Design is meant to eliminate problems. To make our lives easier. However, that's not always the case. Even though safety should be a key component when making any type of product, sometimes it falls out of the manufacturing equation and the consumer gets a hazard instead. And something to submit to the subreddit r/DangerousDesigns.
Created in 2014, this online community now has over 140K members, constantly sharing pics of exactly what its name suggests. Whether it's a questionable architectural solution or misleading packaging, over the years they've amassed quite the collection! Continue scrolling and check out some of the most popular posts on the subreddit.
This post may include affiliate links.
Cursed_airbag
Was Looking For A Budget Mattress When I Saw This...
1. Shouldn't have used fiberglass filler, and 2. State on the label WHY you shouldn't remove the cover.
One of the subreddit's moderators told Bored Panda they would describe it as "light-hearted."
"Dangerous staircase designs are by far our biggest collection of content, so much so that I've had to make a rule so they can only be posted once per week," the person who chose to remain anonymous said.
"Being a non-specific image subreddit, I wouldn't say there's much of a 'community' in the traditional sense," they explained. "However, there are plenty of users who are dedicated to helping me and the other mods manage this subreddit and keep it of a higher quality than most subreddits with over 100K subscribers."
Similar Design, One Can Kill And One Tastes Good
Guess It’s Back To Good Ol’ Drunk Driving
According to the law firm Carr & Carr, many products can be dangerous if the consumers dismiss their warnings and use the items incorrectly. Just consider the cleaning products available at your grocery store or the power tools you use for lawn maintenance.
"[But] when it comes to product liability lawsuits in which consumers seek compensation for harm caused by a particular product, one of the key factors is proving whether the product in question is unreasonably dangerous," Carr & Carr write on their website.
"Since there's no way to anticipate every way in which a consumer might interact with a product, it’s impossible to design and manufacture a product that is entirely free from risk. However, consumers have a right to expect that a given product is safe when used as directed for its intended purpose," Carr & Carr explain.
May Have Been Posted Before But This Is Pure Insanity
An unreasonably dangerous product is one that poses greater risks than an ordinary user might reasonably expect when using the product as intended. "This definition makes a distinction between products that are dangerous—such as drain cleaners or chainsaws—and those that pose threats beyond their intended purpose."
"In general, drain cleaners and chainsaws are not unreasonably dangerous because most come with detailed instructions for the proper use and warnings about their risks. The unreasonable danger in product liability cases is characterized by a flaw in the product's design, manufacture or marketing," Carr & Carr note.
So which of these pictures do you think feature unreasonably dangerous designs? Upvote them and let's see!
Children’s Playground In 1912
Seems Legit...
Please don’t tell me, that’s people there ready to use it 😳🙆🏼♀️
Staircase Beautified With Loose Boulders And A Broken Pelvis
This one seemed so over the top I did a little reverse image search : it's an art installation by French artist Céleste Boursier-Mougenot. It's called "Chorégraphie". - https://slash-paris.com/critiques/celeste-boursier-mougenot-a-la-galerie-xippas
We’ll See
Branding Is Everything
Almost Did It, Too
Bruh
This Hair Bleach...
Couldn’t Get A Good Seat? Risk Your Life Trying To Watch The Game!
I Love My Country, But Sometimes...
Sorry, Wheelchair Users!
This 1930s Design Let You Hang Your Baby Over The Side Of A Building In A Cage
Almost Pulled A Michael Scott While Delivering Groceries Today
This 1955 Device For Smoking A Whole Packet Of Cigarettes At Once
I Mean The Potential Is There
You may have an iron ass, but even you wouldn’t be able to withstand that!
Load More Replies...
Pink packaging + "pink tax"? Ridiculous to gender medicines.
Load More Replies...
Ahhh. I see. That explains the explosive diarrhea during a sneezing fit.
Welp, take the laxative accidentally and I'm guessing you'll be too distracted to notice your nose is running.
Probably works on coughs also - a few shots of that and you'd be afraid to cough.
Load More Replies... 
I will never forget the time my brother overdosed on Exlax. It came in a bar that looked just like a chocolate bar (seems so dangerous in retrospect)...the idea being you would break off one of 12 squares per dose. My brother, who was 18 (I was 8) and living in the "bachelor pad" he made in our basement, took several chunks (guess it wasn't working quickly enough?) and about an hour later we hear what sounds like thunder booming from the basement..it was brother pounding up the stairs and yelling "mommy help me" as he ran for the toilet. We were all laughing so hard we were crying. Hadn't heard him say "mommy" in years. He was ok, just took a few hours to realize it. Lol. I miss him so much.
You should always read the label of medicine bottles three times: once when you take it out of the cupboard, then just before you take your medication, and a last time before you put the bottle back into the cupboard. A pharmacists taught me this.
Using the one on the right would solve the problem the left is designed for.........you'd be too afraid to cough or sneeze!
Ita not just these 2. Their generic Pepto bismol pills also come in a bottle that looks like that.
Let’s say you take the one on the right( thinking it’s an allergy pill) now your sneezing!! Hahaha
Either one prevents sneezing either by medication or terror of the aftershock
Well whichever you take you probably won't cough or sneeze again for a long while.
In what way is a "Women's Laxative" different from any other type of laxative?
that's a real big problem at hospital, where you stock a lot of drugs in the same place and you must read the use payin' all your attention....
Don't you just love that one bottle has a child (huh!) proof lid and the other doesn't?
Can't you just take one second to read the label? Also, do women's bowel work differently than for normal people?
I am sure these similar containers would not be allowed in Europe, far too risky.
Gee my allergy symptoms aren't any better but boy do I have to go to the BR.
can you imagine the disaster if you took the one on the right, thinking it was the other one, and then having a sneezing fit?
meseing thisthinking"It aint gonna work for my sevear(can't spell) allergies and Ive tried so many different types. They all kinda give me the symptoms not stop them."
Get them mixed up. You sneeze due to your allergies and s**t yourself! 🤣
Wait til you see what happens when you sneeze after taking the one on the right.
The last thing I want is to clear my sinuses as my wife clears her bowels
Especially when you’re reaching for the one on the left with itchy watery eyes…
To be fair, medical packages ofthe are pretty much identical. And hey, both are still providing relief...
Warning Label Inside A Helmet I Received When We Rented 4-Wheelers
The Cannonball Loop Waterslide, A Slide So Dangerous It Was Shutdown Almost Immediately After Opening
Every Chair In This Resort Fits Through The Deck, And The Majority Of People Who Stay Here Are Seniors
Step Out Of A Bathtub Down A Flight Of Stairs, Anyone?
This Architect Accidentally Built A Death Ray That Melts Cars And Fries Eggs... Again
This Will Probably Work Out Just Fine For Bicycles...
In The 1930s You Could Buy Artificial Snow Made Out Of 100% Asbestos
Get A Bone Broken Every Time You Slide Down
Poor Guy
On The Floor Of Doctor's Office. If You Trip On It, You're In The Right Place
It Looks Nice Sure, But I Didn’t Even Know That Was A Real Extinguisher
Yeah, totally illegal. Fire extinguisher are never allowed to be part of the decor, they need to stand out, however ugly that is.
That's How I Broke My Leg
Food Aid Packages And Cluster Bombs, Both Dropped On Afghanistan In 2001
Sick f***s. Cluster bombs are one of the most disgusting things used and they used them. On civilians without a care in the world.
That Would Explain Why My Ankle Hurts
Not for use as object it appears to be is apparently a trend in China-manufactured goods?
It’s Fine, Nothing To Worry About
Leaving Your Child In The Car Here
Dangerous-Design
Time For A Nice Refreshing Drink Of... Oh
Dear God...
Not Sure If Its Dangerous But I Think It Is
Does This Count
It's like one of those annoying clicker balls that are in every office. Only this one doesn't click, just scream.
Not A Fan Of That Projector
This Bike Track In Zagreb, Croatia
You Cant Quite See But Right Above It There Is A Wall
Go Ahead, Spend The Taxpayers’ Dollars On A “Decorative Circle” In The Middle Of An Intersection. What Could Go Wrong?
I Love The New No Stop Exit They Put Up At Our Corner Gas Station, You Don't Even Have To Stop To Exit
God Forbid You Have A Baby Or A Little Dog
This Train Track
This Warm Tent
Note: this post originally had 79 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
Modern medicine and technology has been combating natural selection too well...now those folks that would have been out of the gene pool are in charge of building, packaging and manufacturing by the looks of things.
Load More Replies...
Guys let’s be honest most of these must be designed by and for pycopaths 🤣
When i got to the end of this list, i was expecting to see the trump border wall honestly.
Pretty sure some of these are either captioned in a way that doesn’t represent reality (a sea wall is not a handicap ramp) or just photoshopped (major corporations do not fly planes that low). Don’t believe everything you read here.
All I saw were stuff built by peoole are people whi just did not give a damn . I liked the wet bathroom and tent with two trucks though
I have never, never seen so many absolutely idiotic, crazy and dangerous items/situations!!!!
I thought it was a sensible question, not everyone is a railway enthusiast
Who tf said these were american? A lot of them aren't
Load More Replies... Modern medicine and technology has been combating natural selection too well...now those folks that would have been out of the gene pool are in charge of building, packaging and manufacturing by the looks of things.
Load More Replies... Guys let’s be honest most of these must be designed by and for pycopaths 🤣
When i got to the end of this list, i was expecting to see the trump border wall honestly.
Pretty sure some of these are either captioned in a way that doesn’t represent reality (a sea wall is not a handicap ramp) or just photoshopped (major corporations do not fly planes that low). Don’t believe everything you read here.
All I saw were stuff built by peoole are people whi just did not give a damn . I liked the wet bathroom and tent with two trucks though
I have never, never seen so many absolutely idiotic, crazy and dangerous items/situations!!!!
I thought it was a sensible question, not everyone is a railway enthusiast
Who tf said these were american? A lot of them aren't
Load More Replies... 