rubberneckers
Slowdown-causing gawkers
Rubberneckers are people who slow down or crane their necks to gawk at something, especially accidents or disaster scenes.
The word evokes the image of stretching one's neck like rubber to see what's happening: Traffic backed up for miles because of rubberneckers.
The term carries mild contempt—rubberneckers satisfy their curiosity at others' expense, often causing additional problems.
People who stare intrusively
- looky-loosIdle curious spectators
- spectatorsThose who observe events
- onlookersPeople observing an event
- bystandersPeople present but uninvolved
watchers · observers · gazers · starers · peepers · sightseers · crowd · witnesses
Excessive accumulation causing blockage
- slowdownReduction in pace
- bottleneckConstriction limiting throughput
- gridlockComplete mutual obstruction
- jamCooked fruit spread
backup · tailback · snarl-up · holdup · accident · collision · fender-bender · highway
Intrusively curious
- pryingIntrusively inquisitive
- snoopingSecretly investigating others
- meddlesomeProne to interfering
- busybodiesThose who interfere uninvited
inquisitive · intrusive · voyeuristic · eavesdroppers · snoopers · meddlers · tactless · inappropriate
gawkers
People who stare intrusively
- looky-loosIdle curious spectators
- spectatorsThose who observe events
- onlookersPeople observing an event
bystanders · watchers · observers · gazers · starers · peepers · sightseers · crowd · witnesses · audience
congestion
Excessive accumulation causing blockage
- slowdownReduction in pace
- bottleneckConstriction limiting throughput
- gridlockComplete mutual obstruction
jam · backup · tailback · snarl-up · holdup · accident · collision · fender-bender · highway · interstate
nosy
Intrusively curious
- pryingIntrusively inquisitive
- snoopingSecretly investigating others
- meddlesomeProne to interfering
busybodies · inquisitive · intrusive · voyeuristic · eavesdroppers · snoopers · meddlers · tactless · inappropriate · ghoulish
- watcherswatcher, birdwatchers, watchman, lookout, sports fans
- traffic offendersspeeders, drunk drivers, red light runners, tailgaters, distracted drivers
rubberneckersfirst responders
Personnel arriving at emergencies initially