Flying plywood

The very same thing happened to me last summer, only it was a chunk of wood from a logging truck, not a piece of plywood. Luckily, I saw it coming and managed to swerve just enough that it hit the mirror and not my face. The coloured piece of the mirror housing can be replaced easily enough, though it's easier to see how to do it once you have the replacement part in hand. If you squeeze the plastic housing with both hands, it will bend enough for the little holding pins to release. It's a 5 minute job, 4 of which is getting the old part off. The body shop wanted about $150, but I did it myself for about $30. If you can live with the crack in the black part, (make sure there's no serious damage inside once you get the housing off) that will be much easier and cheaper than replacing the entire housing, mirror and all.

 

That's nothing

Flying Cow Leaves Two Police Cars in Flames

 

There's a limit to the distance plywood will fly. So were you too close to the vehicle in front?
In my experience most people drive far too close. Years ago I was in a car behind a truck when the truck's gearbox exploded, scattering large steel bits and pieces all over the highway. We were far enough back to avoid the biggest pieces but since then I always imagine remote possibilities happening when I'm behind another vehicle.

 

Yes, and yes. Be sure to order the correct year and colour, and specify if it's left or right. I was greatly relieved to find I could order just that housing part, and not the whole mirror assembly. Even the parts manager didn't think I could until he looked it up.

 

Oxo,

Have you ever driven on any Southern California freeway during the rush hour?

 

You are lucky.

see...

Blinded Woman's Tragedy Leads To New Law
http://www.komotv.com/news/story.asp?ID=36835

Woman Nearly Killed By Flying Piece Of Plywood
http://www.komotv.com/news/story.asp?ID=41840

 

Aw, man, I'm sorry to hear that!

One morning during my commute from El Segundo to Huntington Beach while in my former car, a Saturn, I was driving merrily along in the left lane when a car just ahead of me in the carpool lane ran over something I call 'random freeway shrapnel' because I'm not quite sure what it was. Anyways, this shrapnel then becomes airborne and headed directly at the driver's side of my car, scraping every panel from the frontmost to the rearmost about 8" below the windows. Looked like an angry cat had taken a sharp claw to the side of my car, etching a deep scratch down the length of it. Sounded like it too, when it happened I cringed then nearly wept upon arriving at my destination and seeing the damage. Buffing did nothing, the scratch was too deep.

 

NOOO! Oh Jen, that sucks!

Those SoCal freeways sound like they are more dangerous than when I lived there!

Luckily nobody was hurt from flying debris. Seeh20, sorry about your car, that sucks.

 

A few years ago I was driving our minivan on the freeway when I noticed cars in front of me swerving to avoid something in the lanes. I saw a piece of plywood ahead and swerved to the left to go around it. At the same time, a semi drove over another sheet just ahead and caused it to become airborn - right at my car! Fortunately, since I had moved a bit left, it hit on the passenger side right on the corner. It hit the headlight and came up over the front of the car. Oddly enough, it seemed to be deflected just enough by the antenna that it slid up and over my car. We were pretty freaked out but the only real damage was to the headlight. Didn't notice where it went from there - too busy giving thanks that we weren't killed!

 

On California (and lot of other states) freeways during commute time there's no choice but to drive close. If you leave what is considered a safe distance it just gets filled up with other cars and you aggravate everyone behind you.

 

I was going to add that bit and I am glad that someone else has. It is not just blindness. This person is lucky to be alive. She ended up with major facial and bone surgery just to look acceptable. I don't remember how many hours of surgery she has but it is staggering. Road debris are not a joke.

 

Yeah, road furniture sucks. My 2 week old Prius was clobbered by a flying tire tread, causing $1800 damage to bumper, foglight, grill and even passenger door. Both of our Subarus required windshields and hood repaints after freeway debris damage, and my old 66 Mustang was clobbered by a full 4 x 8 plywood signboard. Hit driver side headlight, but I thought it was coming for me. Its a wonder there is mostly sheetmetal (plastic?) damage and not flesh and bone damage from all the freeway junk. I've seen lawn chairs, ladders, office furniture, bumpers, wheels, a pick axe, trash cans, :angry: and even a mountain bike (no rider) laying on the LA freeways.

 

No, but I am sometimes on the M25 (London) at rush hour, which may be similar.

 

Howard Hughes would have disagreed with you.

http://images.google.com/images?q=spruce+g...b=ii&oi=imagest