Russian Meteor Captured On Multiple Dashboard Cams

By Richard Read

Richard Read

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Richard Read covers technology, social media, advertising, legal issues, and other auto industry topics for High Gear Media. With a background in... More

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On the very same day that Planet Earth is expecting a very close encounter with a very large asteroid, a meteor has hit central Russia, damaging buildings, sending residents to the hospital, and scattering meteorite fragments across a wide swath of the former Soviet Union.

What does this have to do with cars? We thought you'd never ask.

As news of the meteor blast began to roll in, the first video documenting the event came from dashboard cameras. Then more footage arrived -- again from dashboard cams. And still more. 

Of course, we have dashboard cams in the U.S., but they're found most often on emergency vehicles and school buses. We're not sure if the Russian vehicles in these clips fall into either of those categories.

Which made us wonder:

• Are dashboard cams a "thing" in Russia?
• If so, how did that happen? Is there a law requiring them on certain vehicles, or are drivers just so enamored with their commutes that they record them every day?
• These motorists seem awfully calm in the face of a giant glowing object hurtling down from the sky. Do they see this kind of thing a lot?
• Did Leona Lewis strike it big in Russia? Because here, not so much.

If anyone can answer these pressing questions, please leave a note in the comments below. Meanwhile, we return to your regularly schedule car news.

P.S. Scientists at the European Space Agency say there's no link between the Russian meteor and asteroid 2012 DA14, but we've heard they were recently spotted together at the Chateau Marmont. We'll wait for confirmation from TMZ.