I have no problem believing this, especially in Plantation. A typical Florida driver can see a wrecked car that had plowed into a tree, the good samaritan's car (probably with hazard lights on), and a group of people standing near the accident scene, and still run over and kill them all. Most Florida drivers do not have a "this situation is abnormal and possibly hazardous, so I'd best pay attention, slow down and use extra caution" gene.

Wizard Drongo: buckler: I have no problem believing this, especially in Plantation. A typical Florida driver can see a wrecked car that had plowed into a tree, the good samaritan's car (probably with hazard lights on), and a group of people standing near the accident scene, and still run over and kill them all. Most Florida drivers do not have a "this situation is abnormal and possibly hazardous, so I'd best pay attention, slow down and use extra caution" gene.

Never actually been to the States, and this may just be "confirmation bias", in that the reason I've seen it on a video was because people thought it was so extraordinary they filmed it, but every video I've seen of a car crash in the states, NOBODY slows down, and quite often another car just plows straight in, then another, and another and another etc. "WTF is wrong with you people?" is usually what I'm screaming at this point.
Here in bonnie Scotland, people see a car crash and slow the fark down. Even if it's just to rubberneck. If there's no police there yet, quite often people will stop, get out of their cars and start directing traffic around the accident, slowing oncoming drivers down by parking on the main carriageway a hundred metres back etc. you know, to help!
Is this just not a thing in the US, or are these traffic videos extraordinary?

The cops that were chasing them usually stop and yank them out of the car as violently possible just in case their injuries weren't severe enough.

Wizard Drongo: buckler: I have no problem believing this, especially in Plantation. A typical Florida driver can see a wrecked car that had plowed into a tree, the good samaritan's car (probably with hazard lights on), and a group of people standing near the accident scene, and still run over and kill them all. Most Florida drivers do not have a "this situation is abnormal and possibly hazardous, so I'd best pay attention, slow down and use extra caution" gene.

Never actually been to the States, and this may just be "confirmation bias", in that the reason I've seen it on a video was because people thought it was so extraordinary they filmed it, but every video I've seen of a car crash in the states, NOBODY slows down, and quite often another car just plows straight in, then another, and another and another etc. "WTF is wrong with you people?" is usually what I'm screaming at this point.
Here in bonnie Scotland, people see a car crash and slow the fark down. Even if it's just to rubberneck. If there's no police there yet, quite often people will stop, get out of their cars and start directing traffic around the accident, slowing oncoming drivers down by parking on the main carriageway a hundred metres back etc. you know, to help!
Is this just not a thing in the US, or are these traffic videos extraordinary?

Well, we're even in that I've never been to Scotland. I have, however spent many, many years living in Florida, and can attest to the driving skills there, or lack thereof. One thing to remember is that the US is (of course) huge compared to Scotland, and there are plenty of regional variations in driving habits, skills and expectations; I spent a few decades in Orlando, Florida, and I can tell you there are places where you're literally taking your life into your hands when you attempt to walk across a road, because drivers there take the "I'm bigger, faster and more massive than you, so FARK YOU" attitude towards pedestrians. Here in Portland, Oregon, you can very often cause traffic to come to a complete halt just by stepping off the curb.

Confirmation bias may have its role, because of course most video-compilation shows (which I assume you're referring to) are going to show the most sensationalistic video they have. Although they're not typical, they do tend to show the most extreme examples of the worst the US typically has to offer (if that makes sense). Plenty of US drivers will complain that people in their area are the worst, but that's residents' privilege to complain. By and large, most do okay, but there are indeed some areas that are nationally known for horrible driving habits.

phalaeo: tiiger: DRTFA, but being in a state of shock can mean your brain is not functioning as it would normally. I could see an accident victim stumbling back onto the road in a state of shock quite easily.

Yeah, but what about the good Samaritan who stopped to help? Cause he got hit, too.

that was just Darwin picking up the spare.

It was a piece of Final Destination performance art.

Flupped Duck: I'm one of the rare Floridians that can actually drive. There are too many idiots on the roads!!

I never noticed Florida drivers being any worse than anywhere else. It's a cliche about all the old people but a 16 year old girl with an iPhone is 10x as deadly as a blue hair who might be driving too slow in the passing lane.

This (new window) is a similar story from a few years ago.

I can't find the one where a care rear ended another car. Passengers of both vehicles got out and were standing between the two vehicles when a third vehicle rammed into the rear vehicle and crushed them all.

In the fast lane on I 70.

Mambo Bananapatch: Flupped Duck: I'm one of the rare Floridians that can actually drive. There are too many idiots on the roads!!

All Floridians think they can actually drive. It's one of the traits they have that make 'em so darn lovable.

Scariest thing I ever did on Florida roads was to change a flat on the turnpike. It was as if all cars passing at 80mph were trying to blow me over. I think I hold a record for the fastest tire change outside of A Christmas Story, minus the little kid losing the lug nuts.