corinasays: The 100% Write Off of the Ford Focus

On the 6th of June, our 7 years old Ford Focus was declared by the Insurance Company 'Written Off'

On a Tuesday, Oscar and I were heading to his 5.00pm Soccer Training Session. We were only 700m from home, at the intersection of Moggil Road and the M5 main Motorway to the Sunshine Coast, when a car with 4 foreign students or tourists turned unexpectedly across us, as I was driving at 60km/h in a straight line.

The impact was strong, but fortunately the airbags came out and inflated immediately. I remember feeling in control of the car: like 'don't break too hard' or 'the cars behind will smash in the back as well' 'don't turn the steering wheel or you'll tumble at this speed and will end up in a barrier with higher impact point', but I was not in control of the event.

There was no way I could predict that that car in front of us could turn in front of me so unexpectedly, crossing such heavy traffic road. I passed a green light 50m earlier and I was already at full speed but they turned anyway. I cannot understand how they did not see me.

I remember saying: 'shit' and thinking seconds after that these could have been my last word 'pathetically' and that it is probably the last word of hundreds of people in the world!

There was fume everywhere inside the car, some of it coming from the airbag propulsion system, and I remember 'to get out as quick as possible'. I remember thinking I am going to fall asleep quickly with these fumes, 'get out quick'. I extracted myself with difficulties because of the air bags, while telling Oscar 'get out of the car' and I took him immediately on the road Islet away from the traffic.

We were a bit numbed by the shock and so were the other car passengers, but they behaved very courteously and nicely and all went well from then on. The tow trucks came first. They were very considerate people and realised we were in shock.

It was not quite the same with the other motorists who got angry because the traffic was blocked and two men took upon themselves to move my car although I said it was still fuming and that it was at their own risk and peril, that I was not going to go back in there to 'try' and that they should wait 5mns for the firemen, but they could not!????

One big guy even said: 'you don't mind being on the phone for ever while everyone is waiting!' - When he saw I looked at him with contempt, he smiled back cowardly. I think he realised he had been stupid. I was disgusted ... I was ringing 000.

I remember thinking: why do I have to stand up for myself in such a moment, when will I be able to finally relax one day?

The police later said I did the right thing, that they should have waited for the firemen, that they were putting themselves at risk unnecessarily.

I rang 000 and the ambulance, the firemen came because the airbags had come up, the cars were towed away very quickly and the tow truck took me and Oscar back home.

This picture below shows the scene of the event one morning when it is calm (at the time of the accident, 5pm, it was busy and erratic). It is clear that there is no green arrow for the cars trying to turn right on the motorway, and that is what happen to the 4 young people's car. They got confused because they were from overseas, and the light was green, and they should have turned 'with due care' but they would not have known that. This is not what you expect on a major intersection between a 4 lanes road and a motorway. They would have seen a green light, so they would have computed: GO!

So I contacted Main Roads and the City Council with description and photos to explain, so that a green arrow should be put on this traffic light to avoid future accidents. They kindly agreed as it was considered a valid request, and they said I would get an answer mid-July.

Right Hand Turn after the bridge to the M5 access Ramp - Moggill Road, Brisbane