Why do drivers slow down to look at an accident, resulting in slowing down traffic flow?

Jellytot

Dunno, morbid curiosity I guess, my mum calls it "rubber necking". Ok, apparently rubber necking is a common term:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Rubber+Necking

captkev156

I am a Fireman for a lot of years........I have seen many accidents caused buy rubbernecking. The reason for this is people want to see blood, gore, and dead people. We have asked this question a million times to people and after you get through all the double talk it comes down to seeing death. My suggestion to everyone is to slow a little, just a little and keep moving. OH.......and when you hear a siren, don't stop dead in the street, don't move to the left, don't speed up to make the light, then pull over,,,,,MOVE TO THE RIGHT! We may be on the way to your house or a loved ones vehicle accident! sorry I strayed!

gelaannoh

it is a sub concious thing, like a reflex reaction. and more so in other not to repeat it and so that it does not happen to them. some people do it out of sympathy and shock, which slows you down.

Bitburger PilsMan

Hell, people slow down to look at a stalled car on the side of the road. It's because they reside on the left side of the IQ bell curve.

Lassie

I don't have an answer, but I have noticed it too and its bloody annoying!

elloboy33

its human nature..we all moan about it and all do it I am sure

katydint

I'm of the small percent who slows down because that's all you can do, it's a traffic snarl! You're supposed to go slower.
Our culture is reared viewing violence and gore, why is there a surprise when folks are drawn to view the real thing, with the mixture of revulsion mixed in?
I observe the general scene as I approach, then avert my eyes and send prayerful thoughts . . .

Ritch

Human nature, curiosity.

bluff mike

My theory is that their lives are so empty that morbid curiosity negates whatever small bit of common sense they may have.

stewart_prsn

gouls and they want to see what they would look like after an accident

thecoldvoiceofreason

Because people think they might see someone smashed to bits and dying/dead - total sickos. The day that i'm behind the first one to slow down to look on the motorway i'll follow them to the ends of the earth and kick their head in. Rubber necking has caused loads of accidents on our motorways, the number of shunts you see courtesy of it is incredible, the police ought to prosecute people for it, suddenly slamming on in the outside lane is dangerous driving, I dont like motorways, they are boring and dangerous, hence i dont hang around, i just want to get it over with, being slowed up because some dribbling cretin wants to nosey at an accident makes me go purple with rage.

Misha-non-penguin

Rubbernecking is sick but I guess we're a nation of sickos.

Paul

It's human nature. Get over it, 'cause it will never change, no matter HOW much you whine.

c.j.davies

I know you what mean it happened to me once and it even said it on the traffic news, the accident was on the east side on the motorway but the west side (im travelling on) was moving slow as drivers are slowing to look at the accident.

Chele

curiousity ... don't you ever wonder, esp if it's a road near home, that it could be someone you know? I've had a friend in a car accident (not bad) and stopped to make sure she was ok and see if there was anything I could do. If it happens on a road trip and I'm far from home then no I don't "linger". But in most states you're supposed to "slowly proceed with caution" just in case the emergency team needs to break traffic. Unfortunately a good portion are just wanting to see what's going on and they're going too slow. ...............

Welcome to Florida. The interstate can be backed up 20 miles because somebody has a flat tire and everyone has to slow down and look...If there's a real accident, you had better have your jammies with you!

Fudgy01

Curiosity eh? Nothing you can really do about it but wouldnt you be curious because i would be

Tony Hex

Schadenfreude. People want to see damage, either to the vehicles or to the people. So when they get to where ever they're going, they can be the center of attention and tell everyone about the "horrible accident" they saw.

bungee

rubber necking I have seen traffic be stop and go for miles just because a car was off on the side of the road and not in an accident. As soon as we went by that car the traffic went back to normal. Some traffic sites say that in a long line of traffic if one person taps their brakes and the person behind them taps theres and on down the line that first tap will cause traffic to be stopped eventually

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