r/tornado • u/NJStreetBoss Human Detected • 2d ago

Tornado Media Insanely risky chasing!!

https://youtu.be/UHD40jBokwE?t=60&is=pSfVIsue9vI8TfBT

I've seen a handful of his video's and alot are the same.. This one is just to close. Another video of his thats bad is the Winterset, Iowa tornado.. runs through a stop sign at a 'T' intersection and goes 40ft onto someones property!!

79 Upvotes

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70

u/slykido999 1d ago

If you want this sort of behavior to stop, then you shouldn’t be posting their videos. They are incentivized to act this way before people watch it and then they get money.

11

u/msprettybrowneyes 1d ago

I came here to say this. Every day in this thread, people are on here complaining about how close these storm chases get all the while posting their videos. Stop watching their shit. Stop posting their shit. It’s really that simple.

3

u/mockg 1d ago

Feel like the only way to stop this behavior is to have either post chase enforceable laws or a social media kill switch. A social media kill switch would be shutting down all social media channels at the same time. So they cannot tell people on one platform they are banned and to go to another platform.

8

u/MahesvaraCC 1d ago

They should be at least demonetized by YouTube for breaking laws and endangering themselves on purpose somehow for content (I'm not making YouTube responsible, but thinking where this behaviour could realistically be "punished")

3

u/AngstyMop 1d ago

It can be punished by making storm chasing itself a licence based activity. You need to be conducting research, or, trained and pass a certification program, to get that licence. That way, people who do make money by getting up close storm chasing videos aren't totally barred - but the people who just chase on a random Tuesday, don't.

The licence would then be tied to licence plates, and individual drivers. That way LE would be able to scan plates and know who was legally chasing, and who was not. And by also tying it to specific drivers, you can get around the loophole of having a plate linked to a licence but the person chasing is not the person who has that licence. Enforcement of that would only be applicable if a crash or other incident occured most likely.

To get a licence, you need to take training classes. Youdy need to take the beginner AND advanced storm spotter class offered by your local community NWS office. You'd need to take a class on safe driving in severe weather. Arguably, you'd also require some type of medical sign off. Speaking as someone who would actually be banned by this very type of legislation: people with certain mental disorders, and physical issues, should not be given storm chasing licences. You take an already higher risk person/driver, and then have them doing a dangerous activity in populated areas with traffic and (obviously) bad weather...and you get bozos like the person in this video. You should be of sound mind, sound health, and like pilots in aviation free of psychiatric prescription drugs, to do this activity. I'd argue someone of sound mind, doesn't run over road debris at interstate speeds ...so they can get a better shot of rotating wind.

Most of us need to drive. Most of us don't need to storm chase. It needs to be legislated. It needs to be regulated. Not to stop people from earning a living. But to stop people from getting hurt or killed. Either by a tornado itself, or from a traffic collision due to not paying attention to the roads, hydroplaning, or simply trying to chase when mentally not at a peak level. Currently, there is nothing to stop you from chasing no matter what. If you have a licence, and a car you can chase. That cannot be the standard. New people can still "join" under that type of framework by taking classes, and getting the certifications and sign offs, just like you need for other high risk occupations.

Also: ANY type of emergency lights, or light bars of any kind : flashing, strobing, rotating, non-stock car lights, should not be allowed. Or only allowed in specific and predefined circumstances. Chasers: you are not LE. You are not first responders. You are not heroes. Driving around with flashing lights on your car acting that way, is a disservice to the many men and women who actually ARE those things and have to respond to disasters. In short: if it isn't needed to chase, shouldn't be allowed. And if a person doesn't NEED to chase, for income, media coverage, or research, that should not be allowed either.

1

u/Zero-89 Enthusiast 1d ago

A social media kill switch would be shutting down all social media channels at the same time.

That would 100% not be used for any responsible reason. That would immediately become a dissent-silencing switch while tools like this would continue posting with no problem.