The self-moving traffic cones

Hank Green & Ceri Riley from ‪@SciShowTangents‬ and Daniel Peake face a question about obstinate obstacles.
LATERAL is a weekly podcast about weird questions with wonderful answers, hosted by Tom Scott. For business enquiries, contestant appearances or question submissions, visit www.lateralcas...
GUESTS:
Hank Green: / hankgreen , x.com/hankgreen
Ceri Riley: / rhinoceri , x.com/ceriley
Daniel Peake: / quizzydan
HOST: Tom Scott.
QUESTION PRODUCER: David Bodycombe.
EDITED BY: Julie Hassett at The Podcast Studios, Dublin.
GRAPHICS: Chris Hanel at Support Class. Assistant: Dillon Pentz.
MUSIC: Karl-Ola Kjellholm ('Private Detective'/'Agrumes', courtesy of epidemicsound.com).
FORMAT: Pad 26 Limited/Labyrinth Games Ltd.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: David Bodycombe and Tom Scott.
© Pad 26 Limited (www.pad26.com) / Labyrinth Games Ltd. 2024.

[@verdatum]

"I was interested in a girl...That's a big reason why I learn stuff." ooooo, I felt that one HARD.

[@musicevangelist]

As a New Zealander I knew this straight away. They are not the messiah, they are very naughty birds.

[@pattheplanter]

I have never left Europe but my mind immediately went to the world's most annoying parrot.

[@Snowshowslow]

But they do sound like fun, like your naughty but oh so funny little nieces and nephews that you know you're not supposed to encourage by laughing (or feeding).

[@konstantin_d.m]

Same, as an "honorary kiwi", i immediately knew it had to be SH94 to Milford

[@korbindallas4552]

Haha, I heard the Kiwi in @musicevangelist words. Also: Is it possible to teach them a constructive habit? Or at least film and profit from their naughtiness?

[@nbell63]

✊😄

[@Dusty_Ham]

"You can feed a Kea from a Kia while going to IKEA" Unfortunately not, we don't have an IKEA... yet...

[@kevboard]

alsoy that's not how you pronounce IKEA... yes, I am being pedantic about that 🤣

[@Elwaves2925]

@@kevboard I love a bit of pedantism but I'm feeling generous, so I'll leave your comment alone. I agree, that is not how you pronounce IKEA. It's pronounced "cheap crap." 😁

[@ronaldlau9363]

@@kevboard Just out of interest, were you referring to how it is usually pronounced in Sweden or is it a different claim to proper pronunciation?

[@connorgibes709]

You could be driving to the airport to go to the nearest IKEA, so in a sense you're "driving to IKEA"

[@thespankmyfrank]

​@@kevboard Eh, as a Swede, that's just how you pronounce it in English. It's fine. We probably pronounce English brands wrong (in fact I know we do), that's just how languages adapt to loanwords.

[@MegaLokopo]

So now you put up a sign that says "ignore traffic cones blocking tunnel" and then if you need to stop traffic cover the sign, then the birds will learn to cover the sign before moving the cones over.

[@beatrix1120]

The kea should put up a sign that says "Do feed the kea"

[@MegaLokopo]

@@beatrix1120 Or just cover the signs that say "don't feed the kea".

[@colinsharples1214]

Dammit, don't give them ideas

[@lucbloom]

Why not store the cones somewhere else? Or make a guiding rail bolted down?

[@MegaLokopo]

@@lucbloom Don't give the kea any ideas. They might get inspired to find better ways to block traffic. If you aren't careful, there will soon be a world wide kea tax.

[@chippercorgi2247]

Just FYI: don't drive over traffic cones. a friend did this and the cone went under the bumper, popped back up and tore off the bottom of the radiator, all the coolant poured out, the engine overheated... and that was the end of that car. I'm sure the odds of that happening are very low but... why risk it?

[@K.F-R]

Also, some cones are placed *over* steel posts. That will ruin your day... and probably the day for any with or following you.

[@MyRegardsToTheDodo]

Considering how many newer cars have plastic oil pans or plastic parts on the radiators, I don't think the odds of that happening are actually that low.

[@Yupppi]

Not ridiculously small, they're not designed to destroy cars but they are designed to be respected.

[@kmodo93]

As someone who regularly has to use cones at their job (and a high vis vest) I regret to inform everyone that a depressingly high amount of people do not infact follow the rules about cones.

[@Thermalions]

Or the speed limits around road works

[@Vykk_Draygo]

@@Thermalions Or speed limits in general. This could extrapolated to pretty much and rule governing the use of cars on public roadways.

[@rolfs2165]

Yup, I once yelled at a lady because she just drove over our cones to use the blocked-off parking space we had reserved for the other work truck, and then wanted to drive off _with the cone stuck under her car_ claiming she didn't hear the loud scraping noise.

[@underdoneelm7721]

I used to work at a gas station and when a pump wasn't working, we'd put a cone in front of it. The number of times someone would move that cone so they could pull up to the pump, and then come inside to yell at us that the pump isn't working is way too high.

[@Yupppi]

One of the modt dangerous occupations is a road worker, be it someone who tows your car or whatever, because people don't give a rat's ass about warning triangles, warning lights and stopped cars on highways.

[@erictaylor5462]

I once saw a crow dropping a walnut so I picked up the walnut and opened it. After that the crow would drop a nut whenever it saw me. At one point I started using a nut cracker. After the crow saw me use the nut cracker a few times I wanted to see what the crow would do with it, so I left it by the nut. The nut cracked was imposable for the bird to use, but it was clear it wanted to It tried a long time to work out how he could use it. Crows are scary smart..

[@woodfur00]

Where are the bird-accessible nutcrackers. Where are they. I can think of like five ways off the top of my head, engineers get on this

[@adamsbja]

Yeah, I think I've had a crow do that stoplight trick to me. I didn't see the nut but it ran up to my car as I was parked, then when I was moving again I saw it run back. So either it had a nut or it was very interested in that spot of road and annoyed that I was in the way.

[@Waniou137]

Had a hunch this would be kea related, entirely because they're crafty little jerks which is why we love them, but didn't realise they were capable of moving road cones. Also found it slightly amusing that I think Ceri heard the word "island" and assumed the South Island is a small wee island and not 3/4 the size of Great Britain and New Zealand's largest land mass lol

[@timothymclean]

If it's called South Island, it's either the only island to the south or way bigger than all the others. The former is unlikely, because island countries tend to have a lot of islands, in all directions except up.

[@michaelwoodhams7866]

I wouldn't rule out "Kea just like messing with humans" as a motivation.

[@sweetsandcharades8383]

Yeah, I read an article about this and that just said that the keas found it fun to control where the cars would go. Possibly it was another flock of birds who “just” made the road more challenging instead of fully stopping the cars.

[@nunyabiznis3595]

1:57 can confirm. In fact we are having weather as I comment this.

[@RossParker1877]

That's me awake for another 9 minutes then 😂

[@mortuos557]

anonymous insomniacs group meeting.

[@Albatross-365]

@@mortuos557 Damn. I forgot to bring biscuits

[@MegaLokopo]

@@Albatross-365 Tom has some biscuits, I wouldn't trust them though.

[@Ciara_Turner]

@@MegaLokopo How mysterious ...

[@DdlyHeadshot]

I certainly feel seen

[@aidanclark196]

I appreciate that Hank's subtitles are in fact Green

[@michaelsommers2356]

Those crows are even smarter than suggested. They first learned to drop nuts on the road so that cars would crush them, but they then had a hard time collecting their loot because of the traffic. They then learned to drop the nuts near intersections, and then wait for the light to change before getting the goodies.

[@aloysiuskurnia7643]

You know a joke is so utterly terrible when it's simultaneously being the most on the nose AND having someone said "I feel like there's a joke in there" at the same time 😭

[@Slikx666]

Soon the Kia will be charging motorists to use the tunnel. 5 peanuts for a bike. 10 peanuts for a car. 20 peanuts for a lorry.

[@widicamdotnet]

and 200 peanuts for a school bus because they know all the pupils are going to want to feed them anyways

[@Slikx666]

@@widicamdotnet 😂

[@soumitrakandpal]

There are videos of Elephants in India stopping sugarcane trucks on the highway and "collecting toll" (stealing sugarcane)

[@xxkimbatron]

As a New Zealander, as soon as I heard the story I knew kea were involved. Loved Tom’s story too!

[@koshermal]

I had a hunch it would be kea, but I half expected them to be hunting and harvesting windshield wiper blades.

[@adamsbja]

When kea are involved, "just to watch the chaos" is a valid answer.

[@timothymclean]

@@adamsbja I was about to ask why the kea would steal windshield wiper blades, but you kinda answered that for me.

[@R-Tex.]

Tom's new drip is pretty neat. It symbolises the end of the red T-shirt/grey hoodie Tom Scott era.

[@ajs41]

He kept those outfits going for far too long in my opinion.

[@alexaagerger3695]

Blasphemer ​@@ajs41

[@Albatross-365]

Drip?

[@markblacket8900]

@@Albatross-365 yeah, he didn't close the tap all the way

[@losthor1zon]

"All the Rush songs I know... are thanks to Heather." Props to Heather!

[@Molikai]

just wait until Heather sees this!

[@mabogibo525]

...not KZbin opening this on 0:20 so I got blasted with Hank Green saying COOMS out of nowhere 😭😭

[@woodfur00]

I love Hank's hosting he's so supportive of everyone's ideas I've said it and I'll keep saying it, Tech Diff for P4A

[@daandanx]

So glad they gave a certain man a certain subtitle color. I know there are only three options, but somebody must've thought of that.

[@bendeywendy8065]

I only regularly listen to 3 podcasts: Lateral, Tangents, and Dear Hank & John. So Hank and Ceri on Lateral is joyous to me!

[@Balsiefen]

This is another group with great chemistry.

[@DerMarkus1982]

Tom Scott's face after "two [points] if you get 'em stuck on your antenna!" ! 😁 "Uhmmm, ackshually" ... 🤓

[@ptrknvk]

For those wondering, here is an old video of them moving the cones: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKakZqeFlMhqqZY

[@MEKKANNOID]

As a New Zealander I can confirm that New Zealand has all of the weather, usually all at the same time

[@adammullarkey4996]

Now, you see, my first thought was that one scene in Toy Story.

[@Telliria]

Just a couple of weeks ago I got tired of tree branches hanging down on my bike path to work. So I put on high-vis, sunglasses and ear protectors, then brought my cutting gear to start pruning. No-one questioned me and gave a wide and respectful berth for me, even crossing to the other side of the road so that I could cut branches. Perhaps not fully legal to prune municipality trees, but I feel like I did a community service (I also did dispose of the cut branches properly).

[@hopha166]

"while going to Ikea" That hurt 😔

[@MadContendery]

obviously the gang from toy story 2 have been doing their thing

[@cooledcannon]

There's no Ikea in new Zealand

[@MegaLokopo]

Yes, there is.

[@leslieherring381]

It's not scheduled to open until late 2025.

[@nataliedrest5679]

@@MegaLokopo Not yet - due to open next year

[@MegaLokopo]

@@nataliedrest5679 lt still exists. Does chick-fil-a not exist on sunday because it is closed?

[@lukeyu2005]

Actually my company is tendering to put some dock leveller in for that Ikea. It's very much in the works

[@malusignatius]

Even going in being pretty sure this was Kea-related, the answer was still a delightful surprise.

[@David-ld3ts]

Having Hank green on is awesome

[@gcewing]

Minor linguistic point -- we talk about being "in" the South Island, not "on" it.

[@legonwood]

Will be honest when I saw the title for this one my mind immediately went to toy story 2 and crossing the road

[@ericvaninwegen6384]

I believe the Kakapu used to live in mountainous areas, too. (Now only on one preserve island, iirc)

[@winkletter]

Was this on Cone-y Island?

[@aelux4179]

The fastest dad in the west

[@pattheplanter]

Different cone-tinent.

[@Erkle64]

Please, I cone't deal with any more puns.

[@spelcheak]

Ceri ruling out the supernatural right off the bat, no many contestants do that

[@tenJajcus]

As a Dwarf Fortress player I immediately thought of keas

[@overvieweffect9034]

birds are just so amazing, I'm always stumped by how intelligent a lot of species can be

[@K1W1fly]

Yes, New Zealand does have weather - of many different kinds. its also not a little Island...

[@Brenosakaguti]

Not being familiar with New Zealander fauna, I was wondering why Korean cars would need a gymnasium

[@leslieherring381]

As an American living in New Zealand, my guess is that it involves either sheep or earthquakes in some way. 04:27-Oh, wait, now I’m thinking it's keas at the Homer tunnel to Milford. They’ve been known to absolutely destroy cars parked in a nearby car park.

[@moby4177]

And now we know where the koalas caught chlamydia.

[@yarone5960]

Crows don't place nuts in front of cars they drop them from overhanging power lines, some miss and hit your windshield. The smart ones do it on pedestrian crossings because they know the cars stop when the light is red

[@manwithdominantclaw5320]

It's a little known fact that not only do New Zealanders have weather, everywhere they go, they always take their weather with them. Everywhere they go, always take the weather.

[@elisabethduke1947]

I got this. I hope some others do too 😀

[@peter-d9f3l]

Australia doesn't have any koala bears, because koalas are not bears.

[@nate_storm]

but do they have drop bears

[@Thermalions]

@@nate_storm Yes, they masquerade as koalas, and then attack when you're least expecting it.

[@roecocoa]

Tardigrades are even less bear than koalas are, but we sometimes call them water bears.

[@Yupppi]

My initial thought is that the traffic caused a wind tunnel effect at the entrance.

[@sfitz219]

I wonder if Heather is the same Girl Who Listened to Rush that Nerf Herder was singing about...

[@sortius_]

Sorry, no Ikea in NZ... yet!

[@falldog9]

They’re quite strong and they will have a go at anything, they’ll destroy the trim on your car. They’re insanely smart and amusing to be around, they love being close to people.

[@bradaloop]

Coneala Bears genuinely hurt

[@mzansime]

That's so awesome. It's astonishing how long it's taken humans to realise that the derogatory term "bird brain" is a complete misnomer!

[@timothymclean]

Depends on the bird. Owls are ironically dim.

[@Henrex2000]

literal highway robbery

[@OriginalWarwood]

I for one welcome our future avian overlords

[@pyroette]

my first thought was "i wonder if this is in New Zealand" when I saw the title because of our culture around road cones hahaha

[@haschtee194]

Catching up with Lateral episodes in reverse order of publication blessed me with a big ol' spoiler for this episode in the next one :'(

[@zachblack7080]

1:18 Tom Scott plus??

[@a.squirrel1511]

It has to be the hobbits, right? I'll let myself out.

[@timothymclean]

Hobbits aren't that small. Or traffic cones aren't that large.

[@afrophoenix3111]

The capacity for critical thinking and tool use on these birds really is astonishing.

[@spencerkatty]

I'm disappointed by no Toy Story guesses in there

[@QemeH]

Great! Tom with his "Thanks! Now I'm thinking of an elephant." made me loose the game. Thanks, Tom!

[@timothyB-x4c]

my first idea was wind then I thought maybe do to the shape of the tunnel and the speed of the car maybe it cause vibration that cause the cone to walk. this would be more likely on a bridge but I could see it happen in a tunnel just slower.

[@bagel_deficient]

Please do not cut to other cameras when the question is being read for the first time. I need the text. During the re-read would be ok. I love the channel

[@lateralcast]

Behind the scenes glimpse: when that happens, that may be to cover an edit point. -- David (producer)

[@bagel_deficient]

@@lateralcast That's fair.

[@el_es]

the Kea seems from some photos (colour and shape of head) look like that mossy green boss dragon from HTTYD1 :)

[@kaneto88]

I know many people who are incapable of such level of planning.

[@partitiona8179]

Most of the video has Daniel Peake, however 3:39 introduces his alter-ego Peake Daniel

[@myladycasagrande863]

I'm surprised he went for cone-ala bears, instead of the infamous cone-garoo!

[@QuizzyDan]

THE JOKE LANDED SO WELL.... *cries into coffee*

[@QuizzyDan]

@@myladycasagrande863 Given an extra 10 seconds, this would have been a better joke. *continues crying into coffee*

[@ihathtelekinesis]

Are you suggesting traffic cones migrate?

[@SuperSerferNow]

Isn't this called Lateral with Tom Scott but there is no Tom Scott

[@GustavSvard]

That's MY life hack, get your own hack keas!

[@GLUBSCHI]

I'm pretty sure the past three ones of these i've clicked on tom had to step out

[@ecchikitty1395]

I was thinking goats/sheep, was not familiar with kea.

[@THjelm]

I still don't get why there have to be traffic cones at the entrance to the tunnel, to begin with?

[@robbaskerville253]

I've been to NZ many times, i know exactly whats happening, naughty birds, but you gotta love them.

[@kettle7425]

1:32 ...aand I just lost the game

[@dawfydd]

Think of Kea as Trash pandas but they will rip pieces off your car like the rubber that holds your windscreen or wipers, because they love getting into stuff.

[@davidconnell1959]

Cur-Ly Hank!!

[@TheGreatSteve]

Giraffe pimp.

[@nbell63]

If it's the South Island, I'd blame the Kea first & foremost (simply out of due caution)! 😊

[@donaldasayers]

If it's New Zealand it's Keas.

[@tonypang83]

Did they copy each other, or did they teach each other? 😮

[@taniakrause9253]

😂😂😂

[@jamesphillips2285]

I have had a crow try to use me to assassinate a magpie. The crow held the magpie down, and let it go as I drove past. I *think* the magpie survived even though it hit the bumper.

[@thequeenofspades]

For when you've heard the answer: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKakZqeFlMhqqZY

[@danlewellyn6734]

Antenna? Wow you're old 😅

[@Rollermonkey1]

Big hermit crabs using the cones for their home?

[@ClaudioGrieco]

0:50 and then 4:34 I see you’ve not been to Italy 😅

[@donvito1973]

Don't try car bowling with cones.. when they melt onto your exhaust they stink for some time. I believe so anyway, no evidence to prove this, honest.. :-)

[@konstantin_d.m]

However: DO NOT feed birds, *especially* in New Zealand. Some species are incredibly vulnerable and *need* to be able to find/gather their own food!

[@komiteunofficialaccount9224]

4:58 sad that no one made an "damn it, KEA drivers" joke

[@lucbloom]

Bears were using them as hats.

[@bobbywilson7662]

Everyone else: "So yes the Kea birds are moving the cones but why?" Daniel: "duh, can they even move the cones? Are they big enough?" No daniel, despite just saying that bird is why moving the cones, no, see what they do is hop into their little trucks to move the cones around with ropes, they even got a little schedule and mini gas station! Brain dead, is he just the comic relief? Ive seen smarter 4 year olds.

[@IceMetalPunk]

My first thought was turtles. I was close! Insofar as turtles are also animals...

[@JakeLaMtn]

why does tom have the worst video here

[@OwlRTA]

Sad that no one made a Toy Story joke