# The Walking Dead - Why are there so many deaths (thus walkers) in cars? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 17, 2016, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-why-are-there-so-many-deaths-thus-walkers-in-cars/768865 "2016-10-17T20:11:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rainy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-why-are-there-so-many-deaths-thus-walkers-in-cars/768865/1 "2016-10-17T20:11:15Z")
This just occurred to me whilst streaming some TWD over the weekend. There sure are a lot of people who died in their cars (thus leading to a surplus of Walker Anti-Theft Systems®). You pull the door handle on three or four cars and you’re sure to have a walker tumble out of one of them. Also of note is that the car doors always seem to be unlocked. So…these folks were so scared they stayed in their cars until they died of dehydration, but weren’t afraid enough to lock their car doors? Or…ran out of gas / trapped in gridlock and decided to OD on something? ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-why-are-there-so-many-deaths-thus-walkers-in-cars/768865/2 "2016-10-17T20:15:46Z")
Surrounded by walkers, died of thirst or starvation or bites. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-why-are-there-so-many-deaths-thus-walkers-in-cars/768865/3 "2016-10-17T20:43:32Z")
One of the creepiest “walker in car” moments for me was when one of the group popped the trunk on a car and there was a woman (turned walker) with her hands and feet bound. Tied up in the trunk of a car and if that’s not bad enough the fucking zombie apocalypse happens! Talk about your day going from bad to worse. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-why-are-there-so-many-deaths-thus-walkers-in-cars/768865/4 "2016-10-17T21:08:23Z")
As with most questions about fiction, it’s because it is necessary to the plot. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-why-are-there-so-many-deaths-thus-walkers-in-cars/768865/5 "2016-10-17T21:42:44Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Surrounded by walkers, died of thirst or starvation or bites. And the door was originally locked but the locking mechanism rusted through in the time since the apocalypse. Also, a wizard did it. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-why-are-there-so-many-deaths-thus-walkers-in-cars/768865/6 "2016-10-17T22:02:19Z")
The walkers don’t seem to have the brainpower/dexterity to operate the door latch, locked or not. They would just try to paw or push their way through the glass. Plus the whole plot requirement thing. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2016, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-why-are-there-so-many-deaths-thus-walkers-in-cars/768865/7 "2016-10-18T03:44:40Z")
Based on my experience driving little old ladies and children around, the brainpower and dexterity needed to operate a car door from the outside is a lot lower than what is needed from the inside. ---
**Author:** ![Vicsage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e68b1a/32.png) [@Vicsage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vicsage)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2016, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-why-are-there-so-many-deaths-thus-walkers-in-cars/768865/8 "2016-10-18T04:30:07Z")
Maybe they were bit and looking for help. I’ve wondered why there aren’t more naked ones. Wandering in the woods for months or years, clothes have to be falling apart. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2016, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-why-are-there-so-many-deaths-thus-walkers-in-cars/768865/9 "2016-10-18T04:35:29Z")
They tried to retain their dignity until the very end… Dying in cars with poise. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2016, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-why-are-there-so-many-deaths-thus-walkers-in-cars/768865/10 "2016-10-18T04:44:06Z")
> [@Vicsage](#): > > Maybe they were bit and looking for help. I’ve wondered why there aren’t more naked ones. Wandering in the woods for months or years, clothes have to be falling apart. I wonder if quad and paraplegics regain the ability to use their affected limbs. And if we’ll see walkers on electric scooters. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2016, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-why-are-there-so-many-deaths-thus-walkers-in-cars/768865/11 "2016-10-18T15:05:28Z")
> [@Vicsage](#): > > Maybe they were bit and looking for help. I’ve wondered why there aren’t more naked ones. Wandering in the woods for months or years, clothes have to be falling apart. TWD airs on basic cable, not HBO. Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2016, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-why-are-there-so-many-deaths-thus-walkers-in-cars/768865/12 "2016-10-18T15:20:07Z")
> [@rainy](#): > > This just occurred to me whilst streaming some TWD over the weekend. There sure are a lot of people who died in their cars (thus leading to a surplus of Walker Anti-Theft Systems®). You pull the door handle on three or four cars and you’re sure to have a walker tumble out of one of them. Also of note is that the car doors always seem to be unlocked. > > So…these folks were so scared they stayed in their cars until they died of dehydration, but weren’t afraid enough to lock their car doors? > > Or…ran out of gas / trapped in gridlock and decided to OD on something? Most of the abandoned cars seem to be at traffic pile-ups, accident sites, etc… so I’d assume most were either killed in the accident or died of their injuries. Similarly, they may have been injured or bitten before taking refuge in the car. Either way they may not have been able to lock all the doors, not sure it it would make much difference anyway. Would the walkers “remember” how to open a car door and if so would they have the dexterity? Secondly, why would they close the door afterwards? ---
**Author:** ![rainy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2016, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-why-are-there-so-many-deaths-thus-walkers-in-cars/768865/13 "2016-10-18T15:46:21Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > Would the walkers “remember” how to open a car door and if so would they have the dexterity? > Secondly, why would they close the door afterwards? First season’s rock using, fence climbing walkers might. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2016, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-why-are-there-so-many-deaths-thus-walkers-in-cars/768865/14 "2016-10-18T16:45:43Z")
> [@rainy](#): > > First season’s rock using, fence climbing walkers might. Oh, I keep forgetting about the “smarter” zombies from the early episodes! Yeah, they tossed rocks, and one of them (Morgan’s undead wife) seemed to retain the ability to use a doorknob. Yeah, some of those just might have had the brainpower and ability to get out of a parked car. Then they got a lot dumber in the ensuing seasons. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2016, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-why-are-there-so-many-deaths-thus-walkers-in-cars/768865/15 "2016-10-18T17:36:38Z")
> [@gytalf2000](#): > > Oh, I keep forgetting about the “smarter” zombies from the early episodes! Yeah, they tossed rocks, and one of them (Morgan’s undead wife) seemed to retain the ability to use a doorknob. Yeah, some of those just might have had the brainpower and ability to get out of a parked car. Then they got a lot dumber in the ensuing seasons. Too much TV - it rots your brain. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2016, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-why-are-there-so-many-deaths-thus-walkers-in-cars/768865/16 "2016-10-18T17:47:03Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Too much TV - it rots your brain. Sure, I’ll buy that. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2016, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-why-are-there-so-many-deaths-thus-walkers-in-cars/768865/17 "2016-10-18T19:51:23Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > They tried to retain their dignity until the very end… > Dying in cars with poise. This one deserves acknowledgement… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2016, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-why-are-there-so-many-deaths-thus-walkers-in-cars/768865/18 "2016-10-18T22:49:06Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > I wonder if quad and paraplegics regain the ability to use their affected limbs. And if we’ll see walkers on electric scooters. I was just rewatching the earlier seasons, and there is an episode where the Governor goes to a nursing home to score oxygen tanks for Tara’s dad; there was a wheelchair bound ‘Walker’… would she be called a ‘roller’? ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2016, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-why-are-there-so-many-deaths-thus-walkers-in-cars/768865/19 "2016-10-20T15:14:34Z")
> [@PapSett](#): > > I was just rewatching the earlier seasons, and there is an episode where the Governor goes to a nursing home to score oxygen tanks for Tara’s dad; there was a wheelchair bound ‘Walker’… would she be called a ‘roller’? If she was one of the rock throwers she’d be a… rock and roller! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2016, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-why-are-there-so-many-deaths-thus-walkers-in-cars/768865/20 "2016-10-20T17:59:51Z")
One of the characters in World War Z had a perhaps excellent piece of advice, something like “Keep moving. Don’t try to tell their stories.” But of course in the show you’re invited to ponder how these poor bastards ended up the way they are. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-walking-dead-why-are-there-so-many-deaths-thus-walkers-in-cars/768865.md?page=2)