Yesterday I came down a slight hill and pressed the brakes. I stupidly didn't press hard enough.

Because I approached a red light at a four-way intersection and put my brakes on, I skidded over the crosswalk into oncoming cross-traffic. I had a very close call. I had the brake pads on the rear brake recently replaced. I had called the LBS about judging when I should have the front brake pads replaced, only five minutes or so, before it happened.