On Tuesday evening, a loaded logging truck and trailer coming down the Old Tauranga Road towards the highway never saw me coming.

I think he might have seen the white van that was following about 50m behind me and calculated he had enough time to safely go through the intersection.

It was just before 5pm, darker than usual, as I came over the Kaimais on the way to Tauranga.

My black car could not have been obvious to the truckie as I think the angle of the highway in relation to the Old Tauranga Road is such that there might be a blind spot when two vehicles move at the same speed towards the intersection. Although my headlights and fog lights were on, the truckie couldn't have seen me on his approach – why else would he have gone through the intersection without stopping?

I had to brake hard and swerve sharply to avoid the truck, managing to get around it.

It was one of the scariest moments in my life, watching as the grill of the truck kept on coming and coming towards me. For a heart-stopping moment I looked up into the driver's eyes as he looked down on me. It felt like ages before the truck slowly came to a standstill inches from my still-moving car. It all happened extremely fast but played out in slow motion. By this time the truck was stationary across the highway.

And then, I kept on driving. I only wanted to get home. I knew if I pulled over before getting to Tauranga, I wouldn't have been able to drive any further. I was in shock and too upset.

I am thankful for a set of good tyres, an anti-skid braking system and instinct that took over. So to the truckie, I apologise for not pulling over after the incident has happened, but please, stop dead at this intersection every time, even if you thought you didn't see a car on your approach... there might just be one.

K de la Rey, Tauranga