Fort Worth crash

[David]

I'm sure most of the world has seen this by now but it's worth seeing a long version of it to really drill home how important it is to stay in your car until all the crashing is completely finished.

[biosurfer1]

WTF!?!? Was it a sheet of ice on the freeway? Seems like those trucks didn't even touch the brakes

[masraum]

Originally Posted by biosurfer1

WTF!?!? Was it a sheet of ice on the freeway? Seems like those trucks didn't even touch the brakes

Exactly, not uncommon there. the DFW area gets regular cold, wet weather, and then some bizarre arctic front comes in and plunges what was previously temps in the 30s/40s down into the teens and 20s with wind, and everything that was wet turns to ice.

[Sooner or later]

Black ice

[slow&rusty]

David - Why stay in your car when an 18 wheeler from behind cannot stop could potentially kill you?

I would jump the concrete barrier and stand off in the shoulder of the opposing lane.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by slow&rusty

David - Why stay in your car when an 18 wheeler from behind cannot stop could potentially kill you?

I would jump the concrete barrier and stand off in the shoulder of the opposing lane.

That's assuming the 18 wheeler doesn't get you in the process. We're much less likely to be squashed like a grape when surrounded by a car than when not surrounded by a car.

At least, that's the thinking behind "stay in your car."

[red-beard]

Is there an English commentary track? The Spanish one was a little, raw...

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by biosurfer1

WTF!?!? Was it a sheet of ice on the freeway? Seems like those trucks didn't even touch the brakes

These areas also have minimal anti-icing agents on hand.

And ice can be a problem anywhere. I was stuck on a freeway for 3 hours while a salt/sander truck backed down a slope and slowly shovels salt and sand under each car/truck.

I-90 extension of the NYS Thruway between B-1 & B-2 (hill leading up to B-2, going east).

Houston is about to have this problem early next week. Let's hope most of the stupids stay off the roads.

[HardDrive]

I saw that earlier, and frankly was a bit upset by it. The semi hitting that truck and throwing it the air like toy is upsetting to watch. Frankly, given the 5 people died in the incident, I kind of don't like seeing the video posted anywhere.

[stevej37]

Some of the asphalt roads in this area have so much sand/salt mixture on them that you can't tell that it's not a dirt road.
They spread a layer on every day..over the entire road...it's crazy.

[HardDrive]

I'm also confused by the whole thing. It does not look like there were visibility issues. Are people too fuhking stupid to look a quarter mile ahead and see stopped traffic? Those trucks looked like they were going 70mph. WTF?

[DonDavis]

What a horrible crash. Amazing only 5 folks were lost.

Originally Posted by HardDrive

...snip...I kind of don't like seeing the video posted anywhere.

I don't either. So sad for them.

And yes, EVERYONE needs to look ahead waaaay farther than they do.

I tell new drivers to focus on 3 basics. Eyes ahead 15 secs, early braking and check your mirrors. Everything else falls into place after that.

[Eric at Pelican Parts]

The crash at 1:12 where the FJ cruiser was launched into the oncoming traffic lane... here's what's left of it. Thankfully he survived and he posted earlier. https://imgur.com/a/WInOHaX/

I'm sure if he didn't have metal bumpers he would have been a goner.

Before:



After:

[David]

I understand not wanting to see this but it is a very big learning opportunity.

I've been hit from behind by an 18 wheeler and it was one of the scariest things that's happened to me. Watching him barrel down on me and all I could do was use last foot of so of room I had to the car in front of me to put my car hard against the concrete side barrier to get more out of his way.


Two takeaways I got from various stories:

One accident victim was giving his first hand account of helping a lady out of her car when they got hit again and she was crushed to death. Should have stayed in the car.

This happened on a toll road that perhaps is not maintained by the Texas highway dept but rather by an private company. They said they started treating the roadway on Tuesday but now there are conflicting stories about whether that happened or not.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by red-beard

These areas also have minimal anti-icing agents on hand.

And ice can be a problem anywhere. I was stuck on a freeway for 3 hours while a salt/sander truck backed down a slope and slowly shovels salt and sand under each car/truck.

I-90 extension of the NYS Thruway between B-1 & B-2 (hill leading up to B-2, going east).

Houston is about to have this problem early next week. Let's hope most of the stupids stay off the roads.

Great opportunity for us to all go do our best Colin McRae impressions and practice our Scandanavian Flick! I'll start with the Boxster on it's summer tires and then go to the Outback so I can compare the two. It should be a blast!

Everyone with an SUV or Truck will be saying "Hold mu beer"

[masraum]

Originally Posted by David

I understand not wanting to see this but it is a very big learning opportunity.

I've been hit from behind by an 18 wheeler and it was one of the scariest things that's happened to me. Watching him barrel down on me and all I could do was use last foot of so of room I had to the car in front of me to put my car hard against the concrete side barrier to get more out of his way.


Two takeaways I got from various stories:

One accident victim was giving his first hand account of helping a lady out of her car when they got hit again and she was crushed to death. Should have stayed in the car.

This happened on a toll road that perhaps is not maintained by the Texas highway dept but rather by an private company. They said they started treating the roadway on Tuesday but now there are conflicting stories about whether that happened or not.

Right, big learning opportunity. I think this situation is kind of like the "I don't wear my seat belt so I'll be thrown free" thing. Yes, in some cases, you may be able to get out and get to a safer place, but I suspect that most of the time, staying in your car is safer. As you said, trying to put your car in the safest space possible under the circumstances (assuming there's anywhere that you can go) is probably a good idea.

I'm assuming that most of the folks in the accident are used to the south where wet roads are all that you've got to worry about, and didn't think about or understand the danger/possibility of ice.

[stomachmonkey]

You guys need to understand how bad the roads are around here even in just rain.

When I first moved here 12 years ago I was amazed at how many flipped over cars I saw in just a normal shower.

The first 6 months here I had a different rental car every other week and thought they just sucked in rain.

Once I had my own cars brought down it hit me, these roads have no traction.

Inclement weather like what we have this week happens but is not so common that there is a lot of infrastructure to deal with it quickly.

The drivers have nearly zero experience with these conditions.

They also drive like crap, no situational awareness, they tailgate in packs, will drive 3 wide for miles, sit in your blindspot, and we have no cell phone ban so plenty of distracted drivers.

That something like this happened should be no surprise, unfortunate and sad but again, not a surprise.

[Sooner or later]

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^Does anyone there know that they might need to slow down when conditions are bad?

They thought they were driving on water when it was actually black ice. On ice the stopping distance can be 10x the distance compared to dry.

I was coming back from a Colo ski trip and was southeast of Amarillo on 4 lane. Clear sky and little traffic. Cruising at 70. I topped a hill and saw a line of brake lights at least a half mile ahead. I just started coasting to a stop. We sat there for a minute or so and then I decided to get out and talk to the semi driver in front of us to see what was happening.

As soon as I got out I busted my ass on the ice I had been driving on. Road looked dry but was actually black ice. If I would have had less warning it would have ended far differently.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

I'm also confused by the whole thing. It does not look like there were visibility issues. Are people too fuhking stupid to look a quarter mile ahead and see stopped traffic? Those trucks looked like they were going 70mph. WTF?

102 feet per second at 70 mph. When they were on black ice they did not know it, then they tried to stop.

Braking and turning provides no response with that head of steam. It's a very eerie feeling even at ten mph.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

102 feet per second at 70 mph. When they were on black ice they did not know it, then they tried to stop.

Braking and turning provides no response with that head of steam. It's a very eerie feeling even at ten mph.

^^^This. The only accident I've caused was black ice. I was already going slowly, hit the brakes at a 4-way stop intersection and the car just kept going. Fortunately no one was hurt and the damage was minimal.