You're driving on a busy highway when traffic suddenly starts slowing down and piling up. You can't see construction signs, but you do notice flashing lights ahead—but they seem to be on the shoulder. So why is everyone still stopping to a crawl?
This phenomenon is called rubbernecking, and while you might think it's harmless to be curious about your surroundings, glancing out your window for a second too long can obstruct traffic, leading to further congestion and even secondary accidents. Here's a deeper look into what rubbernecking actually is, why we do it, and why you should avoid doing it.
What Is Rubbernecking?
Rubbernecking refers to the phenomenon of drivers slowing down or stopping to look at an accident. The name comes from the action itself, where people often turn and stretch their heads like "rubber" to get a good view of an emergency or unusual event. This moment of curiosity can seem harmless, but if every driver on the road is doing the same, it can quickly disrupt the flow of traffic, or even block emergency vehicles from reaching people who need urgent help.
And yet, it seems impossible not to do it. After all, our brains are hardwired to look, since we're naturally drawn to unexpected or dramatic events. In fact, rubbernecking is just one example of humans' strange fascination with the morbid. When we come across tragic headlines, disturbing documentaries, and violent footage, we're tuning in to see what went so horribly wrong. Despite the devastation and ruin, we can't stop our curiosity. According to research, the reason for this behavior might have to do with our survival instincts.
Why It's Dangerous
Whether or not we're drawn to the scary or gruesome, there's no doubt that rubbernecking is dangerous. Taking your eyes off the road in any form is distracted driving, which causes thousands of deaths every year. In 2023, distracted driving claimed 3,275 lives. In a 2014 study published in the Journal of Transportation Technologies, it was found that roughly 10% of accidents on the road were caused by rubbernecking. Recent studies have shown that this number is now closer to 16%.
It only takes a few seconds of lost attention to create an accident. When your eyes are no longer focused on what's ahead of you, you might forget to brake in time or even miss another road hazard. On highways, where vehicles are moving at high speeds, just a split second of inattention can lead to deadly, irreversible mistakes.
How to Avoid Doing It
When you're stuck behind a driver who's guilty of rubbernecking, you might think you'd never do the same. But once you're actually passing an accident scene, you may realize you can't help but gawk, too. After all, as mentioned earlier, humans are hardwired to be morbidly curious.
But that doesn't excuse it. Rubbernecking might feel almost instinctive, but staring won't make the situation any better. If anything, it only slows traffic and delays first responders from getting to the people who need medical attention. So, even if you're tempted to glance and gape, keep your eyes on the road ahead, and just continue driving.
