No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
An incident in the Turkish city of Mersin offered a neat reminder that the old saying about good deeds rarely going unpunished did not appear out of thin air.
For one driver, the day began with a decision to become traffic’s moral compass. Spotting a pedestrian waiting at the roadside, the driver braked and waved them across. Go on then, the road is yours. A small act of courtesy, accompanied by that familiar glow of civic virtue.
Just as the scene threatened to restore faith in humanity, fate intervened with a crunch and a bang. What followed looked less like polite urban driving and more like a demolition yard in mid meeting. A security camera captured the sequence frame by frame. At the front, calm and courtesy. At the back, pure chaos.
The pedestrian did not linger to exchange insurance details or offer heartfelt thanks. The instant metal met metal, they rediscovered a previously hidden talent for sprinting and vanished towards the horizon, quicker than a free lunch disappears in a room full of journalists.
Drivers and passengers clambered out of their cars, dusted themselves down and took stock. Apart from a few scratches to the vehicles and a noticeable dent to collective dignity, everyone walked away unhurt.
Police are now piecing together who triggered the chain reaction, examining footage and statements with the usual diligence. Locals, however, already have their verdict. It was simply one of those days when even fate decided that politeness was asking too much.
The moral is clear enough. If you find yourself in Mersin and a driver kindly gives way, make sure your trainers are tied properly. Just in case.
