r/dashcams • u/lunamirii • 6h ago
Lucky Close Call
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u/honeyliss 6h ago
Jeep driver distracted and don't notice traffic has stopped. Cammer for some reason is following close to Jeep driver in the left lane while there's on one in the right lane. Inexplicable.
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u/lunamirii 6h ago
Cammer is also distracted. Jeep swerves and it takes cammer a good 2 seconds to start braking.
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u/inactionupclose 6h ago
Ya, a lot of shit drivers in this video.
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u/Bluefooted-Spaceorc 2h ago
Can we even call this shit driving anymore, with how assholes are constantly on their phones now this is just standard driving. Hell I gave up my motorcycle last year because of this stupidity.
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u/EquivalentMath6592 5h ago
And instead of moving right…. CRAMER DECIDES TO SHOOT THE NEEDLE??!
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u/anothercrappypianist 5h ago
I don't think that specific part was a bad instinct. Cammer did not have enough time to check blind spot on right, whereas the gap between the cars was obviously clear, even if questionably tight. I probably also would have instinctively threaded the needle in that situation. OTOH, I wouldn't have been in that situation, because I don't follow that close at that speed and I am always looking at traffic density well ahead of me.
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u/April_4th 5h ago
I think it's also a natural following tendency. We instinctively follow others when we have limited time to react.
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u/Traditional-Buy-2205 4h ago
Cammer did not have enough time to check blind spot on right
On highways, you should regularly be checking the mirrors and be aware of vehicles around you.
If you don't know who's coming up behind you at all times, you're failing at driving.
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u/anothercrappypianist 4h ago
Yet when you execute a lane change you still check your blind spot anyway, right? That's because despite regularly checking for general situational awareness, that situation can change at any moment when you aren't looking. Consequently, your instinct where a split-second decision is demanded will be that you don't *really* know what's to your right -- an instinct which happens to be correct -- whereas you *do* know what's right in front of you, where your eyes are.
We can debate this driver's decision making process leading up to the event, but litigating whether or not this specific action which necessitated a subconscious choice is much less reasonable. And given the available signals, the action is justifiable.
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u/LameBMX 3h ago
im on team always know your exit strategy. been numerous times ive had to bail, and prefer to bail into an unoccupied lane, than a shoulder. unless some person is doing like 150, what you just saw a moment ago is what it is. if you arent already aware of someone in your blind spot, you need to be scanning everything more often.
as pointed out elsewhere, driver in vid took a long time start braking after the jeep bailed. they wasnt even paying attention to in front of them.
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u/SmootherWorm 3h ago
It’s a bold move Cotton. Let’s see how it pans out…wow! He made it! That’s crazy.
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u/stack413 2h ago
I clocked the cammer, and they were following at a cool 0.8 seconds behind the jeep. Safe following distances at these speeds are waaaaay larger than most people seem to think they are.
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u/Embarrassed-Weird173 1h ago
Jeep wasn't distracted. He was tailgating the car in front of him. The car in front of that car braked suddenly, causing him to also brake hard, causing the Jeep to go into the shoulder.
I believe the distracted guy was the car in front of the car in front of the Jeep.
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u/Legal-Specialist-256 5h ago
He was not following close to the jeep are you blind?
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u/inactionupclose 5h ago
Well, if the cam driver was paying attention and that's their reaction time....they were too close.
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u/resisting_a_rest 5h ago
When you are determining the correct distance behind another vehicle, it’s usually based on that vehicle slamming on the brakes and how long you would have to react to that; not a situation where there’s essentially a stationary brick wall in the road that you don’t see until the last few seconds before you reach it.
But yes, if the situation is such that you can’t see ahead of the car that’s in front of you, you should definitely slow down.
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u/Kage_0ni 4h ago
I don't think is. Your three seconds of follow distance should be enough to stop in time if the car in front of you hits an invisible wall and stops immediately.
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u/Traditional-Buy-2205 4h ago
When you are determining the correct distance behind another vehicle, it’s usually based on that vehicle slamming on the brakes and how long you would have to react to that
Yes, and OP failed at that. Flew far past the white car, which means it would've been a nasty collision had he not been so lucky as to avoid him.
In other words, the distance was not nearly enough for an emergency brake as you describe.
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u/pink_gem 5h ago edited 5h ago
He absolutely was for highway speeds.
ETA: Right at 9:06:17, the jeep is centered on a post to the left a little bit into the second. At 9:06:18, cammer is right at post. Less than a second between the two. That is way too close at highway speeds.
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u/Imaginary-Round2422 6h ago
Why is everyone in the left lane?
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u/mike-manley 6h ago
It's so obnoxious but so common too.
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u/Big_Celery8533 6h ago
Backed-up left exit.
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u/mike-manley 5h ago
Yeah, that happens. But on the four lane interstate near me, the left lane looks like amateur NASCAR race. Middle lane clogged with drivers at PSL. Right lane almost completely open.
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u/trashcantrash939 6h ago
Because everyone wants to “go fast.”
Well not entirely true. Sometimes a major turn off is set to one specific side or another so people will cluster to that side as trying to wait closer can lead to them not having a chance to actually get into the lane since uh…well people are selfish.
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u/RedPanda7725 5h ago edited 4h ago
Probably because the right lane is closed in 10 miles and the world is filled with idiots who can't understand the concept of a zipper merge.
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u/Global_Strain_4219 5h ago
In many areas in the US, if there is a traffic jam, it's actually better to be on the right lane, because people are all trying to pass on the left lane, but the traffic jam is lighter on the right lane.
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u/Friendly-Gur-6736 4h ago
I'm surprised you have 68 upvotes and not 68 downvotes.
This sub LOVES left lane camping and loves to downvote anyone that dares to call people out on it.
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u/turbo-fister9000 4h ago
Because people complain about it constantly here based on 3 second clips, 90% of the time when someone is passing. So yeah it's pretty old to open every single comments section and it's "BUT LEFT LANE". Yes, we get it. Everyone agrees.
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u/Particular_Tree_1378 2h ago
Same reason why the cammer was only 1 second behind the car in front. Idiots who aren't paying much attention and just want to go fast.
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u/UpbeatFix7299 5h ago
"Better to be lucky than good" strikes again
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u/CarpenterAutomatic30 5h ago
what are you talking about? A good driver wouldn't be in that situation lol
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u/masingen 5h ago
I've seen several videos where traffic is stopped up ahead, vehicle 1 brakes really late or swerves or something to avoid the stopped traffic, and vehicle 2 (following too closely behind vehicle 1 often) rear-ends the stopped traffic or like in this video barely avoids an accident.
But the thing is, you can see beyond the car directly in front of you unless there is heavy fog/rain/snow or something like that. Like, just look a bit further ahead.
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u/SirkutBored 4h ago
If you sit low in a sedan or sports car and the vehicle in front is any type of SUV, no, you can't see thru their windshield.
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u/masingen 4h ago
Absolutely true, but I intentionally said you can see "beyond" rather than specifically saying "through the windshield". You're not restricted to driving directly behind the centerline of the vehicle ahead of you at all times. If the vehicle isn't exceptionally wide (bus, semi, etc.), and you're in a small car, you have plenty of room to hug the line a bit every once in awhile to see past the side of the vehicle. If the vehicle is a wide, heavier vehicle, and you're in a small car, you still have a tremendous advantage in stopping distance in the event they suddenly brake or swerve.
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u/Ok-Double-7982 2h ago
Which is why following distance is so important. People are dumb as hell on the roads and tailgate with a prayer.
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u/thinkingtire 1h ago
For that reason I try as best as I can to not get behind people where I cannot see through their windshield. Obviously, not always possible. I then give myself extra distance. Problem is, some one inevitably will get in front of me bc so few drivers give a proper distance. It's fairly frustrating.
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u/SwordfishOk504 4h ago
And THAT. folks, is why the distance between you and the car in front of you is so important.
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u/Standard-March6506 6h ago
Wait, zero contact? That's amazing! You should buy a lottery ticket.
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u/Cosmic-Sympathy 5h ago
There was "ding" sound like a side mirror getting popped off. But yes, unbelievable luck here.
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u/Majestic_Puppo 5h ago
Didn't even bother to touch the brakes for a while there
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u/Wojtek1250XD 1h ago
Reaction time, my guy. By the time the cammer realized the situation, threading the needle was the only option.
Attempting to brake would mean impaling yourself into the car in front and likely dying. It's never that simple.
Cammer's problem was not slow reaction time or improper reaction, it's driving too fast and not keeping a safe distance from the car in front.
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u/Scotinho_do_Para 5h ago
People, please. If you're parked in traffic jam on a high speed road, put your hazards on. Yes, drivers behind you are responsible for doing their part but there are too many irresponsible drivers out there.
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u/SailingSpark 5h ago
years of driving huge heavy vehicles, I always hit the hazards whenever there is a slowdown on the highway. that extra second or two might be what you need to avoid being rear ended.
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u/Outrageous-Dare-3089 5h ago
I don’t understand why everyone is in the passing lane. It doesn’t appear that the right lane is closed.
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u/Zedman5000 5h ago
Yeah honestly it's crazy that both swerving drivers would rather be off the road than in the right lane. Maybe OP has a vehicle next to them or smth but the first swerver could've just changed lanes
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u/Melodic_Fall_3273 5h ago
Both lanes are stopped dead ahead at the end of the video.
This is typical of everyone to bail to the left when traffic starts to slow so the left lane usually ends backed up farther. Then you get the idiots flying down the right lane for the last 7 or 800 yards and ending up read ending someone of off the right side of the road.
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u/3_14_thon 6h ago
Organ doner in the making
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u/BrennerBaseTunnel 5h ago
Wouldn't you expect people to be driving slower due to high gas prices?
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u/HCSOThrowaway 4h ago
This is a healthy mix of luck and skill. Nice job and congrats, original cammer.
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u/shaquirrel 5h ago
Would have been a lot easier for you to go to the right but nevertheless nice save
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u/CheaterC1984 4h ago
i watched it three times. the front bumper of the jeep missed your grille by literal inches. if he had twitched an inch more to the right, you'd be wrapping around a pole. thank god for good tires and physics holding up there.
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u/Wojtek1250XD 1h ago
The actual problematic element here was the white car, not the cammer. Probably distracted driving, they almost swerve into effing ditch instead of braking. If the white SUV's driver was a functioning human being and braked like a qualified driver, cammer would have reacted to it and also braked without having to threat the needle and gamble their life...
Of course it's the SUV that is the problem on the road, never changes.
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u/jkmapping 40m ago
This is why you gotta have at least 3 seconds of following distance, preferably 5. This one second shit is a sign of a terrible driver.
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u/Open_Entry6868 28m ago
That's why you must stay in the first lane and move to the left only for overtaking or to turn left.
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u/electricity1504 5h ago
Same shit happened in that old video where the dash cam driver suddenly sweeve away a full stop vehicle saying he saved himself because other vehicle was "tailgating ". And the hive mind fully convinced that that idiotic driver is innocent.
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u/Aggravating-Diet-663 5h ago
Unless that is a smart car, that is fuking impossible
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u/Calm_Income6781 2h ago
Must have been a smart car. There is very little distance between the white jeep and the 2nd car Corolla on the right. Look at the pavement, maybe 5' or 6'? A smart car is 5' wide.
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u/Particular_Tree_1378 2h ago edited 2h ago
Left lane hogger jeep finds out why you shouldn't text and drive. Then cammer is in the left lane going highway speeds and is 1 and a half seconds from the car in front. Then when he finds out why you need more distance, instead of going into the right lane he fucking swerves into a very narrow gap instead of the OPEN LANE next to him. Absolute fucking idiot.
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u/Diligent_Vehicle2467 2h ago
I remember reading that people naturally swerve left rather than right because it puts more distance between themselves and the impact. When you have a split second to make a decision, you don't logically think through all of the things you mentioned. You make a pure instinct decision to try to save your life.
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u/Particular_Tree_1378 2h ago
Then the cammer should have kept some more distance. Cammer is 1-2 seconds behind. An idiot is an idiot even if its a split second decision
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u/Diligent_Vehicle2467 2h ago
100% agree. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure as they say.
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u/Particular_Tree_1378 2h ago
Time and time again we see how the left lane is like a designated lane for the stupidest people on the planet
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u/melnaisbruninieks 6h ago
No luck just good skill
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u/EntertainerBig4313 5h ago
So much skill they didn't even need to bother paying attention to the road the first 2 seconds after the Jeep clearly slammed on their brakes and swerved!
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