Comments on: Stupid People Love Accidents

By: Ryuzo

Ryuzo — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 00:52:58 +0000

Wow, I totally agree with this article. Thinking about accidents, most people do not realize that to maintain the same velocity relative to the pre-accident motion (given a lane is closed) at the accident site they would have to double their velocity, otherwise you get a bottlenecking occuring. But concerning that accident, I was thinking about the torque occuring on the bike, resulting from the rotational inertia experiencing a jerk force affecting the rotational acceleration. I find accidents, though macambre in nature, to be an interesting application to physics, and it is breath-taking to consider the amount of kinetic energy lost during such a collision, and the implications on the human body. Oh, and NPR sucks ass.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 19:45:05 +0000

Here in AZ they call it “rubber necking” when there is traffic slowing because of an accident.

I stumpled across your website through another link.

I’ll be back…too funny!

By: Janet

Janet — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 15:16:50 +0000

The question is this. Are you double the amount of stupid if you slow down and then get into an accident of your own?

And if you don’t know the answer to that one, go ahead and triple your stupid score.

By: susan

susan — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 15:02:03 +0000

Here in the Boston area, traffic reporters say “The Curiosity Factor” when referring to a slow down due to an accident. Isn’t that a cute name for stupid people hanging around or slowing down to see potential gore and the misery of others?

By: Merel

Merel — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 09:42:04 +0000

When I was little I once saw a cyclist who had gotten under the tram, and it was horrible. Since then, I never look when there’s been an accident, unless I am the only one there and have to help. But that never happens, so mostly I ignore accidents.

By: Eve

Eve — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 22:16:58 +0000

If I’m standing nearby when a pedestrian gets hit by a car (or, in Manhattan, a bike), I would do something to help or get out of the way of someone who could. I’ve been in situations where there was an accident and my friend was hurt on the ground and the crowd of people were hovering over her doing NOTHING but sucking up her oxygen.

If the accident is something I’m driving by, I just drive on by. Especially if it’s on the other side of the highway, and it isn’t physically barring me from contining!

There is NO WAY in hell I’m standing around for hours to watch the post-accident happenings. I don’t want to speak with the police if I didn’t really see anything (it’s different if I was the sole witness to a hit and run!). It reminds of me that Dane Cook skit where he says everyone wants to be involved in some way in the accident and they want to give their testimony to the police even if they didn’t see shit!

By: pylorns

pylorns — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 15:57:55 +0000

Yeah the “Rubber Neck Effect” here in Austin is amazing. I am a very calm person, but damnit put me behind the wheel when a bunch of morons are slowing down to look at an accident on the other side of the road, you better belive I’m honking like crazy and yelling for them to get FU$%$ moving.

By: Pauly D

Pauly D — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 05:04:10 +0000

Amy - It’s not about “watching the accidents” per se, but what you say when you see them. If you spout out something criminally-interesting that confuses everyone else around you with your witty references… Well, then you may just be smart.

By: Amy

Amy — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 04:59:17 +0000

Hi. I’m a highly intelligent person with a B.A. in Criminal Investigations. A former award winning newspaper reporter who happens to LOVE to stand watch accidents. And then go out and see if anything else has occurred. I never have been called stupid as an adult. So wow… thanks for finally labeling me.

By: Dave2

Dave2 — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 03:29:23 +0000

Unless I can be of help, or know somebody involved whom I might be of service to… I just stay out of the frickin’ way. I guess I don’t find the misfortune of others to be good entertainment.