Alhamdulillah! I've been involved, from my stunningly flaky memory, in approximately 3 road traffic accidents (RTAs); the first I can recall in the year 2000 was after my secondary school and I was on the way to visit a friend in Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos. I was on the back of a motorcycle and we were just about to cross the other side of either the hospital or the primary school when a car, out of nowhere (it's always out of nowhere, I really don't get why!) had us flipping through the air. I think we rode right into it as it was reversing. Anyways, I fell off and had a deep scratch on my right shin just below my knee (still have the scar). But I was okay, ultimately, so I went to the side of the road and sat down quietly while passersby and witnesses gathered to do any or all of the following; get information for gossip purpose, help, have a story to tell, or just stand and watch. They kept saying "there was a girl on the back, where is she?" I would raise my hand ✋ but it wasn't until one of our math teachers, Mrs. Chukwuma, who was also passing by saw me, stopped and took me to the hospital where the wound was checked and cleaned then I went back home. No visit.
The second accident was when we were on the way to Zaria with Abdallah, in the evening back in 2007, and we were having a good conversation when he stopped replying me which I noticed and wondered why but I didn't bother about it and kept yapping then BANG! the bonnet of our car was crushed beneath a trailer that had occupied the entire length of the road while trying to turn or park or for whatever reason it was stationed thusly. Again, Alhamdulillah! SEATBELT SAVES LIVES! I was thrust forward and held safely in place by the belt. "Bismillah... Alhamdulillah". Those were the two words I distinctly remember saying on impact and halting. Turns out he had seen the trailer and his silence was him making the decision on which end of the trailer would be the least devastating, for sudden break would have made it worse. Therefore he kept his speed and RAM under the tail of the trailer the bonnet went into. What do I know about driving or the physics of cars and roads? Absolutely nothing! Heck! I never even saw the trailer till we hit it. That time was the literal example of "me not using any braincells when I'm with him". I give him credit, he thought right, the car was damaged but the humans were alright.
The third and most recent happened on the morning of Sunday June 8th, 2025, while on the way back from work. It was the 3rd day of Eid el Adha. We had done night shift, from 10pm till 7am, we started the journey 4 staff and the driver. I was the only female so driver said to sit at the front. I cannot overemphasize this SEATBELTS SAVE LIVES! I fastened my seatbelt and we began the trip. My place of work is located about a km from the tollgate of the Cairo - Alexandria desert highway, so it's about 35-45mins to my pickup/drop-off point depending on traffic. It was a clear and smooth ride as the nation was on Eid break but the driver was driving so slowly I was certain we'd reach the next day. Anyways, the first colleague dropped at Nazlet el-Monib and then there was 3 of us, I was to be next (feels like a final destination story right now). We reached Ma'adi and in less than 2 minutes I was to have dropped but POP and CRASH and TUMBLE and SLIDE and everything was upside down. Inna lillahi w inna ilaihi raji'un.
What happened? How did it happen? I was just getting ready to put my cellphone in my bag and next thing I'm hanging and unsure of which of the Azkaars I was chanting while trying to make sure I as well as others in the vehicle were alive and alright. I checked myself and said, okay, it's the seatbelt holding me, now where's the buckle? I believe I checked both sides cos I wasn't sure if it was this side or that side of me, eventually, I found it and I was so relieved that it wasn't stuck or I wasn't stuck and I was able to drop down on my hands and knees and crawl out through the shattered front passenger window obtaining some scrapes and tiny shards of glass underneath my skin. I stood up, looked back and the driver was still hanging, alive, but hanging and blood dripping out his head, the other 2 colleagues were at the back and I have not an inkling of how they came out. Passersby stopped to help and security men at the front of the houses they keep also rushed and they were able to pull out the driver. He was bleeding from his head and someone smartly asked for tissue to apply pressure on the wound.
When you're in a car, fasten your seatbelt. Encourage your front seat passenger to do so as well and if available at the back, the backseat passengers should also put it on. As Muslims, you must never leave your home without your going out Azkaar and when you return, you should also recite your coming-in Azkaar. While on the road have your travelling, or getting on/in a vehicle Azkaar. Have a print-out and paste it on your windscreen or glove-compartment. Take all the precaution and trust in Allah and have a safe trip all the time.
