Sat-Nav: Not for Numpties.

[Steve_Perry]

Driver's in deep water for ignoring the obvious.

There's always a few, eh?

S.

 

[Brian WH]

There's always a few, eh?

S.

Afraid so mate.

Do you blindly follow all directions, I know I don't from mine.

 

[sym]

Turn Right ... quick !!! (OOPS !!)

 

[pammy]

what a set of plonkers. We often ignore Jane or Tim if they're being obviously thick! You'd think the sight of water coming up the front of your car would make people stop and think

 

[GrahamC230K]

To be honest, I would expect to be able to drive through a ford in a road car. If the tide is high enough for crossings not to be possible I would expect the road to be closed.

 

[GrahamC230K]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_(crossing)

 

[GrahamC230K]

and if we really want to get into it, I have found a forum that we can all join and talk about Fords and Watersplashes!!

http://s2.phpbbforfree.com/forums/index.php?mforum=wetroads

 

[pammy]

and if we really want to get into it, I have found a forum that we can all join and talk about Fords and Watersplashes!!

http://s2.phpbbforfree.com/forums/index.php?mforum=wetroads

Oh my goodness - there really is everything n the net isn't there

 

[PJH]

Oh my goodness - there really is everything n the net isn't there

Oh yes! POI fords for TTG

 

[Steve_Perry]

... Do you blindly follow all directions, I know I don't from mine.

Nah, I just follow the car infront and wait for them to get lost

S.

 

[glojo]

To be honest, I would expect to be able to drive through a ford in a road car. If the tide is high enough for crossings not to be possible I would expect the road to be closed.

You cannot be serious?

We have had drivers go blindly into a ford and get washed downstream. Unfortunately there has sometimes been tragic consequences. No sat nav to blame, just gross stupidity. Once the water gets up near the door seal, some vehicles become very bouyant. Be very, very wary.

John

 

[GrahamC230K]

I am serious. If the tide rises frequently there should be an element of the road signs being manned or automated or there should not be a Ford. The concept of a Ford is that is crossable by car.

 

[glojo]

I am serious. If the tide rises frequently there should be an element of the road signs being manned or automated or there should not be a Ford. The concept of a Ford is that is crossable by car.

Good morning Graham,
It is the 'manned' concept that I have problems with. I can only comment about local fords and most of these are on unclassified very rural roads that are not used very often. Who would man these fords, and who would pay?

I'm sure you can have a simple painted depth board visible from both approaches. The problem though is that in this modern age some drivers lack the ability to perhaps realise that a four foot deep ford is dangerous???? They actually need someone to tell them.

My cruel view is that Darwin rules.........

If someone is stupid enough not to be able to judge the depth of a ford (with painted signs) then they should perhaps not be driving? Fords only flood in extreme conditions and it is these extreme conditions I am talking about. A simple piece of board with the depth painted on it should be more than ample. If the water reaches the door sill on a conventional car, then abort

John

 

[GrahamC230K]

There is a road fairly cloase to me that floods frquently after rain. To the extent it's like ariver running accross it, it may as well be called a Ford (it isn't).

There are water marks and at the entrance to the road from both directions, well before the flood there are permanent signs. The sign is hinged and either says "Road Liable to Flooding" or "Road Flooded". I have actually passed the water when "flooded", so it's not that bad.

Just who moves the sign from one position to another I do not know, but by it's accuracy, I would say it must be the locals!

Brings back memories of the bad floods in Surrey a few years back. BMW E30, bow wave at height of bonnet, wheels spinning as the car starts to feel a bit boyant, headlights dim but don't go out as the dirty water actually seems to cover them for a few seconds.....went through floods I saw Landies turn back from and passed many an already stranded water filled car. Young, foolish, by chance in a car that luckily seemed resilient to water induction/electrical failures and extremely lucky. Will NEVER risk it again!!

 

[glojo]

Brings back memories of the bad floods in Surrey a few years back. BMW E30, bow wave at height of bonnet, wheels spinning as the car starts to feel a bit boyant, headlights dim but don't go out as the dirty water actually seems to cover them for a few seconds

Hi Graham,
You definitely used up one of your lives in that incident. Fords are usually higher than the river bed, if your car had floated\drifted off the ford, then there would be little, if no chance of opening a door?

If you were lucky enough to have manual opening windows or sun roof, and more important.... calm enough to think about using them, then you might have got out??? Once the electrics short out then all electric windows, sun roofs etc are simply locked?? It is easy sitting in an office thinking about how easy it is to escape, but in total darkness, with freezing water flooding into a car, things are not quite as easy? There have been numerous fatalities that confirm this very point.

It sounds like your local authority might go around opening up these road signs which is understandable on the not so rural locations?

In Torquay we do not have fords, just blooming great big waves crashing over the sea wall Until the local authority close the road, car drivers still run the gauntlet??? Just think of the large stones, grit and other debris that crashes down onto the car bodywork??? Mega ouch and mega damage. Some drivers even park and laugh when the waves crash over them

Regards,
John

 

[pineer35]

if you are using sat-nav on a day to day basis.i would take your fishing rods with you to while away the time. (tip for today)

 

[jdrrco]

Am I the only one who fell about at the aptness of the name of the village in the last sentence?

 

[Brian WH]

Nah, I just follow the car infront and wait for them to get lost

S.

See Sym's reply, which refers to a trip to Maidenhead when I was following.


Turn Right ... quick !!! (OOPS !!)

When you follow me Steve you get a faster route, eh mate.

 

[sym]

Nah, I just follow the car infront and wait for them to get lost

S.

Yeah, I remember our trip to germany (before you got the TomTom !!)

 

[Steve_Perry]

... When you follow me Steve you get a faster route, eh mate.

Yep definitely faster, not sure about it being the most direct though. Hehe lucky that south perimeter road of Clumber is sooooo straight

Yeah, I remember our trip to germany (before you got the TomTom !!)

Tell me about it! Only I could get lost just coming off the train and I remember a few close shaves going through Stuttgart traffic lights and being last in the queue Where Amber followed by Red means full throttle kick down to avoid getting lost.

S.