A conversation with a tow truck driver in Denver that made me rethink my whole driving attitude

I got a flat tire on I-25 last January around 2am during a snowstorm. While I was waiting for a tow, the driver showed up and instead of rushing, he took about 10 minutes to show me how to use my own jack and spare properly. He said "most people never learn this stuff until they're stuck and scared." He didn't charge me extra or make me feel dumb, he just explained why my old spare was actually dangerous to run at highway speeds. That night made me realize how many things I just assume I know without ever actually checking. I started watching simple car maintenance videos after that and even showed my neighbor how to check her oil last month. Has anyone else had a random stranger teach them something basic that totally changed how they handle everyday tasks?

3 comments

3 Comments

simonp761mo ago

Did you ever find out if that old spare could have actually blown out on you at highway speeds, or did you just take his word for it?

wood.eric1mo ago

Ha! Yeah man, I took his word for it but @simonp76 that same thing happened to me with a donut once, scary stuff.

kimr741mo ago

Driven on old dry rubber it probably would have blown the first time you hit a bump.