The impact attenuator at this traffic interchange did its job by redirecting this distracted driver back onto the main part of the road.
Middlesex County commuter and Redditor /u/UrDeadSorry shared headshaking dashcam footage from earlier last week (Dec 28, 2025) to the /r/IdiotsInCars subreddit showing a distracted driver plowing into and getting redirected by a crash barrier at this busy interchange.
Check out the dashcam footage below with the original Reddit thread linked here.
The incident occurred just after the Turnpike Toll Road as this car entered a US 9/Route 440 interchange (Exact location on Google Maps linked here).
As the dashcam shows, OP just exited the Turnpike Toll Road and is headed towards this particular US / Route 440 interchange.
In front of them is another driver headed the same way.
At first, they seem to be paying attention, signaling left; however, we find out they are likely either distracted or, worse, drunk.
Separating traffic entering the Garden State Parkway and the Interchange is a gore point with a metal traffic barrier at the end.
The driver in front of OP mostly heads into the correct interchange lane, but not quite.
Just before they hit, they veer left towards the traffic attenuator, bounce off, and are redirected back into the middle of the lane.
They likely caused thousands of dollars in damage to their own vehicle, but thankfully, that’s about it; no one else was roped into their poor driving.
“That was an expensive text message. At least they hit an inanimate object, and nobody innocent was injured,” the top comment from /u/1whoknows reads.
“I literally watched the beginning of the video 3 times trying to figure out if maybe they just couldn’t see once the road forks, but nope. It’s pretty clear that they were obviously distracted and that is one expensive text message that they were working on,” /u/Impressive_Drama_377 added.
In New Jersey, using a handheld phone or texting while driving (a common form of distracted driving that can lead to crashing into a barrier) carries fines starting around $200–$400 for a first offense, rising to **$600–$800 plus *3 motor vehicle points* and possible license suspension on a third or subsequent offense. (carscounsel.com)
Those 3 points on your driving record can raise insurance rates and contribute to license suspension if you accumulate enough violations. (carscounsel.com)
