decided to not work. I wasn’t going fast at all and I had plenty of space to decelerate just by coasting but I hit the van stopped in front of me at the next light. No damage. The rusted screws that were holding my license plate in place broke but that was it. I got a ticket but the officer told me to contest it. I showed up to court, stepped up to the podium when my name was called, and it was waived without saying a word because the officer didn’t show up to court.
I actually like driving, it’s usually pretty relaxing to me with the radio on. I just hate how everyone drives like they’re in a hurry. I’m at the largest Naval base and it’s like the cesspool of the worst, most impatient drivers (except Maryland) and I’m surprised I haven’t gotten in to any accidents yet. Knock on wood!
Glad you have a clean record. That is so scary about your breaks! Yikes. I’ve gotten out of tickets because the cop didn’t show either. Such a great tip. LA felt like the king of rude, impatient drivers, haha.
I always try to be a good driver, and it was absolutely mortifying that I ran a stop sign the other week. It was my first time ever doing it and I felt really stupid. There was a bus preventing me from going the way I normally go to work, so I went the opposite way, and due to the sun blinding me, I didn’t see it. I’ve never been in an accident that was my fault, but driving really does stress me out. I’d love to be able to walk or bike to work.
See you coulda been me! Thanks goodness you weren’t 🙂 Stress and distraction is serious business when driving.
My driving record hasn’t been too big of an issue. I’ve had one at fault accident and that was weather related more than anything (horrible white out). The bigger expense was my move last year. Where I live now is more accident prone so my insurance jumped as a result. I decided to be a little pro-active and take a defensive driving course to help save some cash on my premiums.
That’s such a smart move! You should write a post about it 🙂
You are one lucky person to have survived two accidents and getting away practically injury-free. I can’t blame you if you are happier without a car now but aren’t you glad about the savings as a result?
I am very lucky! They weren’t that bad actually, just the cars got damaged. As I said, it was pretty dumb. I am so thrilled about the savings. At this point, it wouldn’t even be savings, because I can’t afford a car with my massive student loans.
I’m so sad when I realize LA is still a car city. I hope one day the government will give the priority to the pedestrians and will improve the public transport.