OT: A vignette on the most stunning display of human stupidity I've ever seen
We're currently getting pooped on by the snow gods here in SE Michigan. I made my own stupid mistake by choosing to drive from Detroit to Ann Arbor in this storm (but for the righteous purpose of watching the Rose Bowl with my dad).
When the roads are snow slushy ass, there is a very low threshold for bad driving. Driving over 40 mph is inadvisable, crossing the snowdrift lane barriers to pass people is dumb, and tailgating is criminally negligent. But the shit these two people pulled was on a different level of stupid. These events happened within a minute of each other.
A cop was blocking off the two left lanes because there was a 4-car accident. There was a sign warning that the lanes were closed, and the stretch of highway was straight such that you could see the cop there for a good 5 minutes before we even neared the accident. So after waiting in this traffic jam for about 20 minutes and RIGHT before we pass the accident, a car (maybe 4 or 5 in front of me) swerves over into the closed middle lane and floors it. Problem is, there was only like 30 yards this idiot and the cop car in the first place. Just before what seemed like an imminent collision, the idiot veered right into the median wall and totaled the car.
Yup. So now, this was probably the 6th or 7th accident that was evident in a 10 mile stretch. There was evidence abound that you needed to drive cautiously. Unfortunately, the car behind me did not get the memo.
After having been sitting in traffic for 20 minutes, we finally passed the accident (at which point you'd assume the traffic would begin clearing up). But the guy in the car behind me was not satisfied with our rate of speed. So what did he do? When we passed by an ON-ramp, he pulled a fucking U-turn, proceeded up the on-ramp, and promptly ran into a car going the right direction. I kid you people not. I kid you not.
Needless to say, I am starting off the New Year with a very pessimistic outlook on humanity.
January 1st, 2014 at 2:34 PM ^
I'll be very surprised.
The idiot driver in the second accident should be yanked out of his car bodily by the cops and given a thorough working-over with nightsticks, rubber truncheons, flashlights, boots, and then tasered repeatedly. And then he should be charged with attempted negligent homicide and sent away to the slammer for at least twenty years.
And if "attempted negligent homicide" doesn't exist in the criminal code, the state legislature should convene in emergency session to create such a legal definition, and it should be named after the asshole who drove up the ramp.
January 1st, 2014 at 2:50 PM ^
after this idiot serves a couple years in prison (i'm hopeful that there were no serious injuries--i didn't see the collision from my rear view mirror, only heard the crash and then looked back, but i'd assume both cars were going relatively slow) this person should never be able to have a license again.
January 1st, 2014 at 3:15 PM ^
What could you possibly be thinking to do something so dumb.
January 1st, 2014 at 3:20 PM ^
the only car to do this. there was an on-ramp right when the traffic jam started, and several--maybe 3 or 4--cars pulled a Uey on the shoulder and went up the on-ramp. luckily, that was a short and very seldom used entrance (though it's doubtful the cars knew/cared about that).
January 1st, 2014 at 4:07 PM ^
have an Ohio license plate?
January 1st, 2014 at 6:53 PM ^
I don't totally agree with your sentiment, even if given partially in jest, but the rant was so great that I had to upvote it.
January 1st, 2014 at 2:38 PM ^
The first one is extremely dumb and impatient, but doesn't suprise me all that much. Deliberately driving the wrong way on a highway entrance is beyond dumb, an entirely different level of idoicy. Glad you didn't get hurt.
January 1st, 2014 at 2:39 PM ^
The amount of people that just have no clue how to drive seems to rise rapidly every year. If you add in a few elements those same people are prone to wrecks.
January 1st, 2014 at 2:40 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 6:20 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 11:20 PM ^
Not true. When it rains hard people drive maddeningly slow. Fog on the other hand causes people to drive faster(dumber), causing 100 car pileups.
January 1st, 2014 at 2:43 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 2:44 PM ^
From what you describe it sounds like both drivers were impatient and being "God's special snowflake" they figured their time was the most important thing to be considered and put everyone at risk in doing so.
You read stories like these and try to imagine just how stupid people can be and I'm reminded of the late, great H.L.Mencken who said "no one ever went broke underestimating the intellengence of the American public."
January 1st, 2014 at 3:48 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 2:48 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 2:50 PM ^
Bad enough to drive like an idiot, but these people are taking chances with other peoples' lives.
January 1st, 2014 at 2:52 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 2:58 PM ^
it's terrifying really.
January 1st, 2014 at 2:56 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 2:55 PM ^
people heading to Ann Arbor for a hockey game. Lots of anechdotal evidence from those texting me it was a nightmare getting there, mostly because of these idiots you describe.
January 1st, 2014 at 3:01 PM ^
i'm relatively new at driving (8 years) and try my best to avoid driving when it's like that, but the roads were terrrrible. add in the holidays and people being (dumb) people, truly scary to be on the road. what is normally a 40 minute drive ended up taking me nearly 2 hours.
i wanted to go to the game, but i didn't see the thread here about cheap tickets being available early enough.
January 1st, 2014 at 2:59 PM ^
I normally don't say things like this in the blogosphere, but to the guy being described who willfully drove the wrong way up the ramp only to get into an accident, "What an idiot". I would imagine that falls under the definition of "careless driving" in Michigan, which is three points plus fines and oppressive insurance premiums potentially, I believe - I hope he thinks this was totally worth it, not to mention the part of endangering the lives of others. Start to finish, a dipshit move.
January 1st, 2014 at 3:27 PM ^
This one would fall under "reckless driving", which is more severe.
January 1st, 2014 at 3:50 PM ^
I believe this falls under the even more severe category of "Mutherfucking idiotic driving". I'm not sure what the exact penalties for that are though. Personally I'd start with a multi-year suspended license and potential jail time.
January 1st, 2014 at 3:02 PM ^
some people need to experience for themselves before they learn. i live in chicago but make the detroit drive fairly regularly, and like everyone want to be off the road asap. but in wintery conditions its unreasonable to drive like normal.
January 1st, 2014 at 3:02 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 3:07 PM ^
drivers tests only really test your ability to conduct a car. it doesn't actually test whether or not you are a steaming pile of human filth and drive with the mindset that you are, as mgrowold said, "God's special snowflake."
January 1st, 2014 at 3:09 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 3:10 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 3:14 PM ^
you don't think people were capable of pretending to be patient, safe drivers to pass the test?
January 2nd, 2014 at 8:44 AM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 3:13 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 3:30 PM ^
I tend to drive a little fast (5-8 mph over speed limit) in good conditions, but in snow I'm one of the slower cars on the road. Never ceases to amaze me the way people speed on by like nothing is out of the ordinary, not realizing or accepting that the snowy or icy conditions have astonomically increased their risk of an accident. As TaiStreets notes, even seeing accidents is not enough to get through to these numskulls.
January 1st, 2014 at 3:40 PM ^
Many of those from the west side of the state and the UP surely read this and laughed a little. Definitely a sign of how much less snow SE Michigan gets than most of the rest of the state.
January 1st, 2014 at 3:59 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 5:18 PM ^
Yeah, as someone else who learned to drive on the west side, I land in the middle of the two. You can well drive over 40 mph and you can pass in through the snow medians but you have to be careful still. People still drive up and down 31 going 55-60 in snowstorms. These morons driving like that around an accident are idiots.
January 1st, 2014 at 3:51 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 4:06 PM ^
I hate people.
January 1st, 2014 at 4:10 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 4:14 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 4:16 PM ^
I knew there were a lot of stupid people in this world, but that is incredible. Good for you that you were not part of the demolition derby.
January 1st, 2014 at 4:24 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 4:30 PM ^
When I was young and stupid, I was driving to work in a snow storm, decided to pass some guy in the snowy passing lane, and promptly spun out of control into a snowbank. The guy I passed rightfully kept on going, giving me the finger.
January 1st, 2014 at 4:42 PM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 6:01 PM ^
Winter Classic in one piece, I have but one thing to say. If any of you are in favor of alcohol sales for football games, I hope you were pushed, fallen upon, hit by a vehicle or thrown up on during the course of your day. If you found yourself with a puddle at the end of a pant leg while you waited in line, it was divine justice.
I won't go into details, but my point of view regarding Canadians took a large step backwards today as well. I would also have told you that it was impossible for my opinion of the average driver to be worse. Yep, wrong again.
January 2nd, 2014 at 8:52 AM ^
January 1st, 2014 at 6:12 PM ^
Yet again, another unfortunate casualty of fewer Michigan alums staying in-state after graduation.
Heh.
January 1st, 2014 at 6:34 PM ^
With weather like this no wonder Bill O'Brian is going to the Texans.
January 1st, 2014 at 11:17 PM ^
I was going to go down to Detroit to catch my first ship of the year (The Ojibway in case anyone cares). As I was on Huron STreet waiting at the light on Michigan Ave (in Ypsi), I looke in my rear view mirror to see a Minivan spinning out behind me. Fortunately he regained control but blew around me and through the light. Fortunately, he didn't hit anyone. So I got on I-94, it didn't seem too bad but then it felt like the car was slipping a bit, so I got off at Rawsonville. Caught pictures of the Wolverine instead.