This dashcam owner changed lanes, not expecting a Toyota Prius to nearly sideswipe them, emerging from the breakdown lane.
Northampton County driver and Redditor /u/webzic shared headshaking dashcam footage from the 78 from earlier in April (Apr 7, 2026) to the /r/IdiotsInCars subreddit showing a driver in a Toyota Prius almost causing what would’ve been a sideswipe accident as the Prius driver decided the breakdown lane could be used for passing.
Check out the hare-brained driving maneuver from OP’s rear dashcam below with the original Reddit thread linked here.
The incident happened on I-78 between Mockingbird Hill Rd. and Hellertown Rd, just before Exit 67 (Exact location on Google Maps linked here.)
As the dashcam shows, OP is headed westbound down I-78 towards the aforementioned exit.
Wanting to get around a semi camping in the left lane, OP decides to change lanes to overtake.
However, unbeknownst to him and any other driver in the same situation, a driver in a white Toyota Prius decides to use the emergency breakdown lane as a passing lane.
And, when OP changes lanes, he almost sideswipes the Prius, which is now passing him.
The Prius does most of the dodging to avoid getting hit, and both escape without getting into a larger accident.
“I looked in my mirror, saw a fully clear lane once I cleared the van, and then a wild car appeared out of nowhere. I love a real-life jump scare,” OP clarified in the comments.
“These are the idiots that slam into a car parked on the shoulder of the road as they jump from behind a vehicle to the shoulder with no visibility of what may be stopped there,” one of the top comments from /u/MountainWocky reads.
“Amazing, they can’t be bothered to slow down just for 10 seconds. I had someone take the exit lane all the way up, and as the split barrier was 500 feet up, the person zipped into the right lane while I was in the left coming to the right lane at the same time. People like this are so sh**y,” /u/StackThePads33 shared.
In Pennsylvania, using the emergency/breakdown shoulder to pass traffic is illegal except in true emergencies and is typically cited as improper use of the roadway. The base fine is generally around $100–$200, but with court costs and fees the total out-of-pocket cost often lands around $150–$350+ depending on the county. It can also add about 2 points to your driving record and may increase insurance premiums.
