# Fascination with the sparkly lights

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fascination-with-the-sparkly-lights/344623>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [February 15, 2006, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fascination-with-the-sparkly-lights/344623 "2006-02-15T13:59:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fascination-with-the-sparkly-lights/344623/1 "2006-02-15T13:59:11Z")

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To the Georgia drivers who must slow down to watch someone being ticketed during rush hour: pull over so that you can see _everything_, take your digital photos, record the proceedings if you feel the need, and let the rest of us go on our merry ways to work.

I know the flashing light are purdy, but my blood pressure rises after fighting my way through traffic to learn that the slowup is due to rubbernecking a non-event.

Thank you very much.

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fascination-with-the-sparkly-lights/344623/2 "2006-02-15T14:19:13Z")

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You do realise that in heavy traffic, once one driver slows down to take a look, the others behind him are obliged to do likewise?

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**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fascination-with-the-sparkly-lights/344623/3 "2006-02-15T14:33:19Z")

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I like to see if it’s someone I know (and don’t like) just so I can take pleasure in seeing his day get ruined, but I only do this if there are no cars behind me; otherwise I just make a quick glance.

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**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fascination-with-the-sparkly-lights/344623/4 "2006-02-15T15:03:39Z")

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They like pretty sparkly lights in Michigan too.  
I only look if it’s interesting carnage. And to see if maybe my ex is mangled in there someplace.

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**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fascination-with-the-sparkly-lights/344623/5 "2006-02-15T21:59:20Z")

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Another possible reason for slowing down is just that there are these 2 (or more) cars stopped by the side of the road, plus possibly a person standing there. It’s also possible that even if the cop is still inside his car, he may exit same at any time. So it’s not a bad idea to slow down a bit and be prepared to avoid hitting a person or an opening car door. 'Cause it would really ruin your day to hit a police officer (or a patrol car door).