During my tenure in law enforcement, I had numerous occasions where I was on a scene of a vehicle accident, some major, and some minor. Even more occasions conducting traffic stops on the sides of the road, or even parking lots.
Every single time while engaged in these events, I noticed several other drivers (as well as passengers) gawking in my direction as they passed by, failing to notice what was in front of them as they continued with their forward momentum. Occasionally, I would hear a “crunch”, sometimes a “crash” and other associated sounds such as breaking glass or plastic, cursing that would make a sailor blush, or the “gasp” or all the above as they passed.
As an accident investigator, I would check on those other occupants for medical issues and smile inside, because I knew I didn’t have far to travel to take my next accident report.
My record is four accident reports without moving my vehicle.
A study conducted by the Virginia Dep’t of Motor Vehicles and Virginia Commonwealth University, (see article)showed that “texting” was the first cause of an accident and “rubbernecking” was second, accounting for 16% of all distraction-related accidents.
A few of my personal favorites are personal grooming (shaving, brushing teeth, putting on makeup, applying nail polish, etc). Various sex acts (I won’t go into detail, it’ll take too long and this is a family show), dressing/changing clothes, and playing “air instruments” (Air guitar, drums, piano).
The problem is epidemic with rubbernecking. Everyone wants to see the carnage of an accident. And they slow down to get a good look at the scene, so they can languish about it later.
I had a driver so upset after driving past, at 5 mph, an accident scene (no injuries), that she had to stop in the only travel lane and grieve for the driver (no longer on scene, he went home) and completely lost her mind when I asked her to move her vehicle so others may pass.
Safe to say she is etched in my mind as the most unstable person I have ever met driving a motor vehicle.
The reason other accidents happen as rubberneckers pass an accident scene is the varying speeds that rubberneckers drive at.
Rubbernecker #1 slows to 15 mph to view the scene, while rubbernecker #2 is following #1 and slows to 25 mph to view the scene and occasionally rubbernecker #3, following #2, maintains the speed limit at 45 mph .
You know the “end” result.
You may have noticed the barriers erected alongside the freeways, sometimes described as “sound barriers” and certain jurisdictions have opted for the double-high center dividers One of the purposes of these barriers is to block the view of drivers, so they are not distracted by the view on the side of the road or on the other side of the road.
If there was an accident on the opposite side, drivers would not be able to see the wreck, and continue without rubbernecking.
Also, while I don’t claim to be a doctor, it appears if a driver has their head turned to the side while being in involved in a collision, the chances appear to be greater that an injury will occur.
Is it really worth it to risk an accident just to get a glimpse of some blood and guts? Especially if you are going to be traumatized by it?
At minimum, you should be looking at the vehicle in front of you, just in case they are the rubberneckers.
Why don’t people even turn their head when they change lanes in front of you?
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