My First Crash: Peter James Peter James on the first time he was involved in a car accident
(The Sunday Times, 9th April 2006.)

Six years ago I was renting a Cadillac in Los Angeles and I was late for a meeting about launching a new television series on the USA Network.

As I was rushing along, my mobile phone dropped on the floor of the car and just as it did so it started to ring. I braked and bent forward to pick it up, then as I sat up again realised to my horror the car just in front had stopped behind a queue of traffic.

I remember thinking, “Shit, this can’t be how it ends. If only I could wind the clock back a few seconds.” I sailed straight into the back of him and shunted him forward into the car ahead.

I can remember hearing the successive knocks and the horrible sound of crunching metal and smashing headlights. It ended up with about five vehicles involved.

I got out and was relieved to find that nobody was actually hurt. A guy in a truck stood on the road and said, “Don’t worry it wasn’t your fault, it was some asshole who stopped right in front of us and made us brake suddenly.” It just amazed me how good everyone was about it.

But their faces dropped a bit after I rang Avis. A guy arrived with a new Cadillac for me only moments later and as I got in to go they were looking at me enviously. They were going to have to stay a lot longer before sorting out some transport, and I think they knew I was the one who had in fact caused it all.

Three years later I took a taxi from my home in Lewes to go to London. Before we got on to the main road a lady pulled out of a side turning and the taxi driver went straight into her car, taking the front off. Thankfully the lady wasn’t badly hurt, but she was bruised. I damaged my knee and suffered whiplash to my neck — I am still having physiotherapy for it today.

The next day I bought an S-class Mercedes for all my trips to London. I decided I didn’t want to be chauffered any more — I’d rather retain control.

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