New York Minute 18 - Splash

If you're in New York during or following a rain shower, you'll learn quickly to avoid puddles, especially large puddles in the streets. 

If a passing car drives through a puddle, it's likely that the impact will cause water to spray up onto the sidewalk. Sometimes, it's a lot of water.

New York's streets are dirty, and the water in those puddles is filthy. Getting splashed by cold, dirty puddle water is an extremely uncomfortable experience. The dirt and oil in urban puddle water can stain your clothing beyond repair.

This morning, I put on a clean suit in anticipation of an important meeting with upper management. As I waited to cross the street at an intersection, a passing Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) hit a puddle that was a few feet away from me.

You might be thinking that I should have known better, that I should have stood back away from the street and out of range of potential puddle splash. 

In my defense, the puddle was tiny, about ten inches (25 cm) in length, five inches wide, and it had less than a half inch of water in it. I never would have believed that I could have been splashed by such a tiny amount of water.

Unfortunately, the guy must have hit the hole just right. Bam! Water from an inconsequentially small puddle is suddenly all over me, my pants, and my jacket. Yuck!

So, here's a word to the wise about street puddles: avoid the big ones cautiously, but realize that even a small puddle can splash all over your clothing if a motorist hits it at just the right speed and direction.

Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South 

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