BMW Balanced on Traffic Cone in Queens Captivates New Yorkers | Concrete Cone Mishap

Dramatic Footage Shows BMW Balanced on Concrete Traffic Cone in Queens, New York

On July 18th, a shocking scene unfolded on the streets of Jamaica, Queens in New York City. According to posts on the Citizen app, a BMW was spotted precariously perched on top of a concrete traffic cone at the intersection of Edgerton Boulevard and Hillside Avenue.

The Dangerous Concrete Cone

Concrete traffic cones are ubiquitous fixtures in construction zones and busy streets. Typically, these sturdy cones guide the flow of traffic and prevent accidents. However, in this exceptional case, the standard orange safety cone failed at its job and instead caused a dangerous situation.

Based on the Citizen app footage, the cone likely tipped over or was improperly placed behind the BMW as it backed up. The car's tires rode up the angled sides, lifting the vehicle's rear suspension into the air as its weight balanced on the narrow point.

A Precarious Position

In the video, the BMW X3 teeters precipitously with its nose pointed down and trunk raised skyward. The SUV rocks slightly back and forth atop the cone that sits solidly upright below. The concrete base of the traffic cone bears the thousands of pounds of weight impressively. Passersby gawk at the improbable sight while the BMW seems frozen in place, unable to move without potentially toppling over.

The BMW looks trapped in an awkward and unstable position. With any shift, it risks crashing down or flipping over with possible injury to people nearby. However, despite the tippy perch, the concrete cone appears sturdy enough to balance the SUV’s mass.

Concrete Traffic Cones in New York City

Concrete traffic cones like the one in Jamaica, Queens represent heavy-duty versions of the standard orange road cones. Their low centers of gravity and heavy bases give them excellent stability compared to lightweight plastic cones. Engineers design them this way since constructions zones and busy urban streets experience high winds and contact from passing vehicles.

New York City deploys thousands of concrete cones to safely guide traffic flow and protect workers. However, living in the Big Apple means dealing with cramped spaces, rushed drivers, tight corners, and odd situations. Perhaps those factors stacked up to cause this strange scene in Jamaica, Queens.

The Outcome for the Trapped BMW

Online discussion debated just how the BMW might escape its tricky balancing act on the concrete cone without catastrophe. Some commenters made light of the unusual incident and others expressed real concern over potential outcomes.

Hopefully, the driver safely extricated their vehicle using small careful movements. The cone likely prevented serious damage during the initial incident. Still, the longer the BMW remained perched, the higher the risk of falling. New Yorkers passed around the video as a glimpse of the city’s always interesting happenings.

Preventing Similar Incidents

While this event involved a blameless concrete cone, the situation still endangered people and property. Cities deploy concrete traffic cones and other safety tools to aid drivers and workers. So when these protective measures contribute to accidents instead, it makes sense to scrutinize what went wrong.

Examining improper placement procedures, poor visibility, driver blind spots, and pedestrian blocking could illuminate improvements. Concrete construction cones usually prevent mishaps when used correctly so pinpointing issues here stands to enhance safety.

The Lifespan of Concrete Traffic Cones

Well-designed concrete cones withstand weathering and wear for years of service. Their molded rubber bases grip pavement firmly while cast iron keeps the orange plastic body sturdy yet lightweight. However, accidents and abuse gradually take a toll requiring replacement.

City departments follow standard testing protocols to check when cones require retirement. Workers assess damages, stability, nighttime reflectivity, fading, and other metrics to conserve budget. Most concrete cones last around 5 years unless cars and trucks strike them commonly in high-traffic zones.

Concrete Traffic Cones Play Vital Roles

The eye-catching footage from Jamaica, Queens presented a concrete traffic cone contributing to an unsafe scenario. But generally, these helpful urban tools actively prevent accidents and injuries day after day. Constructed from tough materials to hold their ground, concrete cones reliably guard workers even in chaotic environments.

In the wrong circumstances though, the steadfast stability engineers build into concrete cones can work against drivers. Thankfully, the exceptional case of a BMW teetering atop a concrete cone ended without harm. Going forward, New Yorkers can still trust in the safety benefits provided by those reliable orange and white barriers keeping streets orderly.

FAQs

How did the BMW get on top of the concrete traffic cone?

It seems the BMW likely backed up into the concrete traffic cone, causing its tires to ride up the angled sides of the cone. This lifted the car's rear suspension into the air to balance precariously on the cone's narrow point.

Could the concrete traffic cone collapse under the BMW’s weight?

Concrete traffic cones are designed to be very sturdy and stand up to weather, wear, and contact with vehicles. Their heavy concrete bases provide excellent stability. While not an ideal situation, the cone seemed able to steadily bear the BMW SUV's weight.

Does this incident reveal issues with New York City’s traffic cones?

Likely not. Concrete cones usually prevent accidents when used properly. The tight spaces and rushed driving in NYC probably contributed to this fluke event. The incident should still prompt examinations of cone placement and visibility policies.

What happens to concrete cones that are damaged?

City workers follow testing protocols to assess damages and visibility on older concrete cones. Fading, cracks, or stability issues help determine when they require replacement, usually after around 5 years of service.