To still be shaking six hours later?

[onetwothreethreetwoone]

I nearly had a head-on collision today.

Driving along a narrow, winding country road this afternoon, with DP in the front passenger seat.

I turned a blind corner, slightly uphill, and all I could see was this car right in front of us, fully on the wrong side of the road, hurtling towards our windscreen at full speed.

I don’t even remember what my thought process was. I didn’t have time to swerve out of the way, or to register if there was traffic coming from the opposite direction that I needed to avoid. I didn't have time to think at all, really. All I knew was the car was going to hit us anyway, and if I swerved to the left the car was going to go straight into DP, and if I swerved to the right it was going straight into me. As it was, I did an emergency stop. The other driver must have braked too, because the car came to a stop about three inches in front of mine. By some miracle they didn’t even touch, but it was so so so close. I don't even want to think about what could have happened. I feel sick.

As soon as I registered that we were ok and no one was hurt I remember screaming ‘WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!’ and the other driver sort of stared at me through the windscreen. He eventually held his hand up as if to apologise, backed up a little and pulled out into the correct side of the road.

I wound my window down to try and talk to him and he just sped off.

I pulled into a lay by less than a mile away and cried. DP wanted to report it, but we only had the first two digits of the registration plate, and the colour and type of the car, not an exact make/model. I wish I'd got more info, but we were honestly just in such a state of shock at the time. I did call 101 once I'd calmed down and explained what had happened, and passed on as much info as I could. Gave a description of the driver, too. I’ll never forget that face as long as I live. I'd be astounded if anything comes of it, though.

It’s been six hours and I’m still shaking. I can see the car hurtling towards us every time I close my eyes. Please tell me to pull myself together... I can't stop crying. I'm quite level-headed usually but I've honestly never had such a fright in my whole life.

Similar happened to me but I went into a hedge. OP it does get better with time. It really does. Your body is still reacting but when you process what happened it will get easier to handle. Just takes time.

Cry for gods sake. Get it out of your system.

React, sob, shout and tomorrow you need to start getting over it. Tonight however, you have my permission to howl.

Natural healthy reaction to be shaken up. And feel proud of your great reaction reflexes to danger.

You are in shock so it’s not as simple as just pulling yourself together - it’s chemical changes in your body as a result of the near-accident. It’s completely normal after something like this and will pass but can take a day or so. Please take care of yourself in the meantime, lots of tlc and rest is good.

I drive 50k miles a year, and a few weeks ago, a driver pulled off the hard shoulder right in front of my car as I was doing 68mph.
I had to swerve and I hit the dead zone gravel stuff at the side of the motorway, the lorry behind me just avoided ploughing up behind me and it took me hours to feel better. And I see shit driving every day.

I’m so sorry you’ve had a real fright. It’s awful. I recommend watching something light hearted, a hot drink and distract yourself before bed if you can. The whole incident will fade over time, and you reacted well and quickly, which should give you confidence that if such a thing should ever happpeb again, you are skilled to do your best to avoid it.

How how terrifying!! What a total idiot. Some people should not be allowed to drive!

I think you should be very proud of your instincts and how you dealt with that as you saved yourself and DP serious injury by your quick thinking.

Hope you manage to relax a bit 

it's fine to cry.
that was a scary situation and I'm glad you didn't collide.
you can be almost certain that the other driver also is shaken up tonight.

That’s where a dash cam would have come in handy! I’m not surprised you’re still shaking. What a shock.
Would a nice bath help you to relax?

Absolutely fine to cry! Similar happened to me when car came off a roundabout (dual carriageway) the wrong way! Also like pp I swerved and ended up in the gravel, thankfully l was slowing down preparing to go onto the roundabout.

You've had a massive rush of stress hormone flood your body. It is totally normal to feel as you do. Just cry as much as you need to today, then pick yourself up and carry on. You'll be just fine.

Definitely agree about getting a dash cam

Poor you. It's really upsetting. Keep thinking about the fact no one is hurt. I live rurally and have a dash cam for just this reason. Some people are idiotic on rural roads - they just assume there will be no one else on the road.

onetwo you are understanding in shock. It will take a while to get over it, nothing wrong with that

With all the idiots and entitled people on the road these days then a dash cam is must.

Some idiot crashed into me 6 years ago and I still feel tense driving up to the same junction

That is why I have a dash cam, at least you could give the film to the police. Horrible experience

YANBU at all. That sounds absolutely terrifying, and its definitely a completely normal reaction. Don't bottle anything up though, cry your heart out if thats what you feel you need to do

My aunt had that. Except the person leapt out of the car and started shouting abuse about her being on the wrong side of the road.
Suddenly he stopped. Said "oh no" looked at her and said "I'm back in England aren't I" and couldn't apologise too much.

She could laugh about it by the time she told us (around 6 months later though)

That sounds very scary, but as far as taking action/reporting there's not much you can do even if you had the number plate. Unless you have video/dash cam evidence, it's all he said, she said.

Another vote for dash cam here. I have recorded some shocking incidents though nothing as dramatic as yours.

There are some nutters on the road!

I saw someone today do a right turn (on a No Right Turn) and drive the wrong way , against the direction of the arrows into the shopping centre but through the exit road.

I was waiting for a blast of horns or the crunch of impact but the lights changed .

Bloody idiots!

I was driving home from work one day, 8 months pregnant. Driving along a country road approaching a junction, when a white van swings round the corner on the wrong side of the road to overtake a cyclist. I slammed on the brakes and the van flew past missing by about a foot. I pulled over and burst into tears I was so shaken! I hope the driver of the van knew how much of a fucking idiot he had been and took more care in future, but there’s so many drivers out there that think they own the road.

Did you carry on driving OP? If not, make sure you drive tomorrow. Otherwise it will become a big thing when you do get back in the car

Shock is horrible and can last for a day in my experience. Mine wasn't driving related, I had a really bad fall. I managed to get up and get to work. I felt weepy all morning and craved sugary things all afternoon. Hope you feel better soon OP.

Indeed I will not tell you to pull yourself together. You've had the most horrendous and terrifying shock. 3 inches could have been the difference between life and death or serious life changing injuries.
You'll never stop thinking of what could have happened.
My dd was almost hit by speeding car. 11 years ago. It literally missed her by any inches. There's not a day that goes by were I don't think of the tragedy and devastation that might have been. However at the same time it didn't so I shouldn't think like that.