‘I-5 Commuters’: The viral duo documenting commuting ‘madness’ in Seattle

When Joe and Craig started their daily commute from Tacoma to Seattle a few years ago, they never imagined they’d become viral sensations. Like most of us slogging through the daily crawl on Interstate 5 (I-5), their primary goals were simple: Survive the traffic and arrive at work somewhat sane.

But after months of witnessing drivers engrossed in phones, tablets, and even full-on movies, the pair decided enough was enough. One morning, Joe turned to Craig and said, “You know, our friends wouldn’t believe half the things we see unless they saw it themselves. Maybe we should start filming this.”

Initially, it was a joke.

“We figured we’d just send funny Snapchats to our friends,” Craig recalled.

But the reactions from the first few clips made them realize they were onto something much bigger.

“Our friends started telling us these videos shouldn’t just disappear,” Joe said. “They encouraged us to put them on TikTok.”

So began “I-5 Commuters,” now an internet sensation with nearly half a million followers across social media, including Instagram and TikTok. What started as a casual way to vent frustration quickly morphed into something akin to community service, though wrapped in humor and clever commentary.

Sit down with the ‘I-5 Commuters’ team

In their first-ever news interview, exclusively with Seattle Morning News on KIRO Newsradio, Joe and Craig shared the secret behind their unexpected popularity: authenticity and relatability. Appearing incognito, with oversized sunglasses and exaggerated mustaches, they humorously explained, “We have real jobs, and our bosses might not be too happy to see us doing interviews.”

Their anonymity added a playful twist, but the issues they address couldn’t be more real.

“It started because we were genuinely frustrated and concerned by how distracted and reckless people were driving,” Joe explained. “It wasn’t just phones; people were literally watching movies, reading books, and playing games behind the wheel.”

The commuters’ videos resonate deeply because they’re both funny and alarming. Take, for instance, a recent viral clip featuring a woman intensely playing Candy Crush in rush-hour traffic.

“Usually, we have jokes ready for these clips,” Craig said, laughing while recalling the moment. “But when we saw her dominating that game, we were honestly too shocked to say anything clever.”

The comedic nature of their videos disguises the seriousness of distracted driving.

“We’re laughing about it because it’s absurd, but the reality is pretty scary,” Craig admitted. “We want people to realize that it’s not just their safety at risk, it’s everyone else’s too.”

While the clips often highlight distracted drivers, they also humorously address other commuting frustrations. In one popular segment, dubbed “Follow Your Fullback,” they mock drivers who weave aggressively through lanes, treating the freeway like a football field.

“People drive like they’re Marshawn Lynch, trying to muscle their way through traffic for maybe two extra minutes of time saved,” Joe explained. “It’s madness.”

Seattle-area commuters love Joe and Craig because they channel the communal frustration that builds up in every traffic jam. But beneath the jokes lies genuine advocacy for safer roads.

“We’ve gotten hundreds of comments from people thanking us for calling out behavior they’ve witnessed for years,” Joe said. “It’s validating to know our content strikes a chord beyond just humor.”

But their success didn’t come overnight.

“We wondered if anyone besides our friends would even care,” Joe said. Then one day, a complete stranger named Matthew commented, “Traffic was really bad today.”

“We were blown away that someone we didn’t know was actually watching,” Craig recalled.

COVID-19’s impact on traffic, commuting

Encouraged by early interactions like that, they continued posting. Followers steadily grew, fueled by relatable content and Seattle’s ever-increasing traffic woes. The commuters acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly changed commuting habits, initially emptying roads and now clogging them again as companies mandate returns to offices.

“We both work in tech,” Joe explained, careful not to give away too much about their identities. “Like many others, we moved out of Seattle during the pandemic. When employers began asking people to return to in-person work, traffic became worse than ever.”

They’ve noticed an alarming escalation in reckless driving post-pandemic.

“When roads emptied during lockdowns, people drove fast and carelessly,” Craig said. “But now that roads are crowded again, many drivers haven’t adjusted. They’re still weaving through traffic and treating I-5 like their personal racetrack.”

Perhaps their most surprising experience is being recognized by fellow commuters.

“It happens all the time now,” Craig said. “Just this morning, a driver we were filming rolled down his window, recognized us, laughed, and waved—still holding his phone. We shouted, ‘Put the phone down!’ but he just yelled back, ‘I love you guys!'”

“We’re becoming victims of our own success,” Joe added. “People are excited to see us, which ironically encourages distracted driving. It’s hilarious but a bit concerning.”

Has the ‘I-5 Commuters’ duo ever been in danger?

When asked if they’ve ever felt endangered, Joe admitted they’ve had a few close calls.

“We try to keep things humorous rather than confrontational, but we’ve received messages urging caution because road rage incidents can turn violent,” Joe said. “One time, someone even threw a rock at our car.”

To reduce risks, the duo avoids filming certain vehicles, notably lifted trucks with dark window tints.

“You never know what’s happening inside,” Craig noted. “We learned quickly to pick our battles carefully.”

‘I-5 Commuters’ endorses Chris Sullivan

Their journey to fame recently landed them an unexpected role: Unofficial endorsers of KIRO Newsradio’s beloved traffic reporter, Chris “Sully” Sullivan. During their interview, Joe enthusiastically praised Sully’s accuracy.

“We were listening on the way here,” Joe shared. “Sully said traffic from Federal Way would take exactly one hour and 15 minutes. We looked at our phones, and there it was—one hour, 15 minutes exactly. He’s rock solid.”

Craig added, “We’re pretty tough critics when it comes to traffic reports, so that’s high praise.”

No slowing them down

Looking ahead, Joe and Craig plan to keep documenting I-5’s absurdities.

“It’s honestly turned the worst part of our day into something enjoyable,” Craig said. “We genuinely look forward to our commute now because we know it’ll make someone laugh.”

They feel a responsibility to their growing community of followers.

“People expect content now,” Joe explained. “It feels almost like a public service at this point. We joke about it, but we’re proud our videos might encourage people to think twice before grabbing their phone behind the wheel.”

Despite their rising fame, both insist they’ll maintain their incognito status, partially because it’s fun, but mostly because they’d rather not upset their bosses.

“Our bosses probably wouldn’t love knowing their employees have become minor traffic celebrities,” Joe said with mock seriousness. “So the sunglasses and fake mustaches will stay.”

As their audience grows, the “I-5 Commuters” have no plans to slow down. They’re already considering ways to expand their content while remaining anonymous.

“As long as Seattle traffic stays terrible, we’ll have plenty to talk about,” Craig said.

Until then, expect more viral videos highlighting the best and worst of commuting life. Who knows? Maybe next time you’re stuck on I-5, you might just find yourself starring in their latest post. Just make sure you’re not the one playing Candy Crush.

Listen to “Seattle’s Morning News” with Charlie Harger and Manda Factor weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m. on KIRO Newsradio. Subscribe to the podcast here.

Follow @https://twitter.com/kirocharlie