The Troubled History Of Wienermobile Traffic Incidents Since Just 2007

The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile has unfortunately been the subject of several traffic incidents taking place in just the last two years. The latest incident involved a young 22 year old female driver who mistook the gas for the brake and crashed the large 27 foot long fibreglass vehicle built on a truck chasis into a home in Wisconsin. But this unfortunately was only the latest traffic incident involving the Wienermobile.

In June 2007, a Wienermobile was stopped in Arizona by a police office after it was slowing traffic and appeared to have a stolen license plate. Further, there was a question whether the vehicle was even street legal according to strict Arizona motor vehicle laws. Arizona has laws where vehicles have to certified as being safe for use. At first a clerical error determined the "YUMMY" license plate to be stolen from Wisconsin, and the Wienermobile was towed and impounded by the police. Later it was released after it was determined that a clerical error indicated the plate was stolen only if it was not on a Wienermobile vehicle.

In August 2007, the Wienermobile again made news when one was illegally parked in a no parking zone and was ticketed in Chicago.

On February 11, 2008, there was the poor decision to operate the Wienermobile near Mansfield, Pennsylvania, despite icy road conditions after a Winter storm. Predictably an accident did happen when the Wienermobile slid off the road and suffered some minor damage. However, the two drivers were not injured in the traffic incident.

But perhaps the July 17, 2009 crash into a Wisconsin home was the most serious traffic incident involving a Wienermobile to date. And likely caused the highest dollar value damage yet for any incident involving the Wienermobile.

The intent of the Wienermobile is supposed to be a fun vehicle meant to promote Oscar Mayer products. However, the troubling pattern of traffic incidents since just 2007 should be a reason for concern to Oscar Mayer who might have to look for more safety rules.