[SmartCat]

Received a strange video (via whatsapp) of an out of control truck. Apparently happened today at 7:30 AM on Dindigul Madurai highway.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBuJJvL5Pto&t=19s

My theories:

1) There is somebody inside the cabin who is either drunk or passed out, with foot on the accelerator pedal. (highly unlikely)

2) The steering wheel and accelerator pedal is stuck because of a mechanical fault. Like how some Toyota cars had issues with accelerator pedals. (somewhat likely)

3) The truck is possessed by an evil spirit (very likely)

What concerns me is the ease with which that truck is going over road divider repeatedly, even at such low speeds. I think there needs to be a stronger barrier between the two lanes on major highways.

[v12]

I wouldn't be surprised if some news channels report it as being possessed and turn it into a "Sansani" khabbar. Around a decade ago, they had reported a similar news. Some employees had recorded a Tata Indica being driven on its own with just a passenger in the front reading a newspaper. There was no one in the driver seat and the car was being driven on the highway and in the bylanes. They had reported it as "Breaking News" and with all sort of comments like "Is this car being driven by a ghost", "Probably the owner of the car died and his spirit is driving it" etc etc

They managed to track the car to its owner and it seemed the person who was sitting in the passenger seat was the driver. He had his legs crossed towards the foot controls and was using his hand to control the steering from the bottom. Imagine if they had predicted this as a self driving car then?

[blackwasp]

Originally Posted by smartcat

3) The truck is possessed by an evil spirit (very likely)

Here's what such spirits do to a pair of motorbikes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaOVNqA7lBA

Regarding barriers, yes we do need them of better quality, more so as today's cars and other vehicles go faster than what they used to do 5-10 years ago. But as usual, this won't be happening in the near future.

[Skyline_GT]

Here's my theory-

The front tire of the truck got punctured (the front right tire can be seen damaged in the video), so the driver/cleaner parked it by the side and began to work on the punctured tyre. They must have done it half way through and put on the new tyre except that the bolts on the new tyre weren't bolted tightly.
They sat in the truck started it, slotted it in reverse and as the truck began to move the loosely bolted tyre might have started making noises and shake causing the driver/cleaner to panic and jump off the truck.
The truck began to gain momentum as it was already slotted in Reverse gear and continued to go in rounds because the steering may have been in that position when the driver bailed from the truck.

[Grand Drive]

It was found that Karthick, 35, the driver, a native of Hosur in Krishnagiri district, was under the influence of alcohol.Police investigation revealed that the driver who drove rashly hit the centre median. In the impact, the steering got locked. When Karthick tried to bring the vehicle back on the road in reverse gear, he lost control and jumped off the vehicle.

Courtesy : Times of India

[Santoshbhat]

Just imagine, these are the kind of idiots we share the roads with!!

The transport industry is reeling under a serious shortage of drivers. Almost all operators have heavy loads right now and are under pressure from their customers to reach the consignments on time. Most of them are busy expanding their fleet, which is easy to do with all kinds of funding available. But from where do you produce the drivers?? Driving these big trucks is one of the most unenviable professions out there. I myself have seen cases where drivers turn up at our place so deprived of sleep and food that they almost can't stand on their feet . With mobile phone and GPS trackers, they say there is no way they can escape the wrath of customers and bosses. This is one area where there is a desperate need for regulation.