When I was still young and foolish, I broadsided a Pontiac with my '55 Mercury at a residential intersection. The Pontiac was perhaps a 1960 model, was thrown sideways up onto the grassy area of an apartment building, a distance of perhaps 60 feet. My Merc stopped dead center in the intersection. I had seen it coming, stood on the brakes, grasped the steering wheel hard, absorbed the impact completely with my arm and shoulder muscles, and was completely uninjured. I guessed my impact velocity was down to 20-25 mph. My radiator did not even leak a drop, though the massive front bumper was amazingly bent and twisted. The impact cracked the battery case. Cops measured and documented 66 feet of skid marks. I had the right-of-way; both were ticketed.
DL suspended 12 months due to new Financial Responsibility Law, cops came to our house and confiscated both my Dad's and my license plates, as well. A year later, preparing to marry, and get my DL back, DMV could not find the accident file! I drove my honeymoon trip Chicago to L.A. and back with no DL, my new wife had none yet! imp
