A Cybertruck became an unexpected highway roadblock in New Jersey this week. According to footage posted by TikTok user @GrumpyOrca, the truck’s front bumper pressed against a guardrail on Route 287, reportedly leaving the driver unable to reverse. Two state troopers managed traffic in light rain while the driver stayed inside the stationary vehicle, and a three-lane highway came to a halt for one truck.
The video exploded online, with commenters joking about a missing“reverse package,”car wash mode, and more. But the laughter gave way to bigger questions about the Cybertruck’s steer-by-wire technology, its 2024 drive inverter recall, and whether a single stuck vehicle should ever trigger a full highway shutdown. EV owners jumped in to defend the truck, while critics used the moment as proof of their skepticism.
Viral moments like this are less about one driver’s bad morning and more about what we expect from modern vehicles. When a high-profile, high-price EV gets wedged on a guardrail, everyone has an opinion about whether the tech is ready for the real world. So we want to know: would you trust a steer-by-wire vehicle in a tight spot like this? Drop your answer in the comments below.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.