Autoblog

Jon Stewart investigates the Russian dashcam phenomenon

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Celebrities, Humor, Russia

The streaking meteor event in Siberia last week has led Jon Stewart to spare a few minutes on The Daily Show to examine footage of the explosion 20 miles high and said to be equal to 300 kilotons of TNT.

But his real interest is asking why so many Russians were able to get the footage in the first place, i.e., why are there so many dashcams? Coincidentally, Wired asked the same question just a few days ago. Using plenty of examples to illustrate his point - akin to this, and this, and this, that we have become oh so used to - Stewart surmises that Russian roads are "A live-action Grand Theft Auto" and that "Russians in their daily lives see so much amazing [expletive] that they have become unfazeable."

You can watch his amusing take on our comrades across the Pacific in the video below.

Continue reading Jon Stewart investigates the Russian dashcam phenomenon

Jon Stewart investigates the Russian dashcam phenomenon originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Feb 2013 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Focus hits downed trolley wire, spectacular accident ensues

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 12:45:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Hatchback, Ford, Russia

In this month's installment of From Russia with OMG, dashcam footage reveals another reason why local drivers should receive hazard pay. The black Ford Focus in the picture above is just about to run over a street trolley wire that has come undone and fallen onto the road. Or rather, that's what you'd expect to happen, but the trolley wire had a different idea that could be captioned with the line, "You shall not pass."

Unfortunately it appears the driver did not emerge entirely unscathed from the ensuing accident. But he did emerge, and in Russia, that looks to be a triumph. You can see watch it all happen in the video below.

Continue reading Ford Focus hits downed trolley wire, spectacular accident ensues

Ford Focus hits downed trolley wire, spectacular accident ensues originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Impatient driver hooked by in-tow crane

Jeffrey N. Ross — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos

While we're not completely sure on the specifics of this video, two things we know for sure are that (1) this dashcam owner really needs to learn how to edit a video and (2) the driver of this car will likely stay in his or her lane during future turns.

After spending a minute and a half of staring at what has to be one of the worst-designed intersections in the world, the driver of this dashcam-equipped car starts to make a left-hand turn and attempts to go around a Toyota minivan that is slowing down for a large truck. In doing so, the car ends up behind a crane being hauled on a lowboy trailer, and at some point the crane hooks to the car. What we can't see is how the car gets hooked to the crane, but it's enough to pick the car up, turn it 90 degrees and drag it down the street at a 45-degree angle with horns blaring and tires screeching. The unknowing truck driver is only made aware of the situation thanks to a moped rider who speeds by the entangled vehicles and gets the truck to stop.

Scroll down to watch the frightening video (and skip to the 1:34 mark for the action to get started).

Continue reading Impatient driver hooked by in-tow crane

Impatient driver hooked by in-tow crane originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Sep 2012 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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