# That's a WRECK in the road ahead, jackass. Why are you passing me??? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 26, 2002, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-a-wreck-in-the-road-ahead-jackass-why-are-you-passing-me/144944 "2002-12-26T06:12:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-a-wreck-in-the-road-ahead-jackass-why-are-you-passing-me/144944/21 "2002-12-26T19:35:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by merge \* > \*\*I am sure that guy really almost hit an ambulance… come on…HELLO??? come on… slowed down to 45 while the other car in the story has to slam on the breaks??? > > Did the person hit the ambulance??? no… > could this whole story been exagerated because some dumbass felt like a guy drove past him too fast??? maybe… > > The point is… Nothing bad happened execpt for TVGuy wetting his pants… \*\* Ambulances almost getting hit happens a lot more often than people think. About 6 months ago a firefighter near hear was killed and 4 others were injured when an inattentive driver ran into a squad car. Operating on the side of the road never fails to scare the shit out of me because of how people drive around accident scenes. So, **TVGuy** thanks for slowing down. I’m sure the guys on the side of the road appreciated it. St. Urho EMT/Firefighter ---
**Author:** ![merge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9f8e36/32.png) [@merge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/merge)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-a-wreck-in-the-road-ahead-jackass-why-are-you-passing-me/144944/22 "2002-12-26T19:37:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Finagle \* > \*\*Golly, Merge, so you’re proposing that driving like a jackass because someone pissed you off is a reasonable defense? I’d like to be around when you try explaining that legal theory to a traffic magistrate. \*\* I’m sorry, did you say golly??? ok, I will leave that one alone… did I say that was a legal theory?? no…did I say it was justified? no… does it happen?? yes… it is called road rage… part of life… people are dumb drivers… I just don’t think TVGuy should pretend like his name is not on that list ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-a-wreck-in-the-road-ahead-jackass-why-are-you-passing-me/144944/23 "2002-12-26T20:22:36Z")
**merge** , this IS the Pit, but even in here there are rules. Rule #1 is “Don’t be a jerk”. Please keep that in mind. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-a-wreck-in-the-road-ahead-jackass-why-are-you-passing-me/144944/24 "2002-12-26T20:35:40Z")
Every once in a while, justice actually happens. A very similar set up a few years ago except they had time to get the cones set up for a lane past the wreck. One guy passed several of us that had slowed to go past the wreck. It was visible for a good distance in advance. He flew past the scene at the 75 MPH speed limit and there were so many police there that they were not all busy. Several were past the wreck and they pulled him over and had him spread eagle against his door as we came past at about 40. 😃 Slowing to 15 MPH on a divided highway when the problem is on the other side and their is obviously no need of more help is rubber necking. Slowing to 40 when going past a wreck in the next lane with people and cars all over the place trying to do their rescue jobs or direct traffic is common sense and sometimes actually mandated by law. YMMV :smack: ---
**Author:** ![merge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9f8e36/32.png) [@merge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/merge)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-a-wreck-in-the-road-ahead-jackass-why-are-you-passing-me/144944/25 "2002-12-26T20:39:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ElwoodCuse \* > \*\ ***merge** , this IS the Pit, but even in here there are rules. Rule #1 is “Don’t be a jerk”. Please keep that in mind. \*\* true… very true… my apologies… thats what happens when they make us work the day after Christmass ---
**Author:** ![fizgig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@fizgig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizgig)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-a-wreck-in-the-road-ahead-jackass-why-are-you-passing-me/144944/26 "2002-12-26T21:08:35Z")
Good rant, **TVGuy**. Driving back through the Gorge on I-84 several Christmases ago, BF at-the-time and I passed a vehicle in the eastbound lane that had crashed into the guardrail. It was extremely icy out; we were pussyfooting along at about 40-50 mph in order to drive safely. No one had come to the aid of the people in the wreck yet, so we stopped and ran back and jumped the guard rail. BF had a bit of EMT training, and called his parents who had more training, and who’s house we’d just left. The parents showed up in their dually pickup and parked on the shoulder opposite the wrecked vehicle, leaving a lane for traffic to get through. The wreck was just up at the top of a small hill, so it would be difficult for cars to see until they were within 100 yards or so, and we were about 30 miles out from The Dalles, so it was a while before the police would arrive, so I was standing on the guard rail flagging cars to slow down, which most of them did. However, this one particular Volvo full of teenagers hit the wreck site in the lane the wrecked car was in, doing about 70, while passing a semi, then narrowly avoided the wreck and the semi. Keep in mind it was really icy. I’m still amazed they didn’t spin out and hit the people in the road. I only wish they could have heard me when I yelled MERRY FUCKING CHRISTMAS, ASSHOLES! ---
**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-a-wreck-in-the-road-ahead-jackass-why-are-you-passing-me/144944/27 "2002-12-26T21:42:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by \*\*Homebrew \*\*\* > Based on **merge** ’s latest contribution to this thread, I hereby withdraw my contention that there was a whoosh. You seem to be correct, **White Lightning**. I was going to say the same. 😃 It was the ellipses that tipped me off… ---
**Author:** ![TVGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/82dd89/32.png) [@TVGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-a-wreck-in-the-road-ahead-jackass-why-are-you-passing-me/144944/28 "2002-12-29T19:10:24Z")
Well, well. Seems like I hit a nerve - especially witrh **Merge** Let me clarify (since it’s apparent that _some people_ obviously didn’t take the time to actually pay attention to the OP) Did I say I cut the jerk off? No. I passed the guy (who was doing 60 in a 70 zone, by the way) and then came upon an accident about a mile later, around a bend in the highway. I slowed down well before the cones, flares, emergency vehicles and so forth - BECAUSE the long line of rubernecking traffic in front of me was slowing down. The highway that was four lanes was down to one lane. The guy I had passed a mile or so back had, by now sped up to the speed limit. I had slowed for the accident, emergency vehicles and restricted lane ahead. Dickwad zooms by me like I’m standing still and THEN realizes that I was sloing down for a reason. He damned near lost control of his vehicle. I guess I could have been clearer, but then it was a rant, right? And most people seemed to understand what I was saying. So, having laid all of this out, and not wanting to lower myself to the phrase “STFU”, I’ll stop now. Have a nice day, **Merge.** (and try a decaffeinated brand, OK?) ---
**Author:** ![Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krisfer_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-a-wreck-in-the-road-ahead-jackass-why-are-you-passing-me/144944/29 "2002-12-29T19:23:38Z")
ummmm STFU?? I have the feeling I really DON’T want to know… but it will bug me for weeks if I dont ask… Yeah I am anal that way… ---
**Author:** ![fizgig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@fizgig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizgig)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-a-wreck-in-the-road-ahead-jackass-why-are-you-passing-me/144944/30 "2002-12-29T19:25:12Z")
Are you asking what STFU means? It means shut the fuck up. ---
**Author:** ![Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krisfer_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-a-wreck-in-the-road-ahead-jackass-why-are-you-passing-me/144944/31 "2002-12-29T19:27:54Z")
Well smack me up the side of the head and call me a dim wit… Hey its Sunday mornin in the land of Mormons… … Tomorrow I’d have all my swearing diodes turned on :smack: :smack: 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-a-wreck-in-the-road-ahead-jackass-why-are-you-passing-me/144944.md?page=1)