Discussion question on street sweepers and pinkie toes

S05E20 The FireretroMar 30, 19984 years later3 posts by 3 posters
❓ Question

Viewers debate the physical plausibility of a street sweeper severing a pinkie toe as depicted in "The Fire" episode, discussing the mechanics of street cleaning machines.

3 posts
Dave

After rewatching "The Fire" (the episode where Jerry heckles Toby until she runs out into the street and a street sweeper severs her pinkie toe and Kramer has to rush the toe to the hospital, yada yada), I had a question that I couldn't find an answer to.

Can a street sweeper sever a pinkie toe?

I don't live in a big city, and have never seen a street sweeper up close. Are there sharp corners? The last time I saw one from a distance, it appeared as though it was just like a zamboni (hockey ice leveller) with a big rotating brush at the bottom. There didn't appear to be anywhere on the machine where one could hook a toe, much less a pinkie toe, which is usually tapered back a little.

Anyone? [email] (Hammer nail here--> <-- for a new monitor.)
Dave Adams↩ Dave

Dave wrote:

Dave, sometimes you ask the funniest questions. I just love it. :)

maro

Tjsteil↩ Dave Adams

Hey Dave....

I live in Chicago and have enough parking tickets from not moving my car on street cleaning days to feel qualified to answer.

A street sweeper is essentially a big rotating broom, like a floor buffer etc. There are no sharper corners that I've seen, but given the size of the rotating sweeper and general IQ of the Streets & San goons who drive them, I make it a point not to wear sandals around one.

Tim