This scary video captures how little time a driver can have in avoiding a wreck when a tire flies over a median at the approaching car. We often deal with accidents in torts but it is hard for a jury to sometimes understand the very limited time for reaction. Indeed, one of the tricks of litigators is to give a sense of greater time by breaking up the period in a series of decisions or actions.
The van driver is able to move quickly to avoid the tire but that leaves even less time for the victim.
The driver posted the video and described the scene: “I was driving Westbound on the 401 approaching Salem Road on Tuesday Jan 13th 2015 when a tire flew over the median and smashed into my car.”
What is fascinating is that the driver hit by the tire is being attacked in comments for remaining in the left passing lane.
Nick, a while back, in the old CB radio days, the left lane was known as the “Monfort Lane” notable for the high speed long chassis Kenworth’s pulling multi axled trailers, hauling beef, sometimes in convoy. It was rumored that those trucks did not have speedometers. 🙂 Some constipated cheesehead would soon be too terrified to venture there. I doubt, however, that many Monfort haulers ventured up in to Wisconsin, so the go slow habit on the left was formed.
Aridog, NY drivers are brutal for people who hang in the left lane. Cheeseheads must have strokes when they drive east. I find Michigan drivers WNL regarding aggressiveness.
Dang: “hot foot” = “hot shoe” for those old bikers who might notice I misused the terminology.
Bettykath …. we in Michigan gives lessons in tail gating to out of state folks…aggressive driving is near normal here. 85 mph is no deterrent to tail gating, someone always has to be a “hot foot” (old flat track motorcycle racing term for the foot on the ground at high speed) and just push you to go faster only to then swerve around you at 90+ mph.
“And, crack me open an Old Style, Mabel, I ain’t seen no darn Staties out today.”
I have a theory for the incredible number of constipated Cheeseheads who park their fat asses in the left lane going 62mph and REFUSE TO MOVE over to the right lane. Yes, there are signs that say “Slower Traffic keep Right” But, these fat asses say to themselves, “Ya hey there, I’m goin’ 62 mph, yer darn tootin’ that ain’t slow.” And, while slower drivers are advised to keep right except to pass, there is no law penalizing these Cheeseheads w/ the piles for living their sad lives in the left lane. Additionally, it is legal to pass on the right in Wisconsin, which many consider an unsafe law. So, the conversation between Earl and Mabel in their Buick LeSabre is “Let that guy w/ his undies in a bunch go around us on the right, I like it here in this left lane, now pass me one of them there cheese sticks.”
re: left hand lanes. I just drove about 3000 miles, most of it on interstates. I passed many signs, in more than one state, that indicated the left lane was for passing. Also, slower drivers keep right could imply left lane for fast or for passing. I’ll be doing another 3000 mile trip when the NE warms up, I’ll pay more attention to which signs are where. No, I’m not in CA where the driving, at least in LA, is crazy – too fast and tailgating seems the rule.
I think his music is horrible or he is driving in the passing lane or left lane is an issue. Really! Come on folks. Wake up and as the old saying goes. Smell the coffee. Reality isn’t some “Reality Show” where we all can make judgment’s on one another! Do you really think, that our opinion matters , at the moment in crisis! Hello!
No wonder Ferguson was such an issue. Facts or the situation meant nothing. We are getting paid to Riot, Steal, and Bully people then disappear! yea right. Decisions without knowing the “true” facts is like asking for a Million Dollars from your Uncle who is 90 and on Food Stamps and your pissed because he didn’t fulfill your demand! Talk about bully’s!
Hello, are there any sane thinkers out there?
What ever happened to: WOW, thank God he’s alright. What ever happened to ” How would I have handled that situation with the time he had to deal with it or would I have , that lucky , to see another day?
This is really scary! No body could have anticipated that, tire coming at such a speed and you hardly have any time to react. Most of the people would be shell shocked in such a situation. I do not think driver was at fault.
Agree on Sellers’ genius…..STRANGELOVE, Sellers playing 3 roles, was my favorite among his many great films.
I’ve had some close calls dodging stationary highway debris, and one VERY close call with a mounted tire and its unpredictable path/bounces.
I think dash cams will become more common in American vehicles. Many practical applications, in cases of disputed cause/fault in accidents, as well as documenting possible “errors” from police radar, and other questionable traffic stops.
Isaac, Sellers was a genius. Apparently a real a-hole, but a genius nonetheless. Great clip, thanks. I saw the flick decades ago.
Michael Haz said ….
I am a long distance motorcycle rider. By ‘long distance’, I mean taking trips of 5,000, 10,000, 15,000 miles or longer.
I sort of envy that in a way. In my youth I had a Zundapp one jug nut rattler and the longest trip I could stand was maybe 250 miles, by which time I was numb from the waist to my knees.
After that horses, and dogs, began to take up most of my spare time hobby-wise and I never got in to an actual road bike. I think at 72 it might not be the best time to try anew on a big Harley or Victory bike. The learning curve and all that, plus in my neighborhood a “stop sign” means momentarily lift one’s foot off the gas then stomp on it….left turns from the right lane or right turns from the left lane are also common.
It’s often awkward to be critical of the spelling of ‘tyre’ when one spells ‘rode’ as ‘road;.
Olly, you worked all those years at keeping your riding skills proficient, you should get back on two wheels. Cruising and touring bikes can be ridiculously easy and comfortable to ride these days.
I agree; an endless supply!
Darren, i think airbags deploy,mno matter what the stats are. I was in a driver-only accident, passenger side seat belt not connected, both airbags deployed. I’ve begun paying attention to accidents as I crawl by. I find both airbags deployed,maneuver just one.
In CA we have the Stubborn Old Man problem causing trouble in the far-left “fast” lanes. He gets in them and goes 65MPG. That’s the legal speed limit. As people manage to do all the lane changes necessary to get in front they wave human road signs. Then get in front of him and slow to 60. My Dad once got a ticket for going too slow on the freeway! STO syndrome, though not in the far-left lane.
I have never seen this little game end in an accident; I get as far right as possible and try to get ahead. Watching it as you move up is like a speed chess game. The amazing thing about CA is not how many accidents we have, but how many we don’t!
Pogo, if they did, with so many hot airbags in the Capitol, the whole tire manufacturing industry would move from Ohio to Washington D.C.
Nick
For a character actor scene watch Peter Sellers in Lolita working with James Mason
Tires should come with airbags, then.
There is an ancient Japanese proverb: The tire and the ski jump are soon united.
Who am I to argue with destiny?
The freeway didn’t seem terribly crowded. However, in CA when going a long distance getting in the left lane means not much lane changing. CA drivers change lanes constantly. Sometimes the furthest left lane is for cars with at least two people in it. We love carpooling.
I didn’t see air bags. What kind of car did the tire hit?
Sandy,
For frontal collisions the airbag deployment systems are based upon deceleration and other factors. I don’t believe a collision with a windshield by a tire would have sufficient force to decelerate a car enough to deploy the airbags.