# When idiots collide... Literally **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 31, 2023, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-idiots-collide-literally/981936 "2023-03-31T15:38:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-idiots-collide-literally/981936/1 "2023-03-31T15:38:40Z")
> **[3 injured in crash after cars drag racing hit car doing donuts in Pontiac](https://www.wxyz.com/news/3-injured-in-crash-after-cars-drag-racing-hit-car-doing-donuts-in-pontiac)** > > Three people were injured in a drag racing crash in Pontiac on Thursday night, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office said. We're told one person was gravely injured. Locally, a ground of morons drag racing, crashed into one of those other fucking morons doing donuts in an intersection, in a stolen car. No notice yet off death or castration, so Darwin awards may not be able to qualify these applicants. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-idiots-collide-literally/981936/2 "2023-03-31T16:56:18Z")
Yeah, it’s a big problem around Detroit and Pontiac. When I drove Lyft/Uber I would not go into inner city Detroit after 9:00 due to the huge amount of racing going on in the streets. That and gangs of kids on mini bikes and 4 wheelers without lights. It gets crazy down there. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-idiots-collide-literally/981936/3 "2023-03-31T17:14:14Z")
Speaking of idiots, what’s the matter with the legislators in Michigan? Here in Ontario, that’s called “stunt driving” and a first offense gets you an immediate 30-day roadside license suspension, 14 days of vehicle seizure, and upon conviction, a maximum fine up to $10,000 (+ 25% victim surcharge); plus 6 demerit points, possible jail time of up to six months, and license suspension of from 1 to 3 years, and a mandatory driver improvement course. On conviction of a second offense, jail time is much more likely and license suspension is up to 10 years, and on a third offense, after you get out of jail you’re prohibited from driving for life. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-idiots-collide-literally/981936/4 "2023-03-31T17:20:08Z")
Well one of the cars was stolen in Toledo, so I’m thinking these types are not deterred by “laws” against things. And Pontiac and parts of Detroit are pretty much the wild, wild west due lack of police presence. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-idiots-collide-literally/981936/5 "2023-03-31T17:27:33Z")
The outright criminals may not be deterred (though most others hopefully would be) but it does give the prosecution more clout. Those engaged in dangerous stunt driving in the course of committing another crime would be more likely to face penalties toward the higher end of the range. Putting miscreants in jail to let them think things over for a while is about all the law can ever do, along with heavy fines and license suspensions. Those types may ignore license suspensions, but eventually that just gets them thrown in jail again. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-idiots-collide-literally/981936/6 "2023-03-31T17:33:24Z")
Big problem here in Portland. They police never respond, either to neighbors complaining or to reporters asking questions. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-idiots-collide-literally/981936/7 "2023-03-31T17:48:29Z")
I know the folks in the Detroit area are used to this, but I find it difficult parsing “Pontiac” in the OP’s cited headline as a city, not as the brand of one of the involved cars. Which then triggers annoyance at the headline writer’s illiterate sentence structure until I realize my own mistake. D’oh! Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-idiots-collide-literally/981936/8 "2023-03-31T18:28:21Z")
Well the history is old, so I’d understand your confusion. From google: **Pontiac Assembly was one of four General Motors assembly plants in Pontiac, Michigan** located along Baldwin Avenue. It served as the home factory for GM’s Pontiac Motor Division since it was built in 1927. And Pontiac was an Native American chief long before the city or the brand of cars. ---
**Author:** ![TruePisces](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/truepisces/32/13628_2.png) [@TruePisces](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruePisces)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-idiots-collide-literally/981936/9 "2023-03-31T18:39:38Z")
We have a huge problem with drag racing in my part of Nashville (Antioch). The cops say they’re cracking down on it, and I guess there have caught a few, but I’ll still hear far more going down the main street about a quarter mile from my apartment than I should be most nights. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-idiots-collide-literally/981936/10 "2023-03-31T18:40:43Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Here in Ontario, that’s called “stunt driving” and a first offense gets you an immediate 30-day roadside license suspension, 14 days of vehicle seizure, and upon conviction, a maximum fine up to $10,000 (+ 25% victim surcharge); plus 6 demerit points, possible jail time of up to six months, and license suspension of from 1 to 3 years, and a mandatory driver improvement course. Have to catch them first. Like in many cities in the DC area we get gangs riding dirt bikes and ATVs on the Beltway and streets in force and the police literally can’t do anything about it. The moment the police show up they scatter, disappearing down side streets, exits, or even just hiding in the ditch. The only way they get caught is if they are being particularly stupid and hurt themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-idiots-collide-literally/981936/11 "2023-03-31T18:50:26Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I know the folks in the Detroit area are used to this, but I find it difficult parsing “Pontiac” in the OP’s cited headline as a city, not as the brand of one of the involved cars. I was thinking along similar lines. “Idiots crash into idiots in a Pontiac, in Pontiac” would have been just too perfect. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-idiots-collide-literally/981936/12 "2023-03-31T18:54:27Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I was thinking along similar lines. “Idiots crash into idiots in a Pontiac, in Pontiac” would have been just too perfect. Driven by a guy calling himself Big Chief Ponitac of Pontiac. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-idiots-collide-literally/981936/13 "2023-03-31T19:28:59Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I was thinking along similar lines. “Idiots crash into idiots in a Pontiac, in Pontiac” would have been just too perfect. Shame there’s not a car brand named “Buffalo”. Or better yet, a car brand and a city named “Idiot” > Some idiots crash into idiots in an Idiot in Idiot. Idiots! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-idiots-collide-literally/981936/14 "2023-03-31T21:56:16Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Driven by a guy calling himself Big Chief Ponitac of Pontiac. When I was growing up in Pontiac, there was a homeless guy called Chief Pontiac that used to hang out at the Pontiac mall and play chess for money. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-idiots-collide-literally/981936/15 "2023-03-31T23:52:22Z")
I had relatives that lived in Pontiac. We visited twice. I remember HUGE bugs and razor grass. Not my favorite vacation. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2023, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-idiots-collide-literally/981936/16 "2023-04-02T13:07:35Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Like in many cities in the DC area we get gangs riding dirt bikes and ATVs on the Beltway and streets in force and the police literally can’t do anything about it. You beat me to it - I came to post about DC and the idiots. I expect as the weather gets warmer, we’ll start seeing more news stories about them. Yet another reason I avoid driving in the District. If I can’t take Metro, I don’t need to go… ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2023, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-idiots-collide-literally/981936/17 "2023-04-02T14:05:49Z")
That’s a business model? What did he charge? I could never pay some chess shark to humiliate me in public 😆 ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-idiots-collide-literally/981936/18 "2023-04-03T22:04:37Z")
I never played him, being a kid at the time. But I suppose it was like putting your money down on a game of pool - winner takes the bet money.