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Sunday, January 31, 2021

Rubbernecking

Stuck in a bad traffic jam...


Waze reports a collision between a car and motorcycle 780 metres ahead.

Waze screenshot

Crawling impatiently ahead...

Inch by inch...

Finally, the scene of the accident...

BUT ...

The crash is on the OTHER SIDE of the highway!

The reason for the standstill on our side of the road? 

Rubbernecking!

You don't want to look. 

You shouldn't but there is this need to turn your head.

It's like trying hard to not scratch an itch or let out a fart.

You hold back until the last minute.

Then you turn your head and stare...

Are you guilting of *rubbernecking?

*Rubbernecking — a phenomenon when people slow down to gawk at an accident scene

46 comments:

  1. I am guilty of it!! And so are a lot of other people here too :) Its that curiosity factor I think to see what is going on and then hopefully to offer up a prayer for those involved in the accident to make sure they are okay and then to give thanks that we are okay and can continue driving on. Have a nice Sunday Veronica!

    betty

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  2. Maybe immediately after the accident the cars stopped on the other direction as well to avoid any objects that got there from the collision; the traffic for "on-site research" may have been stopped.
    I think that in such situations it circulates very slowly and as a kind of respect for those who were involved (even when they are not victims, but only material damages).
    I wish you a wonderful week, Veronica.

    P.S. I learned a new term: "rubbernecking". Thank you.

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  3. I think we all do it. Curiosity takes over and we can't help ourselves.

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  4. We use that phrase for people that do that too, it's annoying how they slow down just to be nosey.

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  5. It's my first time getting to know the term 'rubbermacking'.
    It increases my English vocabulary.
    I don't think it's wrong for us to take a quick look at an incident at a location.
    Always be careful.

    Greetings from Indonesia.

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  6. That's true, Veronica, Rubbernecking. Unfortunately, in Italy people do the same: they slow down while they are driving and see the accident scene.

    In addition to "Rubbernecking", you have just taught me another English term, the verb "to gawk" (stare openly and stupidly). Thanks for that!

    Have a nice week 🌞

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  7. I can´t remember I have done that as I know the road have to stay clear.

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  8. amazing how that happens. sometimes we cannot look away
    sherry @ fundinmental

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  9. I'm guilty, I've slowed down and looked at an accident. I think it's just part of human nature to be curious.

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  10. I get frustrated by tie-ups caused by rubberneckers but I can't NOT rubberneck myself!
    Shame on me!
    Thanks for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2021/02/black-and-white.html

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  11. Wrecks on the highway are frustrating and sad - I've been caught in the long line more than once

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  12. We were once stuck for over two hours in stopped traffic because of rubbernecking for an accident on the other side of the road. How frustrating. If people want to see crumpled fenders they should go to a junk yard.

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  13. The bad thing is that when you drive in between cars, one has to go the same pace, so I am forced to slow down! I am more impatient with my front and back neighbor-car than anything else, making us 20-49 minutes late for a meeting. They are much better with not causing a traffic jam on the country side! Thank you for sharing this "event" so well known to city dwellers with All Seasons, Jesh

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  14. We call those "gaper's blocks" here. When we come into a situation like that, I tell Joe to watch the road and I will get a full report. It sometimes may cause a rear-ending on the opposite side of the accident because people are so busy watching they don't look where they are going.

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  15. We try and avoid motorways. The scenic, slower route is often less demanding and stressful. I guess depending upon where you live that is not always possible.

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  16. We are all guilty.
    It just amazes me how it slows up traffic.

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  17. I have never rubbernecked in my life.....coughs :-)


    Have a rubberneckinglesstastic safe week 😷😷😷

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  18. I suppose I've done it, but I try to keep the line moving and grooving.

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  19. Nowadays it's not just the gawking.. everyone needs to make a video of it as well.

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  20. I do rubberneck. Only when I am a passenger, though. Why is it that we always look at something terrible like a car crash? If I am driving, I keep my eye on the car in front of me. The last thing I want to do is to cause another accident through rubbernecking.

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  21. I think it is human nature to have a quick look as we drive past, and to be grateful that we are not the ones involved.
    That looks a very bad accident and I hope those involved recovered.
    https://allatseawithme.blogspot.com/2021/02/wordless-wednesday.html

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  22. Yep, no matter where the accident is, all lanes are a mess.

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  23. ...rubbernecking is common here to.

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  24. Rubbernecking is a bad habit, but one we all have. ☺
    Have a fine day, Veronica!

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  25. I'm guilty of rubbernecking. I think it's something we humans just have to do.

    I hope everyone came out of this accident okay.

    Thank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.

    Have a fabulous Wordless Wednesday, Veronica. Big hug. ♥

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  26. I think we're all guilty. It is impossible not to be. If I'm the driver, I strive to keep it to a glance and focus on what is around me.

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  27. Oh no! Rubberneckers drive me crazy.

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  28. It happened when I lived in the city. Here a traffic jam is 3 cars at an intersection at the same time. (our village has 1 4 way stop). Have a marvellously Happy Day!

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  29. Very sad these kind situations. Unfortunately they are a lot, everywhere.
    People are hurry all the time. Probably they think that nothing could happen to them... :( And people are curious all the time. It's in our nature. But beside curiosity would be nice to help, if necessary!

    Have always a safe trip, Veronica! All the best and Happy WW!

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  30. Humans are strange!

    Thank you for being a part of 'My Corner of the World' this week! A link back would be appreciated!

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  31. All lookey-loos causing that backup! That was a nasty crash, though.

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  32. I actually tend to shy away from looking as I really don't want to see anything. But it does seem to cause major traffic delays no matter what side the accident takes place.

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  33. Oh dear that does look like a bad crash, I hope everyone was okay! I find the same here, after a crash it slows down from people having a look at what happened!

    Hope that you are having a good week :)

    Away From Blue

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  34. When my job was in Houston I drove 82 miles roundtrip every day. Every single day there was an accident or a broken-down car.

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  35. Oh how terrible,
    Good that nothing worse happened, the pictures look bad
    Greetings
    Kirsi

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  36. In Germany, taking photos or filming an accident would be a criminal offense. Imprisonment of up to two years or a fine.

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  37. I do not rubberneck. I don't want to see something that will be hard to forget. :(

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  38. I hope everyone was alright. Motorcycle accidents are rarely minor.

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  39. That happens here too, especially in New Orleans. Everybody has to slow down to see what's happening on the other side of the interstate!

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  40. Buona serata e felice inizio settimana.

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