Yesterday, I was driving down a relatively steep major road. One that had been coated in 27 days of daily rain. Vancouver, BC is proud of its rain and the black paths are shiny and slippy like polished ebony.

In front a line of cars and trucks already slowing for a red light about 100 feet further from the base of the hill. To my side, a steep embankment with a small emergency lane.

Behind a large truck with a semi-trailer (anyone from England, an articulated truck.)

As I braked, I looked into my rear view mirror to see the truck in the throes of jack-kniving the trailer while still moving forward at speed. With the truck moving forward and the trailer moving sideways jumping along the embankment, I realized I was toast.

Inching forward I almost rear ended the car in front as I was over-awed by the barreling monster behind me. Second by second, i kept moving forward until the truck and trailer managed to correct its strange mode of forward motion and come along my side in the emergency lane. (kudos to the driver to right the jack knife in motion.) I pulled ahead to see him pulling up close behind again wanting to play fender bender.

My turn was close by, so i was able to get away from a scary trucker who desired to play chicken with my compact.

NOTE:
24 hours later, the images of this metal beast hurtling downhill at me is still seared into my head.