Confusion is a Scary Thing

In my neighborhood, a car ran through a Salvation Army Thrift Store. So what, I know. The reason that was given for this "mistake" was that the driver confused the accelerator with the brake pedal. I just have a problem believing that. I heard a report on the radio this morning that said that the driver was middle-aged. She has obviously been driving for a while. The brake has always been the horizontal pedal on the left and the gas has always been the verticle pedal on the right. How can all of the sudden one get confused?
Check out the picture through the link. The car went through the front wall of the store, all the way through to the back wall. The store manager said that she thought the car was going to go through the rear of the store and back outside.
Don't get me wrong. People make mistakes. However, how can you make the mistake of hitting the wrong pedal (and not be able to correct it quicker than that)?
I started thinking about similar types of "confusion" that we never hear about:
"Hey Bob, how did you get a cold?"
"I confused my gloves with my shoes and didn't notice till my feet were drenched."
"Hey Stella, I heard you were in the hospital. What happened?"
"I confused a diet coke with a can of motor oil and I drank half the can before I figured it out. I thought it tasted a little funny, though."
"Hey Simon, what's with the neck brace?"
"I confused my butt with my head, and jammed it in the recliner. I would have been fine if I hadn't fallen asleep. That Lazy-Boy is so comfortable, though."
I don't know. Maybe it is the truth. Maybe she has slow reaction time. If they are that slow, it is good think she didn't make it to the street!




6 comments:

Jod{i} said...

You wrote:
"I confused my butt with my head, and jammed it in the recliner. I would have been fine if I hadn't fallen asleep. That Lazy-Boy is so comfortable, though."

Oh Man, I love that! ANd what you write is true...I dont get that defense either, it appears many do this too!

:)

Tawnya said...

Thank you for the comment and the link!!! It is nice to pick up a new reader along the way... Tawnya

Jod{i} said...

Ahhh but I did not plant them all...many are from the birds...seee...
We always say feeding the birds and squirrels beats the 150 an hour for a therapist(and this comes from a person with a degree in psych mind you) and I just believe it..
So next year? Birdhouses...watch the accidental wildflowers grow!

Judith HeartSong said...

thank you for the laugh..... couldn't agree more. I have to go for now as I am going to the beach this evening to get some sun.

judi

BlogOmar said...

Once I got the floor mat stuck to the accelerator, and the car wouldn't stop. That was a tad freaky for about 20 seconds.

Though funny as heck.

Bon & Mal Mott said...

Hi, Jeff. Just a thought, but perhaps the woman, as I, has peripheral neuropathy and simply couldn't feel the pedal. If so, she should cease driving.
The list of "confusions", though, was entertaining.

Bonnie and Walt