An impatient driver in a Chevrolet Equinox made the sketchy decision to use the US 20 shoulder to overtake.
Illinoisian and Redditor /u/Devious_Bastard shared headshaking dashcam footage from US 20 from earlier last week (Nov 25, 2024) to the /r/IdiotsInCars subreddit showing a driver using the emergency shoulder to overtake.
If the driver just waited a second or two, they would’ve been able to legally change lanes and overtake like a normal, sane motorist.
Check out /u/Devious_Bastard’s dashcam footage below.
[oc] Impatient idiot passing on the shoulder
byu/Devious_Bastard inIdiotsInCars
As mentioned, the incident happened on US 20 (U.S. Grant Memorial Highway) in Winnebago just before the intersection with N Winnebago Rd. (Exact location on Google Maps linked here.)
As his dashcam footage shows, OP is driving in the right lane, slowly overtaking a slower-moving vehicle on the left.
OP can see a driver in a red Chevrolet Equinox approaching fast in his rearview mirror.
Suddenly, the driver in the Equinox changes lanes into the emergency shoulder, uses the shoulder to pass OP, and makes a multi-lane change without signaling.
Screenshot Credit: /u/Devious_Bastard
OP honks his horn to draw attention to the driver and saves the video clip.
Using the shoulder for non-emergency purposes violates Illinois Vehicle Code 11.709.1 which prohibits “Passing on the shoulder while merging into traffic” and is subject to 20 points on your driving record resulting in an automatic 2-month license suspension) and a fine of an undetermined amount (probably a base fine under $200.)
“Bonus points for passing on the right and not using a blinker! You’re so lucky to have seen the most important person in the world!,” /u/blondee84 commented.
“I love OPs calm demeanor while honking the horn,” /u/cgee complimented.
“You don’t know their situation! They might have had Kohl’s cash that was about to expire!,” /u/KobeHan44 humoursly added.
It looks an awful lot like that driver’s done that before.
While they’ll probably make it out OK and without a ticket, this is a dangerous habit nonetheless.
Unmaintained, emergency shoulders are often littered with all sorts of debris, potholes, and other roadside hazards that can pop a tire, or worse, cause you to lose control.
And, if you get too risky with it, with the main purpose of using an emergency shoulder for breakdowns, there may come a time when you change lanes into one only to come upon a stopped car.
I don’t have to spell out how disastrous that will be.
