A fatal accident out of Clearfield, Utah where a man who was changing his flat fire on the side of Interstate 15 was killed serves as a sad reminder to not do such a thing. We know there’s a long tradition of changing tires on the side of roads, be they highways or surface streets, but it’s just not safe.
Check out the simple trick police use to catch a fleeing Dodge Hellcat.
This story has played out countless times in other states and countries. We understand the desire to not drive on a flat tire, possibly deforming your wheel’s rim, but your life is worth more than a new wheel.
The sad truth is target fixation and distraction often lead to these incidents becoming tragic.
Everyone knows there are far too many distracted drivers on the road these days. A lot of distracted drivers know this, yet they still fiddle with their phone or do whatever else instead of keeping their eyes on the road.
Then there’s the sad phenomenon of target fixation when someone sees a cop, firetruck, ambulance, or a disabled vehicle on the side of the road. They stare at the thing so much that they steer towards it, often leading to a crash.
In this specific case, the truck was stopped in the HOV lane on the left side of the interstate. Why the man thought that was the place to get out and change his tire isn’t clear, but it obviously was a bad idea. For that he paid with his life.
Don’t do this. Find a safe place to pull off into and change your tire there. Choose a parking lot or somewhere there isn’t traffic ripping by at high speeds. And if you do see a car disabled on the side of the highway, please move over a lane and give it space.
Image via KSL News/YouTube