Rubbernecking.

dantonkin · 30 Nov 2006 at 22:08

Probably the thing I hate the most in the whole world! It seems that every day some one has an accident to and from my journey to work, which slows everyone down as they feel they need to look at the incident.

I really don't get it!!! Why slow hundreds of motorists down by slowing down to almost standstill for a peek at the accident?

It annoys me so much I just had to mention it here.

Morba · 30 Nov 2006 at 22:09

I heard recently that police will be utilising large screens at accidents to stop people being able to see anything. if they cant see anything, they wont slow down.

dantonkin · 30 Nov 2006 at 22:10

I doubt that will stop it happening. People will just drive slow hoping to get a look/see through a gap :mad:

NickXX · 30 Nov 2006 at 22:11

Morba said:
I heard recently that police will be utilising large screens at accidents to stop people being able to see anything. if they cant see anything, they wont slow down.

I thought this would be a really good idea! Didn't realise it's going to be put into practice.

Bri · 30 Nov 2006 at 22:12

Morba said:
I heard recently that police will be utilising large screens at accidents to stop people being able to see anything. if they cant see anything, they wont slow down.

Sounds like a great idea.

paradigm · 30 Nov 2006 at 22:15

Seen the screens up a few times, but generally it is only used for more serious accidents, not the type that occur like 80% of the time.

dantonkin · 30 Nov 2006 at 22:17

You would expect a screen up to cover splattered bodies and dismembered limbs.

andi · 30 Nov 2006 at 22:18

You may hate it, but I bet you do it. Its human nature to want to see whats happened.

dantonkin · 30 Nov 2006 at 22:19

I honestly don't do it. I may turn my head, but will not slow down whilst doing it.

Jokester · 30 Nov 2006 at 22:39

The problem is, it only takes one person to slow down and that's it till the traffic clears because everyone else behind has to slow down.

Just think of those phantom jams, where you slow to a crawl for 5mins then all of a sudden you can start moving again. All caused be someone slowing down causing a chain reaction in heavy traffic.

Jokester

Jet · 30 Nov 2006 at 22:48

If I get caught in a traffic jam for hours after an accident I damn well have a right to see what idiot caused it!

Draeger · 30 Nov 2006 at 22:53

paradigm said:
Seen the screens up a few times, but generally it is only used for more serious accidents, not the type that occur like 80% of the time.

This is correct.

Its almost always the Fire and Rescue Service that put up the salvage sheets/screens and 99.9% of the time its because there is a fatality involved.

I have many pics of such incidents, but theres no way I'm posting them on a public forum, more than my jobs worth!!!. :cool:

Siliconslave · 30 Nov 2006 at 23:04

Jet said:
If I get caught in a traffic jam for hours after an accident I damn well have a right to see what idiot caused it!

hehe, maybe they should make the responsable person (if they aren't too badly injured) Stand with a big "sorry i can't drive" sign at the end of the jam.... but they'd proberbly get stonned to death pretty quickly by passing drivers with the red mist on

Pookie Bear · 30 Nov 2006 at 23:09

Jokester said:
The problem is, it only takes one person to slow down and that's it till the traffic clears because everyone else behind has to slow down.

Just think of those phantom jams, where you slow to a crawl for 5mins then all of a sudden you can start moving again. All caused be someone slowing down causing a chain reaction in heavy traffic.

Jokester

Read a book on everyday mathematics which explained exactly how that happens. Interesting, in a nerdy kind of way. Just one person hitting their brakes on the M25 can cause a traffic jam three miles behind them.

Siliconslave · 30 Nov 2006 at 23:16

Skidmark said:
Read a book on everyday mathematics which explained exactly how that happens. Interesting, in a nerdy kind of way. Just one person hitting their brakes on the M25 can cause a traffic jam three miles behind them.

remberb being facinated by a show about it ages ago, was quite tempted to persew road theory and design as a job, but then realised quite geeky it was and quickly gave up on the idea

The_Dark_Side · 1 Dec 2006 at 00:17

Morba said:
I heard recently that police will be utilising large screens at accidents to stop people being able to see anything. if they cant see anything, they wont slow down.

the latest specifications for central reservation barrier fences for dual carriageways has their vanes set at such an angle that oncoming traffic is only visible at a distance of a few hundred yards.
closer than this and you just can't view the other side of the barrier at all.

macca672 · 1 Dec 2006 at 04:44

Morba said:
I heard recently that police will be utilising large screens at accidents

are they widescreen? whats the quality like? HD ready?

seriously though its a very good idea. Nothing worse than trying to explain to my kids why that poor man has his radiator fan stuck in his eye. Certain things children should never have to see.

Samtheman1k · 1 Dec 2006 at 08:16

They need to erect a fence between the central reservation on motorways to stop the other side slowing down too!

lordrobs · 1 Dec 2006 at 10:35

I nearly hit a Freelander up the bum when they slammed the anchors of in the outside lane of an NSL dual carriageway to have a gawp. I saw the brake lights come on and assume he was dropping a bit to have a look, instead he nearly stopped :mad:

Personally I can think of nothing worse than seeing some poor bugger injured and receiving medical attention or in a less serious incident having a look at someones pride and joy all crumpled.