The term rubbernecking was a term coined in America in the 1890s to refer to tourists. H.L. Mencken said the word rubberneck is "almost a complete treatise on American psychology" and "one of the best words ever coined".

Who invented rubbernecking?

By Robert Mcg. Thomas Jr. Fred Feldman, New York radio's first helicopter reporter who spent 16 airborne years monitoring traffic for rush-hour commuters and who invented the term ''rubbernecking delays'' to explain why they would be late for work, died on Friday at his home in Roseland, N.J. He was 63.

What causes rubbernecking?

Rear-end collisions often occur near the scene of other accidents, leading many researchers to suspect rubbernecking as a major cause. The fact is that taking your eyes off the road or the traffic in front of you, even for an instant, can lead to serious collisions.