To be fair, the driver in the Corolla arguably overreacted.
Presumed Wisconsinite and Redditor /u/RocketPakk shared interesting dashcam footage from I-90 earlier from the tail end of June (June 30, 2024) showing the dramatic moment a driver in a Chrysler Pacifica almost changed lanes into a Toyota Corolla, causing the Corolla driver to overcorrect dramatically.
Check out the dashcam footage below.
Minivan freaked out for no reason. [oc]
byu/RocketPakk inIdiotsInCars
As mentioned, the incident happened on I-90 in Onalaska, WIS just before Exit 3 towards Route 53 and 35. (The exact location on Google Maps linked here.)
As /u/Rocketpakk’s dashcam footage shows, he’s traveling in the fast lane of Wisconsin’s Veterans Memorial Highway.
A driver in a maroon Chrysler Pacifica begins to change lanes from the middle lane into the fast lane without checking his blind spots.
A driver in a red Toyota Corolla almost gets sideswiped by the Pacifica but, thankfully, the Pacifica spotted the Corolla just in time to stop changing lanes.
The Corolla driver, however, swerves a little too fast and forcefully, causing him to swerve into the breakdown lane and the shoulder.
Thankfully, by the time the Corolla’s four wheels hit the hot, dry asphalt, it’s regained enough grip to gain control.
The Corolla driver was taken aback and needed a moment to compose themselves as we see them pull to the left (although, it should be noted that there isn’t much of a breakdown lane there and they really should’ve pulled to the right where there is a breakdown lane.)
“Overcorrected but f***ing hell of a save by the Corolla. I’m sure they had to pull over at the end to wipe their a**,” /u/YellowT-5R commented.
“This clip features two incredibly unconfident drivers,” /u/appa-ate-momo pointed out.
“Heart rate went from 80 to 190 real fast,” /y/RedEd024 replied.
This is your reminder to change lanes safely, and that means checking your rear and side mirrors including turning your head to check your blind spots, too.
And, although the majority of the responsibility is on the lane changer to do so safely, drivers must be defensive and try to avoid collisions if they can slow down and brake accordingly.
The Corolla driver should always anticipate that any approaching vehicle, signaling or not, might change into their lane at a moment’s notice and must be prepared to slow.
It would’ve behooved that Corolla driver to ease off the accelerator at the sight of the Pacifica.
Additionally, a less dramatic jerk of the wheel is all that was probably needed to avoid a collision had the Pacifica kept changing lanes.
Regardless, fast lane drivers and lane changers alike have to be aware of their surroundings and should be ready to react accordingly.
