# Things I am learning watching Russian dash-cam videos **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 14, 2013, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-am-learning-watching-russian-dash-cam-videos/663456 "2013-07-14T04:01:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-am-learning-watching-russian-dash-cam-videos/663456/41 "2013-07-15T16:30:51Z")
Seems like there’s a lot of black ice and bald tires there. It was pretty wild seeing so many cars and trucks that appeared to be going down the road with no problems suddenly come unglued and caroming off other vehicles or guard rails. ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-am-learning-watching-russian-dash-cam-videos/663456/42 "2013-07-15T16:36:05Z")
My stepson has gotten hooked on these recently - as a 16-year-old driver, he thinks they’re a hoot. He was telling me about the different videos, and at one point he said, “I think everybody in Russia must have a dash-cam; I haven’t seen a single video yet from somebody who doesn’t have one of those.” I said, “Stop and think about that statement a minute, son.” To his credit, he caught it and started laughing at himself pretty quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-am-learning-watching-russian-dash-cam-videos/663456/43 "2013-07-15T21:05:03Z")
> [@Mops](#): > > Googling around for Russian traffic rules it seems the ‘priority to the right’ rule applies; i.e. on intersections where this rule is not superseded signage is not neccessary. That same rule applies here in Minnesota. But it results in so many more accidents that we have decided that it’s much safer (and cheaper) for society to have every intersection controlled. Doesn’t cost much to install a stop sign, and they will last for 30-40 years easily. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-am-learning-watching-russian-dash-cam-videos/663456/44 "2013-07-15T21:26:36Z")
My guess is that vodka was involved in 99+% of those accidents. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-am-learning-watching-russian-dash-cam-videos/663456/45 "2013-07-16T01:26:16Z")
Not to be a Debbie-downer, but I can’t help but feel sorry for some of the people involved in the accidents. Here you are, just going down the road and some random tire or tree or herd of sheep comes at you, not to mention idiotic passers in the wrong lane. Hell, it seems like you don’t have to even be moving to get involved in an accident. There’s some that are down-right funny, but I hope no one got hurt in these, and I’m sure for some of these people, their car probably represents a major investment, now wrecked. But it was fun watching these! Now if we could get to see some dash-cams in the US! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-am-learning-watching-russian-dash-cam-videos/663456/46 "2013-07-16T01:32:07Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > My guess is that vodka was involved in 99+% of those accidents. Isn’t vodka involved in 99+% of everything in Russia? ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-am-learning-watching-russian-dash-cam-videos/663456/47 "2013-07-17T22:10:45Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > Seems like there’s a lot of black ice and bald tires there. It was pretty wild seeing so many cars and trucks that appeared to be going down the road with no problems suddenly come unglued and caroming off other vehicles or guard rails. It’s hard to judge looking at a video, but it also feels like in a lot of those cases they’re going 10 to 15 mph faster than I’d be comfortable with on those roads, whether or not I had 4WD. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-am-learning-watching-russian-dash-cam-videos/663456/48 "2013-07-18T19:50:00Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > here are some to make you feel better. > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzBInt4zljQ](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzBInt4zljQ) Thanks - they did! Plenty of big ol’ Russian Boy Scouts still out there, I see. > [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > I like that the driver checks his car for damage before bothering to head down to the cyclist. Heh. I had the same thought. > [@Uncle\_Jocko](#): > > …Russian drivers feel they have the right to pass whenever they feel like it. Blind curve? Out of the way, I’m passing. Traffic in the oncoming lane? Hold my vodka and watch this, I can beat him. Nowhere to go but the right shoulder? No problem, comrade, we’re making great time - oops, didn’t see that truck parked on the shoulder. LOL. > [@jz78817](#): > > I like how the horse was courteous enough to use the crosswalk. I think the horse would be a better driver than most of the humans shown in those videos. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-am-learning-watching-russian-dash-cam-videos/663456/49 "2013-07-18T19:53:14Z")
I know I want one of those cams and wonder when they’ll be cheap and available here. Anyone who’s been in an accident with a lying bastard is probably keen to get one. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-am-learning-watching-russian-dash-cam-videos/663456/50 "2013-07-18T21:28:40Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > I know I want one of those cams and wonder when they’ll be cheap and available here. Anyone who’s been in an accident with a lying bastard is probably keen to get one. As someone who talks to those lying bastards on a fairly regular basis I can’t wait for them to become popular here. [Quick search](http://www.sharperimage.com/si/view/product/Front-and-Rear-Recording-Dash-Cam/201735?pc=FSGOOGLE&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=NonBranded&Keyword=&cm_mmc=CPC-_-Google-_-NonBranded-_-&network=g&matchtype=&device=c&gclid=CJmou-P9ubgCFQpxQgodFHoAYw) yields a $200 cam that looks fore and aft–far less than your collision deductible (or the cost of your car!), which is what you’ll pay when nobody can figure out who is at fault and you have to look to your own policy. They’re a lot like insurance in general: nobody thinks they need one until they wish they had one. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-am-learning-watching-russian-dash-cam-videos/663456/51 "2013-07-18T21:41:00Z")
I’ve learned that many cars get driven down sidewalks. Pedestrians have started to retaliate it’s so common. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-am-learning-watching-russian-dash-cam-videos/663456/52 "2013-07-18T23:31:56Z")
Does Russian law permit anyone to carry an axe around? ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-am-learning-watching-russian-dash-cam-videos/663456/53 "2013-07-20T17:41:26Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > I know I want one of those cams and wonder when they’ll be cheap and available here. Anyone who’s been in an accident with a lying bastard is probably keen to get one. [What are you waiting for?](http://www.amazon.com/2-5-inch-Monitor-Dashboard-Accident-RECORDER/dp/B005680BX2/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1374340948&sr=8-17&keywords=car+video+recorder) I’ve had one for almost 15 years. It’s proven invaluable in a number of cases. http://vidmg.photobucket.com/albums/v677/ural/videos/th\_SantaGirl.jpg"]Some are fun. Notice the little girl running to Santa Cop directing traffic. [Some are scary.](http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ural/media/videos/Alexwreck1.mp4.html) My kids getting hit head on by drunk running red light. [Fucktards running red lights](http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ural/media/videos/01232011_211812.mp4.html)in front of me is a daily occurrence. [So are selfish assholes…](http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ural/media/videos/typicalday.mp4.html) [Why I spent my anniversary in the hospital…](http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ural/media/videos/930annivwreck.mp4.html) [Dude, I found your hood.](http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ural/media/videos/hood.mp4.html) And catching the chickenshit kids who vandalized my son’s truck at school. Can’t find the video right now, but it’s priceless. Everyone should have two. Traffic will get nicer when that happens! ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-am-learning-watching-russian-dash-cam-videos/663456/54 "2013-07-20T18:43:53Z")
Things I noticed about the Russian dashcam footage- 1.) Russians are pretty cavalier about accidents. I rarely hear them speak in an alarmed tone- its usually like, “oh…”. There are a few videos of a car getting in a bad crash, and the occupants just getting out and casually walking away 😕 2.) We have SUVs all over the place, but Russians seem to have these gigantic military vehicles all over the place. Unfortunately they seem prone to tipping over or losing a wheel(s). 3.) As in the USA, if the cops are after you, the less clothes you are wearing, the worse of a beating you are going to get. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-am-learning-watching-russian-dash-cam-videos/663456/55 "2013-07-21T02:04:52Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > [What are you waiting for?](http://www.amazon.com/2-5-inch-Monitor-Dashboard-Accident-RECORDER/dp/B005680BX2/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1374340948&sr=8-17&keywords=car+video+recorder) > > I’ve had one for almost 15 years. It’s proven invaluable in a number of cases. > http://vidmg.photobucket.com/albums/v677/ural/videos/th\_SantaGirl.jpg"]Some are fun. Notice the little girl running to Santa Cop directing traffic… Thanks for sharing all those. This first link didn’t work for me, though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-am-learning-watching-russian-dash-cam-videos/663456.md?page=2)