Why So Many Abandoned Cars on American Highways?
Why so many abandoned cars on American highways? Seriously – driving around the highways and byways of North America, I have never seen more abandoned cars anywhere else than in the North East and Western Wastelands of The United States.
We’re not saying people in Europe or Japan don’t occasionally leave a car or two on the side of an interstate for weeks on end – but try driving through I-80 in Ohio near Cleveland and count the number of American made abandoned cars left on the shoulder.
At least in the deserts of California, Nevada & Arizona one expects a decade old car with bad radiators and no A/C to break down under 110 degree sun. But having owned several cars (shit boxes, mostly) I feel you all who have pumped only half a tank of gas into it each time, because you were afraid of it dying with a full tank – what a waste! I have never been unlucky enough to have a car, which appears to be in decent working order, just completely crap out to leave on the side of a road.
Maybe this is a state-to-state issue as well. A place like New Jersey has enough cash (judging from toll prices) to afford tow trucks to remove lost vehicles. Regardless of the reasoning, there is nothing sadder than seeing some lost vehicle which once served its owner proud.
American made??? You have a Nissan (Japanese) and a VW along with these other cars. Looks like the Buick is a stolen car! That’s the car’s fault???
Nissan – Japanese owned, power train built in Tennessee: http://www.nissanusa.com/about/corporate-info/nissan-in-north-america.html
and hey, just because that buick is broken down on a street in west philly doesnt mean it’s stolen
You call THOSE abandoned?? You make me laugh. Back in 1990, when my inventory company worked in NY, I would see 2 cars that looked like they were abandoned for a year. lol
One was an AMC Concord with NO windows, no tires, lifted on cinder blocks, and every body panel on that car painted in multicolor graffiti… on the highway to Co-Op City, NY.
The other car was sitting in Central park. It was a 78 Olds Delta 88… again, with no windows, tires, opened doors, painted with graffiti and on cinder blocks. They must’ve been sitting there for quite some time…to be vandalized to the extent, they both were.
That would never happen in Massachusetts, if your car breaks down and is unregistered/uninsured, it gets towed real quick. I had an 89 Ford Probe… it blew a timing belt and a water pump. When I came back with a tow truck, like 30 minutes later, it was already gone.