Hooray caution. It could've been seriously messy if you were in the way.

Similar-ish story: my dad was in a pretty bad accident a few years back with an egregious red-light runner in an SUV; if he'd been going just a little faster [an easy possibility seeing as he was driving an e39 M5] she probably would've T-boned him right in the driver's door at about 45-50mph. Instead he got her passenger side; they were both a bit banged up and he was sore for months, but it could have been much, much, much worse. We still miss the M5 [of course] but Dad is way more important [of courser].

Starting even a couple years before I was actually driving age, whenever we were in the car together he was already teaching me to be cautious and aware of both potential hazards and possible escape routes. Good lessons. I tend to drive under the assumption that every other car on the road is being operated by a reckless moron, and over the years it's saved me from more than a couple accidents. Not to say I've never sped, of course, but I'd like to think that I drive quickly in a slightly more safe way than other people. :p

/melis