AT FIRST GLANCE, you likely are questioning my sanity in photographing a semi seemingly headed directly at the vehicle in which I am a front seat passenger.
If I did not understand the context of this image taken in October, I, too, would be screaming at myself to get the blank out of the way.
But things are not always as they seem.
This is actually a photo of a semi cab hooked to a cab traveling along Interstate 90 near the Rochester exit in southeastern Minnesota. Now imagine if my husband hadn’t been paying close attention. He may have thought the semi was aiming toward us and took evasive action. Thank goodness someone (not me) in our vehicle was fully alert and not fooled by an optical illusion.
© Copyright 2015 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Great shot and I looked twice but knew you are not a huge risk taker so it had to be more than what it appeared to be. 🙂
That’s an understatement, “you are not a huge risk taker.”
You can see the tow lights – it is a little daunting and scary when you look up and see this through your windshield though! We have been having a rash of wrong way drivers down here and the amount of fatalities down here is crazy (at least one a week if not one every few days). Be safe out there and keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. Happy Weekend – Enjoy 🙂
That’s interesting and scary. What is the reason for all of the way wrong way drivers?
The most recent one was during broad day light and the person was driving under the influence. Luckily no one got hurt. The other one a few weeks back resulted in the wrong way driver and the driver he hit being killed. I am not sure if they determined the cause. Both drivers were not wearing safety belts. I always click it before engaging my vehicle. This city is massive with a whole lot of drivers and not very good public transportation. I would say between the months of December to April there are an additional million people snow birding, spring breaking or visiting. Then you have all the major events kicking off in January – Gasparilla (pirates galore), State Fair, Strawberry Festival, Carnival/Mardi Gras, etc. Just your usual craziness!
Ah, I thought of the snowbird factor and the unfamiliarity with roads. But I suspect alcohol is the primary reason for such crashes.
Our current/temporary residence is North Harlingen,TX, and that report of the wrong way driver (with both drivers being killed) happened at a time of day/night (2:30 a.m.) that is definitely suspect and it appeared to definitely be locals. Such wrong way incidents have happened when I was driving and it takes quite a few moments for the brain to compute “what is wrong with this picture”!!!!!!
And then you have to react…
Yes!!!!!!
🙂
While I get somewhat tense in a bad snow storm, I get the same feeling in a torrent of rain. However, my biggest fear is black ice! Wrong way drivers, while not uncommon here in Texas, are usually attributed to alcohol or drugs and do occur it seems about once a month in the wee hours of early morning.
I would guess that typically is the reason for driving on the wrong side of the highway.
That’s always unnerving
I’ve never seen this before, so, yes, especially unnerving.
Imagine if you were nodding off and your husband decided it would be funny to yell “Oh My God”.. Of course then he’d have to dial 911 to revive you..lol
Pretty much.
My first thought….”well that’s too close for comfort”!
That would be a mild natural reaction.