1. Mattresses Strapped to Roofs With One Piece of Twine
There’s always that one car barreling down the left lane with a queen-sized mattress on top, held down by what looks like a shoelace. The driver is gripping the steering wheel like their life depends on it—and it does. This is less of a moving strategy and more of a physics experiment we all agreed to ignore. You’ll find this scene on interstates everywhere, usually on weekends, Joe Santos of Motor Biscuit shares.
It’s technically legal to transport a mattress this way, but only if it’s secure—which is rarely the case. According to many state laws, unsecured loads can result in fines, but enforcement is inconsistent. Most people assume one bungee cord and prayer will suffice. And somehow, we all just drive around it like it’s fine.
2. Random Shoes on the Shoulder
You’re cruising along and then—bam—there it is. A single sneaker, boot, or sandal lying forlornly on the side of the highway like it’s been abandoned mid-stride. It’s always just one shoe, which somehow makes it weirder. Who is out here losing shoes while driving 75 mph?
No one really knows why this happens, but there are entire Reddit threads dedicated to shoe-spotting. Theories range from careless moving days to shoes being tossed out of windows during arguments. The fact that they’re never picked up is what’s telling—we’ve all silently agreed to let them rot in peace, Mike Rampton of Mental Floss explains. Like roadside tombstones for forgotten footwear.
3. Entire Bumpers Just… Gone
Seeing a whole bumper lying in the median has become so normal, it’s barely worth mentioning anymore, according to Lori Galarreta of LAist. It’s usually a sad gray or black plastic curve, looking like it detached itself and decided to live a better life. Sometimes you’ll even see a license plate still attached, which feels oddly personal. It’s like, “Hey, do you want this back or…?”
This is a clear sign that someone hit something, shrugged, and just kept driving. Technically, it’s illegal to drive without a front or rear bumper in most states, but again, no one seems to care. You can thank the rise of plastic car parts that snap off at the slightest nudge. And yet, we all swerve around them like it’s just another Tuesday.
4. Abandoned Cars With Police Tape Flapping
If you’ve ever driven past a rusting sedan with its hood popped and a bright yellow ribbon flapping from the mirror, you’ve witnessed a roadside surrender. These cars are often tagged by state troopers and left for days—or weeks. Sometimes they’re missing tires, windows, or dignity. Other times, they look fine, like someone just got bored and walked away.
State laws vary, but most allow a car to sit for 24–72 hours before it’s towed. But delays happen constantly, especially in rural areas. So the car just stays there, slowly becoming part of the scenery. At this point, it feels like a permanent exhibit called “The American Dream, Paused.”
5. Handwritten Signs for Lost Dogs Taped to Highway Poles
Nothing says “we’re hanging by a thread” like a piece of cardboard duct-taped to a highway exit sign with “LOST DOG” scribbled in Sharpie. These signs flap helplessly in the wind, often faded and rain-soaked. The odds of a driver seeing, reading, and acting on one while going 65 mph are basically zero. And yet, people still make them—because hope is the last thing to die.
Highway signage laws usually prohibit unauthorized postings, but enforcement is rare unless it’s a safety hazard. The desperation is real, and you can’t blame people for trying. Still, the whole thing screams “I have no idea what I’m doing, but I’m doing it anyway.” Honestly, same.
6. Fast Food Wrappers Tumbling Like Tumbleweeds
McDonald’s bags and crumpled Taco Bell wrappers have become the unofficial flora of American highways. They swirl down the road like they have somewhere to be. If you’ve ever driven behind someone and watched a straw wrapper flutter out the window, you know we’ve failed as a society. Not just because of the littering, but because no one honks anymore—we’ve accepted it.
Littering is illegal in every state, with fines ranging from $50 to $1,000. Still, highway cleanup crews remove millions of pounds of trash annually. It’s the apathy that stings more than the mess. We don’t even blink when we see a Wendy’s cup rolling across three lanes of traffic.
7. Makeshift Memorials That Have Been There for Years
Crosses, flowers, teddy bears, and sometimes even photos—these roadside memorials are haunting and powerful, Tom Zarrilli of Southern Spaces shares. But when they’ve been there long enough to collect moss and sun bleach, it’s hard not to notice. Some states allow them; others have policies against long-term displays. Either way, they’re often left untouched for years.
It’s a weird societal contradiction—we forget about highway safety, but remember individuals forever. These memorials sit feet from speeding cars, weathering every season like silent ghosts. They’re a reminder of tragedy and a visual cue that we’ve just let some chaos stick around. No one’s really in charge anymore, are they?
8. Trucks With Tarps That May or May Not Be Doing Anything
You’ve probably driven behind a gravel truck with a flimsy tarp lazily flapping in the wind. Supposedly it’s there to keep rocks from flying out, but let’s be honest—it’s more ceremonial than functional. Every so often, you’ll hear a loud ping on your windshield and just brace for impact. And you still don’t pass, because they might be hauling karma.
Most states require these trucks to cover their loads, but enforcement is hit or miss. Insurance companies deal with thousands of claims a year for cracked windshields from highway debris. It’s become so common that people just accept it. The tarp is like a seatbelt on a shopping cart: mostly symbolic.
9. Wobbly Trailers Towing Dubious Cargo
Whether it’s a boat that clearly hasn’t seen water since 1998 or an ATV strapped with bungee cords and blind faith, trailers are often an adventure in engineering. The trailer itself is usually leaning, the lights don’t work, and there’s always that one tire that looks dangerously low. You don’t trust it, but you also don’t want to be anywhere near it. So you speed up—or slow down—and whisper a prayer.
States require trailers to be registered and equipped with working brake lights, but not everyone complies. Small utility trailers in particular are often used without inspections. Combine that with uneven loading and minimal strapping, and you’ve got a rolling disaster. It’s the ultimate “good enough” mindset in motion.
10. Mangled Exit Signs That No One Has Fixed
You’ve probably seen an exit sign that’s bent like a pretzel, either from a weather event or a car that clearly lost a fight. Sometimes the letters are scratched off or turned completely sideways. You’d think someone would fix it—eventually. But nope, it just becomes part of the background.
The Federal Highway Administration has guidelines for sign visibility and maintenance, but local budgets often delay repairs. It’s technically a safety issue, but not urgent enough to get prioritized. So we all just memorize which bent sign means “Turnpike South.” It’s fine. Totally fine.
11. Cars With Duct-Taped Windows Like It’s an Upgrade
We’ve all been there—driving behind a car with the rear windshield replaced by a garbage bag and enough duct tape to build a kayak. It flaps violently in the wind, and you wonder how they can even see out the back. Spoiler: they probably can’t. But at this point, we all just nod in solidarity and go about our day.
Driving with a broken window isn’t technically illegal unless it obstructs your view. But it’s definitely not safe, especially in bad weather. The duct tape fix is meant to be temporary, but some folks treat it like a permanent lifestyle choice. And the rest of us just accept it, like an unspoken agreement to not judge.
12. Roadkill So Old It’s Basically Fossilized
There’s fresh roadkill, and then there’s the stuff that’s been there so long it’s practically part of the pavement. A flattened raccoon that no longer resembles a raccoon, just a dark smudge with vague fur outlines. Eventually, nature and traffic turn it into asphalt art. And we just keep driving over it like it’s no big deal.
States have roadkill removal policies, but response times vary wildly depending on location and budget. In rural areas, animals can remain on the road for weeks. We’ve collectively decided that if it’s not actively blocking traffic, it can stay. Nature takes the wheel—and we let it.
