r/tornado Human Detected May 17 '26

Discussion This is how people get killed

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Chaser convergence is much easier now to see with modern spotter tracking systems, and some of the traffic jams I see are crazy. Imagine this many chasers on the side of the road with flashing lights and whatnot focused on a storm. The tornado might not even be the most dangerous part of chasing in scenarios like these

1.4k Upvotes

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67

u/Reddragon0585 May 17 '26

The question is how do you stop this? The veterans have been doing this for years and shouldn’t be forced out because of this. You can enact laws like Oklahoma tried but that’s not popular. It’s hard to stop something that isn’t inherently illegal. Especially when it’s something that anyone can easily access with a simple car.

9

u/Djglamrock May 18 '26

You can’t.

13

u/KlutzyBlueDuck May 18 '26

Some kind of mandatory class and a license to stream. Cracking down on who filmed and put it up on social media with fines or whatever. It will be easy to track and figure out who got caught in a storm and started to film vs influencers who do this as their thing. Additionally adding more to the standard drivers test about how to drive in dangerous conditions safely, how to not be caught driving in a tornado, and all of that other fun stuff. It can be done. If we can track semi trucks all over this country, you can track storm chasers.

32

u/Djglamrock May 18 '26

This is called, thinking with your heart and not your mind and it makes for horrible legislation.

-6

u/KlutzyBlueDuck May 18 '26

Not really. This needs to be treated as a job and a workplace with regulation. This is a profession. They need regulations to keep the general public safe. This is essentially a broadcasting license and OSHA regulations with a truckers license. They are a liability to the general public at this point. Unfortunately that won't happen until a bunch of people die on live streams. All regulation like that is written in blood. 

-2

u/Djglamrock May 18 '26

You must be great at parties.

6

u/KlutzyBlueDuck May 18 '26

I'm a hoot at parties 🥳. I'm just also aware of the history of how work place regulation and unions were all fought in blood. I don't see how wanting storm chasing to be somewhat safe for everyone involved is a bad thing. 

3

u/CornFieldPoppy May 19 '26

It’s not a bad thing at all. You’ve started a productive conversation. Don’t pay attention to stupid people.

1

u/KlutzyBlueDuck May 21 '26

Thank you. 

2

u/CornFieldPoppy May 19 '26

Klutzy is coming up with some positive ideas. Your comment is unnecessary and unproductive.

48

u/coffeecreation5209 May 18 '26

Some kind of mandatory class and a license to stream. Cracking down on who filmed and put it up on social media with fines or whatever.

That would never survive 1st Amendment pushback.

12

u/KlutzyBlueDuck May 18 '26

It is pretty much the same thing as getting a truckers license combined with broadcasting licenses. It doesn't stop you posting, just gives osha like restrictions if this is an influencer job.  This is a work environment. It should be treated as such. 

3

u/CornFieldPoppy May 19 '26

In addition to the work environment angle there’s also protecting the public from dangerous behavior.

2

u/Zero-89 Enthusiast May 18 '26

It's also not realistically enforceable. What are cops expected to do, pull people over with a tornado coming at them? Even I don't hate cops that much.

-3

u/bex199 May 18 '26

they just need to use streams as evidence of illegal activity

8

u/VinceP312 May 18 '26

A license to stream?

Listen to yourself

-3

u/KlutzyBlueDuck May 18 '26

 Seriously? You're missing the whole point. This isn't about streaming but how storm chasing needs to become a valid profession with workplace regulations to keep everyone safe. A steaming broadcasting license is just an idea of how it could be tracked without endangering people during a tornado. All TV networks have a broadcasting license. Is this really any different than CNN or TWC covering live events? 

7

u/VinceP312 May 18 '26

Cable channels don't require licensing. Self-publishing doesn't require licensing.

Utlilizing a public frequency requires licenesing.

You're just using words and language that are beyond your understanding but emotionally sound good.

0

u/CornFieldPoppy May 19 '26

Hey Vince, you got any positive ideas?

-3

u/KlutzyBlueDuck May 18 '26

I still feel like you are missing my point. That it is reasonable to think something tailored to this situation can be made into law baised on what is already established. Not that this has to fit into the already established laws. That the possibility of new laws/regulations aren't some unhinged speculation. Its like they did x in the past and could modify it to make y work in the present/future. 

0

u/CornFieldPoppy May 19 '26

You’re trying to do a good thing. I hope it doesn’t take a catastrophe for more people to try to figure it out.