# When was...\[the last time you saw these things while driving?\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 20, 2015, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-saw-these-things-while-driving/720417 "2015-05-20T11:13:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tattman40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/db5fbb/32.png) [@tattman40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tattman40)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-saw-these-things-while-driving/720417/1 "2015-05-20T11:13:58Z")
The last time you saw a hitchhiker or one of those broken casette tapes with the tape all over the place on the side of the road? No idea why these thoughts just popped into my head. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-saw-these-things-while-driving/720417/2 "2015-05-20T11:58:07Z")
I’ve edited your title to make it more descriptive. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-saw-these-things-while-driving/720417/3 "2015-05-20T12:47:06Z")
I saw a small number of hitchhikers on the big Island of Hawaii. Never seen the cassette thing. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-saw-these-things-while-driving/720417/4 "2015-05-20T12:57:06Z")
Regarding cassette tapes-since they haven’t been used in cars for 10+, I doubt that angry people toss their screwed up tapes out the window anymore. But, judging from the yard sales I’ve been to, there are plenty lurking in attics, basements , and closets. I lost a prized tape a few years back-some nice jazz (from KKGO-Los Angeles)-when it was a jazz station. The player seized up, and mangled the tape. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-saw-these-things-while-driving/720417/5 "2015-05-20T13:26:57Z")
I see hitchhikers on about a weekly basis. Less so during winter, but, to be fair, our winter weather sucks. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-saw-these-things-while-driving/720417/6 "2015-05-20T13:52:14Z")
Can you still buy those little German Shepherds with the bobbing head people put on their rear seat deck? The tackiness appeals to me greatly. Wonder what in the world those were ever supposed to convey in the first place… Beware of tiny, fake dog? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-saw-these-things-while-driving/720417/7 "2015-05-20T13:55:51Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Can you still buy those little German Shepherds with the bobbing head people put on their rear seat deck? The tackiness appeals to me greatly. Wonder what in the world those were ever supposed to convey in the first place… Beware of tiny, fake dog? Maybe their names were all Bob? ---
**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:** [May 20, 2015, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-saw-these-things-while-driving/720417/8 "2015-05-20T13:59:51Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Can you still buy those little German Shepherds with the bobbing head people put on their rear seat deck? The tackiness appeals to me greatly. Wonder what in the world those were ever supposed to convey in the first place… Beware of tiny, fake dog? It means beware of the life-size bobblehead German Shepherd I have at home. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-saw-these-things-while-driving/720417/9 "2015-05-20T14:03:16Z")
My sister used to call the tangles of cassette tape by the side of the road “lamp post larvae.” She swore that whenever you spotted a tangle of tape around a weed or other fixture, a light pole would grow there within weeks. Here’s another: litter. I clearly remember the era when ALL roads had a continuous carpet of litter along them, and how unusual it was to see a clean stretch. Now a single cup, wrapper or bottle is a stand-out eyesore. Yay social engineering. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-saw-these-things-while-driving/720417/10 "2015-05-20T14:04:42Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Can you still buy those little German Shepherds with the bobbing head people put on their rear seat deck? The tackiness appeals to me greatly. Wonder what in the world those were ever supposed to convey in the first place… Beware of tiny, fake dog? When glow-in-the-dark, plastic Jesus left the dashboard, He took His Dog with Him. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-saw-these-things-while-driving/720417/11 "2015-05-20T14:19:26Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Here’s another: litter. I clearly remember the era when ALL roads had a continuous carpet of litter along them, and how unusual it was to see a clean stretch. I remember driving along Southern highways about 15 years ago and seeing just an amazing, seemingly continuous stretch of disintegrated tire parts. Shortly thereafter Firestone was forced to recall about 5,000,000 tires because of tread separation in the heat, Ford Explorers especially impacted. I don’t see that anymore, it was just a couple of years that roadside strewn rubber was prolific. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-saw-these-things-while-driving/720417/12 "2015-05-20T14:21:45Z")
I saw a hitchhiker the day before yesterday, but to be fair, he was most probably a drunk/crazy/homeless person so I don’t think he was really all that bothered about hitching a ride. Yesterday I saw what I assume was a non-ironic “Baby on board” sign on a car. I though those went out 20 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-saw-these-things-while-driving/720417/13 "2015-05-20T14:54:33Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > I remember driving along Southern highways about 15 years ago and seeing just an amazing, seemingly continuous stretch of disintegrated tire parts. Shortly thereafter Firestone was forced to recall about 5,000,000 tires because of tread separation in the heat, Ford Explorers especially impacted. I don’t see that anymore, it was just a couple of years that roadside strewn rubber was prolific. At this late date, there must be way fewer “See Rock City” signs painted on barns, etc… And not just because of the kudzu. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-saw-these-things-while-driving/720417/14 "2015-05-20T15:01:45Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > I remember driving along Southern highways about 15 years ago and seeing just an amazing, seemingly continuous stretch of disintegrated tire parts. Shortly thereafter Firestone was forced to recall about 5,000,000 tires because of tread separation in the heat, Ford Explorers especially impacted. I don’t see that anymore, it was just a couple of years that roadside strewn rubber was prolific. I have trouble imagining that noticeable tire litter was connected to one bad model of tire from one maker. 5M tires = 1.3M vehicles = maybe 0.25% of all cars in the US at the time, and not all those tires had actually shown problems. But yeah, I’ve seen stretches of road alligators from time to time, and there must be some reason for the clusters. I’m wondering if it peaks during the first hot weather each year. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-saw-these-things-while-driving/720417/15 "2015-05-20T16:43:20Z")
(Free-standing) STUCKEY’S! ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-saw-these-things-while-driving/720417/16 "2015-05-20T16:47:30Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Regarding cassette tapes-since they haven’t been used in cars for 10+, I doubt that angry people toss their screwed up tapes out the window anymore. But, judging from the yard sales I’ve been to, there are plenty lurking in attics, basements , and closets. > I lost a prized tape a few years back-some nice jazz (from KKGO-Los Angeles)-when it was a jazz station. The player seized up, and mangled the tape. Oh yes – my cassette player still works so I’ve got my four racks of tapes. Some are irreplaceable – my grandfather talking to my brother and me while we were all playing, my mom singing. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-saw-these-things-while-driving/720417/17 "2015-05-20T16:49:48Z")
Hitchhiker? Yesterday around Pittsburgh’s West End. Broken tape? Maybe last fall. I know a lot of people still using tapes but not so much in cars these days. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-saw-these-things-while-driving/720417/18 "2015-05-20T17:58:30Z")
Hitchhikers are fairly common here - especially up in the mountains. Lots of ski bums doing out of bounds runs and then needing a ride back to the resort, mostly. I can’t remember the last time I saw a corpus casseteum along the highway, but I’ve seen broken CDs several times just within the last week. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-saw-these-things-while-driving/720417/19 "2015-05-20T18:17:33Z")
> [@stillownedbysetters](#): > > a corpus casseteum 🙂 ---
**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:** [May 20, 2015, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-saw-these-things-while-driving/720417/20 "2015-05-20T19:01:31Z")
Been awhile since I last saw a Cadillac-based ambulance. Good Humor men (and trucks) are rather rare as well. Hubcaps sitting on the shoulder are few and far between. Misc. car parts debris is still pretty commonplace though. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-saw-these-things-while-driving/720417.md?page=2)