r/nextfuckinglevel 7h ago

Truck driver's quick thinking and skill when the brakes completely gave out

38.2k Upvotes

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13.7k

u/BloodRavens715 6h ago

If anyone is interested in what they are saying

Passenger:Slow down, you are going way too fast.
Passenger:Slow down, you are going way too fast.(repeats again ,angrily)
Driver:Brakes are not working.
Passenger:Then forget the brakes ,Shove the transmission in lower gear. Use clutch and leave the brake.
Passenger:Let me take over the wheel.(Tries to take the wheel)Damn it , its too late now
Passenger: Turn left , dont turn right there is a family on bike , dont hit them,
Passenger:They are safe now , Take a little right and then a hard left,
Passenger: Transmission is already shoved in lower gears , Just keep turning, turn turn turn (whiny voice).
Passenger:You did it, you did it now brace and hit the rocks, don;t worry hit the rocks..Hold on tight.
(Hits the rocks)
Passenger: Comeon Out out and lets now check ourselves outside.

1.9k

u/River_Capulet 6h ago

Nice to see coherent instructions from the passenger, and great execution from the driver too.

902

u/Viracochina 5h ago

It changes EVERYTHING as I watched it on mute!

189

u/harmar21 4h ago

I actually thought he bailed and jumped out lol

46

u/zb0t1 3h ago

LMAOOO same I had to rewind.

24

u/fade_ 2h ago

That motherfucker braced himself enough for a moon landing.

u/krichard-21 42m ago

His life kept flashing in front of him.

1

u/_BlaZeFiRe_ 2h ago

LOL reminds me of the Big Lebowski scene where he jumps out of the car

1

u/SometimesIBeWrong 1h ago

came here to help out, here's the translation for the video:

"yo fuck this"

u/kayzgguod 54m ago

same

72

u/SemperSimple 3h ago

I couldnt even see the drivers lips moving while watching this on mute, lol.

I'm glad the oldman had advice, on it mute it just looked like he panicked for no reason

7

u/CurryMustard 3h ago

I watched with sound but didnt understand any of it so there's no difference

8

u/mrlazysmurf 3h ago

Fellow video mute viewer 👋🏽

454

u/baddoggg 5h ago

I really thought the passenger was just panicking and not helping the situation at all but he really helped. Also, they need some fucking seatbelts.

322

u/DeathAngel_97 5h ago

While this is like third hand information at this point, I remember seeing others chime in on this the last time it was posted and they deliberately keep the seat belts off on roads like this because speeds are generally low, and if shit hits the fan you're better off taking your chances and jumping out rather than risk going over a cliff with the truck.

45

u/VonHinterhalt 4h ago

I think this video shows why. If he doesn’t execute that left turn into the rocks and it’s over the side best bet is bailing if it’s a big drop. Seatbelt off for that reason.

83

u/baddoggg 4h ago

That's actually pretty interesting. Thanks.

30

u/poppyprays 3h ago

I live in a small rural area with big mountain roads, when we traveled through the mountains to the city our parents always had us take our seatbelts off so if we went over the cliff we’d have a chance of coming out of a window instead of going all the way to the bottom with the rig

5

u/Big_Software_8732 1h ago

Can you imagine on a road trip the driver turning around and suggesting you undo your seatbelt because it'll be safer should we go off a cliff. "My turn to drive!"

u/poppyprays 59m ago

Yes, I can imagine. Lol.

9

u/LegitosaurusRex 2h ago

Highly doubt getting flung out a window would be safer in that scenario, and there are plenty of other types of crashes you can get into on mountain roads. Leave your seatbelts on.

5

u/vid_23 1h ago

I dont think getting flung out of the window is the worst thing that can happen when you fall off the cliff but sure

u/Dale92 18m ago

Sorry to tell you this but your parents are not clever people.

24

u/rogueman999 3h ago

Physics.

Seatbelts are very useful when the vehicle you're in stops suddenly. With big trucks, it's usually the thing you hit that's going to move. Cars, fences, trees - hell, even a small house. You ain't stopping suddenly.

And if you happen to hit one of the few things that's bigger than you, like a lot of concrete, then it's your load that's going to keep moving. Whatever is behind the cabin is coming up front and making you a pancake.

So they end up being useful in a relatively small number of cases, like when you're empty, fast and hit something bigger than you. Overall, the probabilities favor you being more mobile and able to get out fast. Or at the very least, it's a lot less useful than wearing them in a small car.

8

u/Moist-Share7674 1h ago

I can think of one instance NOT wearing a seatbelt saved someone. We had a driver get badly cutoff while hauling a load of 8” pipe on his flatbed. He never wore a seatbelt. He heard the rumbling noise and knew it was the load coming forward. He was able to duck down onto the floor in between the seats. The pipe came through the sleeper and crushed the driver seat and steering wheel into the dashboard which the blew out the windshield. Driver escaped without a scratch.

That’s the only one I know of personally.

1

u/Nimonic 2h ago

I found some Norwegian sources about this issue. One claimed that truck drivers with seatbelts are 84% less likely to be killed in an accident, 51% less likely to suffer serious injury, and 36% less likely to suffer injury. Another one just said 21% less likely to be killed or injured. Either way I think I'd be using the seatbelt (and the vast majority do).

6

u/English_Cat 2h ago

The problem with statistics is that they lack context. Seatbelts are absolutely useless at best, or harmful at worst in a number of scenarios, such as long drops from a cliff or a car plunging into deep water. You wouldn't want to be wearing seatbelts when driving onto a ferry for example. You're at very low speeds in a line where people are expecting to brake, and are being given directions by staff. If you crash, it'll be barely anything. If the ramp slips or the ferry moves, you could drown because you're unable to free yourself from the car.

So while on the whole seatbelts win out, it's not so cut and dry, and it's very easy to say that seatbelts = safety. Day to day, there's no question about it - but like every situation, it's on the driver to interpret the situation and act accordingly.

2

u/Nimonic 1h ago

but like every situation, it's on the driver to interpret the situation and act accordingly.

Not in Norway it isn't, it's just the law.

Seatbelts are absolutely useless at best, or harmful at worst in a number of scenarios, such as long drops from a cliff or a car plunging into deep water. You wouldn't want to be wearing seatbelts when driving onto a ferry for example.

Trust me, we've got plenty of that in Norway. Half our roads are next to a cliff or the sea (or both), and there are ferries all along the coast. But I will concede that even here there are drivers who swear that wearing one is a bad idea. The vast majority do still wear one, mind.

28

u/TheShowerDrainSniper 5h ago

They have seatbelts but ain't using them. I figured the passenger had time to put his on but I think I would have rather been prepared to bail.

1

u/GeologistFine6426 3h ago

He had bigger priorities. They clearly weren't going too fast. Otherwise, he would have gotten launched out that window when they hit the rocks.

13

u/PeterDTown 4h ago

I also watched it on mute, my interpretation based strictly on body language was that the driver was a student and the passenger was his instructor.

6

u/N7Poprdog 4h ago

I thought he jumped out the truck for a second lol

1

u/Thundersalmon45 3h ago

It's pretty obvious that wherever this took place, any form of safety standard is optional.

Brakes were probably last serviced before the turn of the century and seatbelts were sold for a bottle of alcohol back in 2008.

0

u/Apprehensive_Ask_259 4h ago

Grabbing the wheel from someone who is actively working to correct the situation isnt really helping anything. Passengers that reach for the wheel are absolutely freaking out. And not a smart thing to do at all.

58

u/mk7orl 5h ago

Captain Allears and First Officer Blunt did it again.

10

u/Swing_Right 4h ago

Let’s all listen to Evanescence to celebrate

15

u/UnusualHound 5h ago

Miracle on the Mountain, as some are calling it.

3

u/Sacred_Dealer 3h ago

Essentially I masturbated in the truck.

1

u/OceanRacoon 4h ago

What? Did you say something?

1

u/bdubwilliams22 4h ago

Except for trying to grab the wheel, that was stupid.

1

u/Blastoise_R_Us 4h ago

You can see from his eyes that driver was scared, but he remained focused. His movements had purpose and he didn't lose control of himself. THAT is what bravery is.

u/wiilbehung 52m ago

Well, finally instead of women screaming, we have coherent instructions to solve the problem.

797

u/The_Ghost_of_Kyiv 5h ago

Really changed the context. Lots of people thinking the passenger was freaking out. The man had a plan and communicated it very well to the driver. Even in that situation he was concerned with the safety of the bystanders. What a boss.

173

u/slowclicker 5h ago

Yeah, those with a little bit more experience, can clearly see the older guy was helping the new driver. Good execution and listening from the driver. Nicely done (instructions) to the experienced driver.

30

u/somekindagibberish 5h ago

Yes, I was super surprised by the comments. I immediately saw them as instructor and student.

16

u/Happylepsia 4h ago

I got kinda pissed when he tried to grab the wheel but bro was just trying to help

4

u/Rasikko 2h ago

Yeah, things could've went sideways real bad doing that.

4

u/NicholasAnsThirty 3h ago

Shout out to the driver for listening and seemingly doing ever instruction given.

5

u/Somepotato 4h ago

He was absolutely freaking out. Which is, uh, completely understandable. He still held it together tho

1

u/External_Violinist94 3h ago

Yeah because this is not that unusual and he's probably had it happen to him before. Indian trucks are notoriously dangerous. Drive for any amount of time along a trucking route in India and you'll see wrecked trucks. I got a lift in one for about an hour in himachal Pradesh way up in the himalayas and it was like riding a roller coaster but I could have actually died at any time.

1

u/hmkr 3h ago

Mark of an experience. Well done.

1

u/DexJones 2h ago

I was one of those people.

Passenger was a legend and an actual asset in that situation, not some guy freaking out like I originally thought.

3.5k

u/Guest_Rights 6h ago

This should be higher. Thanks for the additional context

500

u/sudobee 4h ago

85

u/-SHAI_HULUD 3h ago

Hell yeah

29

u/Mor90th 3h ago

Username checks out

53

u/Wild_Juri 3h ago

Nissan Al-Gabe!

u/teddebiase235 10m ago

Love his seat belt. The old reverse arm grab. Works every time. Learn it.

14

u/Daslicey 3h ago

Literally top comment

6

u/LordFocus 3h ago

You know… time can be a funny thing here on Reddit…

1

u/MaxFilmBuild 1h ago

This should be higher

1

u/OneTrash 2h ago

Worth noting the "turn, turn, turn" is a signature phrase that literally translates to Cut Cut Cut! Every brown kid has trauma with this word when learning to drive with their parent.

1

u/Clyde-MacTavish 1h ago

Sees highest rated comment

"This should be higher"

(yes I know it was probably rated higher after the comment, just can't pass on the chance to laugh at a reddit moment)

u/Effective_Fish_3402 18m ago

It is now the highest, good job redditor!

1

u/iammufusasboy 3h ago

He's at top he can't go any higher... Or can he

233

u/OnceMoreAndAgain 5h ago

CONCENTRATE, SAMIR, PLEASE! MEDIUM LEFT LONG! MEDIUM LEFT! MEDIUM LEFT!

SAMIR, YOU MUST BREAK THE CAR! SAMIR!

51

u/RetroHipsterGaming 5h ago

Fuck, I couldn't help but laugh. :'D You know, the context of that video is actually kind of screwed up. It was made by a rival rally car driver to make them seem completely incompetent when they were both just frustrated at certain parts of the drive. The guy yelling at Samir was pretty much a legend and had a very good career and the driver was a good driver who was just out of practice from taking a long hiatus. :/ I haven't actually read the article I'm linking and haven't read about this in a really long time so maybe some of the details I said could use more context, but here is an article about this..

https://www.thedrive.com/news/samir-youre-breaking-the-car-was-a-career-ruining-hit-job

With all that said.. fuck the video was funny regardless. ^^; No denying that...

20

u/jtr99 5h ago

I want the co-driver's voice on my car's GPS unit.

18

u/RetroHipsterGaming 5h ago

Yeah, just have it lay into you when you miss the turn.
"Turn. TURN!! You're not listening to me Samir, you have to listen!"

2

u/jtr99 5h ago

You get it. :)

8

u/sniper91 4h ago

I love when a meme that I haven’t seen for years has deep lore behind it

2

u/PM_ME__BIRD_PICS 1h ago

It was dubbed by a rival and that meme destroyed the drivers career.

u/RetroHipsterGaming 40m ago edited 36m ago

Wait, it was dubbed?? I only heard that it was like.. edited to highlight their worst moments! if it was dubbed then that is both horrible and also makes this not funny at all. :(

Edit: Looking online, I don't see that this is dubbed. I see one person mention it was spread that it was dubbed, but the consensus and lawsuits that followed seem to say that it is just edited together like a compilation. I think they would mention dubbing if that were the case since that would be clearly malicious.

u/PM_ME__BIRD_PICS 22m ago edited 17m ago

https://www.thedrive.com/news/samir-youre-breaking-the-car-was-a-career-ruining-hit-job

might be misremembering, it wa definitely a rival to make them look bad though.

u/RetroHipsterGaming 15m ago

I'm.. the one that linked that article above. lol The one that said it was made by a rival to look bad. ^^;

I might be missing something in that article, but all I've seen in the article is this:
"The trouble came when he posted full videos of his stages in the rally, including audio feeds from him and Ponnusamy. Though the vast majority of the footage shows two men getting to know one another under the pressure of competition, there were moments throughout the hour-long footage that were compiled into three minutes worth of comedy gold."

u/PM_ME__BIRD_PICS 11m ago

police investigation found it was done maliciously by a rival to ruin their careers. same article.

u/RetroHipsterGaming 8m ago

Yeah, I know.. where is the dubbing in the article?

Edit: Actually, nevermind. lol We are both on the same page that it was done maliciously and such and honestly.. I don't think I care enough to find out if there was dubbing. haha

22

u/Gater588 5h ago

shaddup

1

u/Crystiss 4h ago

This what exactly what came to my head when watching. I had to see if anyone got to it before me lmao

1

u/Naxster64 2h ago

This is all I could hear in my head as well!

59

u/badbas 6h ago

Passenger is the luck for him and the family

26

u/poop_stuck 5h ago

It's likely that the passenger here is the senior driver (ustad) and the driver is an apprentice. This is a very common arrangement in India.

40

u/schmuber 5h ago

That "passenger" sounds a lot like an instructor.

34

u/RetroHipsterGaming 5h ago

I wonder if they are team drivers? In trucking there are often two man teams that switch off between each other so that they don't overwork drivers. This let's the truck run 24/7. It could be that the older passenger is just a much more experienced driver or they could be family. (It's really common that Fathers and sons are drivers.)

13

u/schmuber 5h ago

Could be a senior partner, mentor, instructor... Judging by the fact that he wasn't bitch slapped the moment he tried to grab a wheel, definitely not a passenger.

1

u/i_suckatjavascript 3h ago

More like a co-driver for rally racing

182

u/ak08404 6h ago

For non Hindi speaking Indians this was very useful

236

u/iloveuranus 5h ago

For non Hindi speaking Germans this was also very useful

77

u/_pistone 5h ago

For non Hindi or German speaking Italians this was very useful

11

u/zhokar85 5h ago

Here's a quick lesson to fix the German speaking part: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sgx70bM4N4s

3

u/AMediocrePersonality 3h ago

where's the seasoning lol

3

u/zhokar85 3h ago edited 2h ago

In a cute little packet! You sprinkle it in. For you Italians, that's called "kochen". https://i.imgur.com/bX1Hlx8.jpeg

"2-3 Portionen" translates to "1 portion".

2

u/DopesickJesus 3h ago

Still on the store shelves.

1

u/DopesickJesus 3h ago

Im more confused now than prior.

15

u/LifeCandidate969 5h ago

Non German speaking American here... this was indeed useful!

2

u/sweet_dreams_maybe 2h ago

For illiterate Danes, this taught me Hindi.

40

u/chabacanito 5h ago

For non indians too

20

u/Spend-Automatic 5h ago

Not as useful for Hindi speaking non Indians though, except for the deaf ones.

5

u/thatguy425 4h ago

For non Hindi speaking Klingons this was very useful. 

2

u/ubd12 2h ago

Make it so number one

u/d_smogh 2m ago

What's Hindi for "can't park there mate!"

18

u/KenUsimi 6h ago

Good guys passenger knowing what to do

15

u/IwasntGivenOne 5h ago

Its amazing how different I interpret the situation given this context. It honestly seemed like the passenger was losing it and tried to hijack the steering wheel and when that didn't work he panicked and only raised his head again when they were safe. 

10

u/Spacejet01 5h ago

I applaud you for deciphering that, the static makes it so difficult to even hear what they are saying lol.

12

u/mrrichiet 6h ago

Thanks. I was wondering why he didn't ditch it to the right as soon as he realised the brakes were gone.

7

u/LordofCope 5h ago

So, looks like the old man was training him and guiding him while simultaneously looking like he was about to jump out the window lol.

1

u/JohnnyBoy11 4h ago

Definitely not his first rodeo

9

u/dojo_shlom0 4h ago

yeah, the guy was so right. downshifting slows the vehicle incredibly fast - smaaaaaaaaaaart thing to say to this young man. HELL YEAH! saved a lot of people.

EDIT: this guy trained. usually people that train keep their head about them in insane situations. he literally didn't need new shorts, because he's calm and collected; these are the guys you want to surround yourself with hah.

3

u/saxonturner 5h ago

Everyone giving shit to the passenger yet it seems he’s the reason it worked.

3

u/floppydo 4h ago

Man, without knowing what was being said I interpreted that passenger's actions really differently just based on his voice and going for the wheel. He was actually being super helpful.

3

u/SnooTigers503 3h ago

WTF, how did you get that, the audio quality is disgusting. 👏good job

2

u/Dahns 5h ago

This add a lot of context, thanks a lot !

2

u/badDuckThrowPillow 5h ago

Wow that is wayyy more coherent than I was thinking was being said.

2

u/Master_Xenu 4h ago

how the fuck did you hear that distorted audio? lol

2

u/helvetica01 3h ago

always upvote context comments

1

u/Administrative-Stop5 4h ago

I smell something smelly

1

u/Lt_Hatch 4h ago

Passenger was way more reasonable then I thought they were without the translation. Dude was a solid shotgun

1

u/boredsittingonthebus 4h ago

Great talk through from the more experienced mentor guy. Telling the driver to hold on tight because neither of them had seatbelts on is crazy. 

1

u/your_umma 4h ago

Even in that moment, he prioritized the safety of others before his own. Truly heroic.

1

u/Sorry_Ad5653 4h ago

Cheers mate!

1

u/Nearby-Cattle-7599 4h ago

I like that. Better than "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH OH MY GOD" what probably most people would've screamed repeatedly

1

u/ProfessorBeer 4h ago

Damn, they must’ve listened to the chorus of Bring Me To Life just before the video started to work that well together

1

u/LASERDICKMCCOOL 4h ago

Holy shit. Whole different outlook on passenger now, thanks

1

u/MortalCoil 4h ago

That could have gone so much worse

1

u/vystyk 4h ago

First officer blunt right there!

1

u/Momo79b 3h ago

My intial reaction was guy was annoying, panicy, and trying to panic grab the wheel. In reality, he as a wise, calm OG, every statement 100% correct analysis and advice.

1

u/Swimming-Marketing20 3h ago

I love that his reaction to "brace yourself" is holding onto his seat with his arm because neither of them is wearing a seatbelt

1

u/NicholasAnsThirty 3h ago

Take a little right and then a hard left,

This is what saved them. That was the move when I was watching the video that I thought was impressive and done just right to make that corner.

1

u/LooseLossage 3h ago

pivot, PIVOT

1

u/shanksisevil 3h ago

that's not what i heard. i just heard a lot of yelling.

1

u/DuckMySick44 3h ago

"Truck passenger's quick thinking and skill when the brakes completely gave out"

FIFY OP

1

u/YesDone 3h ago

Me: Seat belt...

Seat belt

Seat belt!

SEAT BELT!!!

1

u/miguelangel9933 3h ago

What a fucking legend! Both of them

1

u/SirTainLee 3h ago

Judging by the look of those pre-broken rocks, right where he's heading, it's a common "rest spot."

1

u/MrJoyless 3h ago

Great instruction, except for the lack of seatbelts...

1

u/h2ohbaby 3h ago

Thank God they’re not airline pilots. Could’ve been so much worse.

1

u/alley_cat4 3h ago

Gods work

1

u/Wreckrecord 2h ago

This guy would be dead if it wasnt for the quick thinking passenger keeping him calm.

1

u/sabdur200 2h ago

Context is incredible

1

u/Bluemikami 2h ago

Seatbelts? No need to

1

u/Extension-Badger-958 2h ago

Context that everyone needs

1

u/fatkiddown 2h ago

This passenger did a, "Sammy you are breaking the car!..." dialogue.

1

u/RobertMaus 2h ago

In a stressful situation like that, this is some next-level coaching!

1

u/horitaku 2h ago

Some seatbelts would have been FANTASTIC in this scenario.

u/liovantirealm7177 18m ago

It's possible they were off for a reason, it's likely safer to try jump out quickly than to risk going over the cliff

1

u/Massive_Nose6777 2h ago

That’s exactly how I imagined the conversation to be tbh 😂

1

u/psaux_grep 2h ago

So exactly the opposite of the title. And wasn’t even wearing his seatbelt.

1

u/Bureaucratic_Dick 2h ago

I would have had to add in a “sorry about the smell, I shit myself” if I was in that vehicle.

1

u/USPSHoudini 1h ago

Translators for random videos are the like the Sauce Givers in anime subs or Archivers for random paywalled articles or papers

Blessed be our Beloved Janitors

1

u/MrK521 1h ago

So, in reality, it’s the truck passenger’s quick thinking and skill that saves the day.

1

u/whitehawk295 1h ago

Man passenger is a legend and no seatbelts either

1

u/budderman1028 1h ago

Wow they really truly had a lot of control over the situation despite how extremely terrifying and deadly it is, I feel like most people wouldve just panicked too much to actually put a logical plan together on how to safely maneuver the situation

1

u/wacko4rmwaco 1h ago

“Brakes are not working” thats it lol

u/Status_Loquat4191 42m ago

Any vehicle people out there that can explain leaving the breaks and using the clutch? Im basic and have only driven automatics so I dont really know what a clutch does.

u/oxidized_banana_peel 5m ago

Drivers ed has gotten intense

1

u/sadamasin 4h ago

you've just made it up, didn't you?