[Closed] Why do people drive through floods?

To get home?

as well as provide more hassle to over stretched [s]Fireman[/s] firefighters

we do have females in the service now.

Because they're there?

chimp paradox-- the chimp wins

Because they have no reverse on theuiir car, cant reverse due to some muppet stopping imediately behind them , making it impossible to reverse.

or they just dont understand that cars float just like boats do.

To get to the other side

There were some "proper 4x4" Landrovers completely swamped in a river on Sky news earlier. I did chuckle.

Do fully comp policies cover engine damage caused by getting stuck in puddles?

I've Noah idea.

There were some "proper 4x4" Landrovers completely swamped in a river on Sky news earlier. I did chuckle.

They reckon that 4x4s are the most likely vehicles to get stuck in floods cos people think"oh, I'm in a 4x4, I can get through anything" but they don't actually know how to drive in deep water - using the bow wave, keeping the throttle down etc.

But it provides entertainment for the rest of us.

Crackers. The 'must get home' now mentality. Flash flood is something else but willingly drive into something higher than a puddle?

Some cars were creating a bow wave with their bonnets ffs

I think its a strange macho thing-- to prove themselves as more able than others -- but ends up the opposite-- do they have red necks ??

Sometimes it's unavoidable. Unless you fancy sleeping in the car. In the middle of the road.

Cold car, or warm bed?

It's worth a punt, surely.

A punt!

Because the Audi dealer said its ok.

I always thought that as soon as the water goes above the exhaust and you pause you basically goose your engine ...as well as provide more hassle to over stretched Fireman.

It's not the exhaust you need to worry about, it's the air intake.

If you don't know where that is, it's probably best not to bother.

If you do know where the air intake is, and its above the water line, and the flooded section of road is the only way to get home (which is always the case for me when there is a flood) then why wouldn't I drive through it.

Certainly beats sleeping in the car a mile away from home, when I know I can get home without any problems ?

Trouble is, there's so many variables. I've driven through fairly deep water along a road near Malmesbury, some years ago, in my boss's SAAB, that killed a friends Megane. The garage she was towed to had six lined up, something to do with a low-level air-intake. Taking it steady in 2nd gear and [b]not stopping[/b] is the important thing. I was in Lacock yesterday, near the Abbey, and it was fun watching who had the balls to drive through, and who clucked. 😀
You could tell the locals; they just blithely drove through without hesitation, while others stopped, sat, pondered, then finally turned around to find another route. There were a number of 4x4's and SUV's that sat and laid eggs...
Best was the very large tractor, unfortunately for the couple stood on the raised causeway alongside the road. I laughed. 😆

Taking it steady in 2nd gear and not stopping is the important thing.

I find that not following anyone else trying to drive though it is the main one! If they get stuck, you will have no option but to stop. Let them go - if they clear it, you're probably fine too; if they get stuck, then it saves you the bother of wrecking your car as well.

🙂

Some people have no idea what to do, last heavy rain we had I was on nights. The conditions were pretty bad and had to piggy back a patient through 2 feet of water. Coming back to station there was a car in front which took no notice of the workmen warning them of the flood ahead. They stalled bang in the middle, I drove through and then pulled over to see if they were Ok in case they were female and stranded.

After wading through about 3 feet of water it turns out it was a young lad who declared he had no idea what to do. I may have been abrupt but he got the point and got out with a few tips from myself.

I lived in Moreton in Marsh during the 2007 floods, a woman in a Corsa was going to drive through the flood, everyone was telling her it was 3 or 4 feet at its deepest and she had no chance, it'll be fine she says, strangely enough it wasn't and she wrecked her car, some people just cant be told.

Air intake on mine is on top of the engine so it's got to be pretty deep. I drive through floods beause it's fun, but I'd never do it if I wasn't pretty damn confident about the depth, or if there's fast-flowing water... The wheels can get unweighted pretty fast once the water's up to the bodywork.

I drove through a puddle that ended up hydrolocking my engine a few years ago.

My reason i was on the top of a hill,(troutbeck in the lakes) and it the hill went up then dropped down the other side Unknown to me itwasore of a w shape.

Now i have driven 4x4 and had them up tothere windscreens in water and its not just all about second gear and not stopping although that helps.

Let them go - if they clear it, you're probably fine too

Seriously bad advice.

I drove through a puddle that ended up hydrolocking my engine a few years ago.

My reason i was on the top of a hill,(troutbeck in the lakes) and it the hill went up then dropped down the other side Unknown to me itwasore of a w shape.

Now i have driven 4x4 and had them up tothere windscreens in water and its not just all about second gear and not stopping although that helps.

I destroyed a works van when I was but a young pup - it would have been fine, until the tit in a Range Rover came piling through in the opposite direction sending a bow wave right over my bonnet 😕

I once towed a transit van fully of tellys out of a ford next to a pub we used to drink in.
It is normally less than a foot deep, but heavy rain had swollen it to nearer 4 foot.
it was flowing over the bonnet of my Landrover Defender at one point (had raised air intake/axle beathers/etc)

crazy think was - there was no reason to drive through the ford, as there is a bridge next to it!

r if there's fast-flowing water... The wheels can get unweighted pretty fast once the water's up to the bodywork.

yep, the ford by us has claimed a couple of vehicles last thur, a transit van and an estate car, carried away very quickly, it seems a small stream, but in spate its a deadly river, seems people are co-cooned in their bubble and are impervious to outside forces....until reality hits...

Let them go - if they clear it, you're probably fine too

Seriously bad advice.

OK, if they're in a truck and you're in a sports car yes. But assuming you actually know what you're doing and know where the air intake is on your car then you can extrapolate from what you see with respect to what other vehicles are able to get through.

Mum told me a story about my old man in last years floods... Apparently the roads were flooded so he stopped off for a curry some 20 miles from home, despite an offer to stay the night there he decided to see if the waters had subsided. Nope, so instead of driving through he decided to swim and then hike the rest of the way. Then got up at 5am the next day to return back and get the car....madness...swimming flood water in the dark....

If they get stuck, you will have no option but to stop.

I trashed what was at the time.. the newest van I had ever owned by a very long margin, doing exactly that..

I thought it was more than just the air intake. Isn't rapid cooling also a problem for the exhaust and other hot bits low down?

I can see why people chance it though if there is a queue behind and not many other options. Always a knob who decides to pile through though, making it worse for everyone else.

Personally I'm lucky enough not to need to drive so just don't if the conditions are bad. Tonight the water did get hub deep in places, there was a car stranded in the middle and the police diverting traffic. Same situation last time it flooded a bit here too.

Some cars were creating a bow wave with their bonnets ffs

Take a leaf out of the Russian river crossing book

I thought it was more than just the air intake. Isn't rapid cooling also a problem for the exhaust and other hot bits low down?

Only if you have a stainless exhaust and ave been ragging it previous, seen them split on a trialer entering water

Propperly sealed air intakes and mega squirted v8 engines ....fun to passenger in , in a controlled enviroment where the danger is removed. But flood waters not a place to play ,

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if its YOUR car that you have paid for / paying for i would advise not driving through water that is above the level of the exhaust if petrol engined. The thermal shock can destroy the exhaust sensors which will cost you ~£100 each (at least one will be mid / post catalyst and at risk).
It its works car or diesel and you know where the intake is and know the water is below that level and free of obstructions go slow enough that you create a steady bow wave in front of the cars bonnet, do not change gear.

If you have HID lamps on the front they also hate cold river water.

Anyone deliberatley driving their own car through water over hub height has no understanding of today vehicles and their intolerance to water. Find another route.

CountZero your pictures from the road near Lacock Wiltshire?

Great thread, gives me an excuse for posting this YouTube vid!

I actually know the wading height of my vehicle - anyone else?

Sadly, despite being a great big eff off truck, it's a paltry 450mm - on that basis, I'm careful.

My next truck will probably be another Ford Ranger - the new model though, which can wade to 800mm.

It seems some people just have a common sense bypass, when it comes to extremes in weather and driving.

It's like deluge their heads...

check the guy with the BIG number plate-- giving his infant a thrill --bet he's driving round looking for roads to 'swoosh' through

Nice one frank - apparently the Vivaro air intakes are ridiculously low - thankfully, or we'd never have been treated to that clip...

Jamie - I saw that edit 😉

Jamie - I saw that edit

Yeah. I thought it was a bit nobbish....even for me.

vivaro air in takes are nearly just be hind the front corner of the near side bumper.

No worries Jamie, I'd have probably put similar - I did have a suitable put down, but also edited 😉

I actually know the wading height of my vehicle - anyone else?

Yup, 620mm.

And on the road that often floods and blocks my only way home, there is a brick wall at the deepest point, and 620mm is when there are 6 bricks showing above the water line 🙂

Credit to you nealglover for actually knowing - what do you drive btw?

@ Kona, yes I recognise it.

Thing is to a degree every years flood will be a guestimate as a viable crossing no?

Sleep a mile from home?

Risk car or....a mile. A mile isnt that far..

The wading depth of my VW T5 is a paltry 300mm, not a lot at all really!

500 mm in our Freelander. And even if they made a snorkel for it, all the electrics are still down there.

That said, if you need to, and you know how, setting a bow wave about 1 m in front of the car, with a tarp across the bonnet to screen the fan, will mean that the actual depth of water around the important bits is still only 500 mm, even if the flood is considerably higher.

The problem is, most people don't know how to do this, and you really only get one chance if you do it wrong...

People obviously forget all logic in their desperation to get home or their complete knobbers and keen to try out their 4x4 amphibious capabilities. Very amusing.

I saw an AA patrol 4x4 going through the floodwater on the shores of Lake Windermere a couple of years ago. I was out on the CX bike (brilliant fun!) but by the Wateredge Inn at Ambleside it was too deep even for riding through. That and the fact that there was a minging drowned sheep bumping against the windows of the pub which had gone from being "Wateredge" to middle-of-the-bloody-lake.

The AA guy was obviously having a whale of a time driving around rescuing stranded motorists and he just drilled the big 4x4 straight through it. The water was over the bonnet at one point but it was obviously a hardened off-road vehicle and he got through no worries. He was grinning like a child in a sweet shop. 🙂

Thing is to a degree every years flood will be a guestimate as a viable crossing no?
Sleep a mile from home?
Risk car or....a mile. A mile isnt that far..

It's never a guesstimate, as I said above, 6 bricks showing on the wall is 620mm depth of water at the deepest point.

My van will clear 620mm without any issues.

So I would be sleeping in the van a mile from home for no reason.

There are a couple of other roads near me that flood regularly (and it's a looooong way round the "dry" route), that I also know I can clear without issues, so I do because I know it's perfectly safe.

Credit to you nealglover for actually knowing - what do you drive btw?

It's a Merc Van, living in York these roads flood a few times a year so it's helpful to be prepared with the right info 😉

Its not just your own car you need to worry about...
https://twitter.com/Glos_Police/status/272992296847437824

I live in shropshire in a major flood zone, and I have driven through every flood Ive encountered in the last 3 years, unless theres a copper telling me to turn around Ill do it 🙂 Ive not failed to get through one yet.

However thats in a company car, in company time 🙂

nealglover - Member

It's a Merc Van, living in York these roads flood a few times a year so it's helpful to be prepared with the right info

I suppose if it's a big Sprinter then it's higher than my truck in all respects - tis a tad ironic that my 4x4 is so low though, although I think that may be to do with the diff breather and not the air intake - might make an extender pipe.

About 15 years ago I got caught out in Langdale and went through what I thought was a puddle at 30mph on the main road back to Ambleside - turned out the puddle (which I'd driven through that morning) was now about 2' deep. Car was stopped pretty quick, bow wave went over roof of car, water level was just below door handles, engine (1.5TD) sucked in water and had a good go at compressing it and all the electrics failed.

So, exited car Dukes of Hazard style, pushed car out of water. After about 30mins the electrics drained enough to start the car and drove off on 3 cylinders, with the forth acting as a very impressive smoke machine.

Car was declared ****ed in Ambleside and recovered back home whereupon an engine rebuild inc new piston and conrod set me back £927! Was an expensive learning experience.

EDIT: It wasn't the depth that caused the problem, it was hitting it too fast and stalling. Had I ploughed through at a steady 10mph, it would probably been ok. As it was the force I hit the water with forced it through the air intake filter.

although I think that may be to do with the diff breather and not the air intake - might make an extender pipe.

And the electrics

Some twonk tried to drive thru a local ford near to me. He ended up down stream. the weather had been terrible with lots of flooding etc. The bloke was a Police sergeant. 🙂
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Isn't there quite a lot of raw sewage in flood water too?

Renaults do seem to have low intakes I remember hearing about a lot of espaces "drowning".
I've managed some fords in the midget by knowing the depth and letting the car infront get out before I've gone in.

Isn't there quite a lot of raw sewage in flood water too?

Depends where it is, not if it's just off the hills (other than a bit of sheep poo).

HoratioHufnagel - Member
Isn't there quite a lot of raw sewage in flood water too?

Their can be, thats one reason why were baffled at work why people seem to like playing in flood water.

ok then off road experts, why the bow wave? (genuine question, I have the off road driving ability of a snowman!)

errrr I think its the force of displacement

A bow wave, in the correct position, will lower the water level behind it.

This can help create an artificially low water level around the air intakes, electrics and engine area meaning you can get through deeper water than you would otherwise be able to manage.

Wouldn't want to rely on being able to do it though, I just stick to the wading depth of my vehicle.

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Kona, yes, it's the road that takes you past the Abbey, up the hill and then towards Sandy Lane and Devizes. The last shot with the footpath sign has the Abbey in the background behind the trees.

check the guy with the BIG number plate-- giving his infant a thrill --bet he's driving round looking for roads to 'swoosh' through

Think of the stupidest person you know. Do they have a driving license? Probably.

A bow wave, in the correct position, will lower the water level behind it.

I would not want to cut it so fine that you have to rely on this effect, at least not in my own car!

Done loads this last week. Only one was a bit deeper than expected. Got away with it. Wouldn't drive through a flooded ford thought.

HoratioHufnagel - Member
Isn't there quite a lot of raw sewage in flood water too?

I used to do a lot of kayaking and have got on many a river that has burst its banks.

The sewage is the least of your worries. Moving water higher than your calf can knock you off your feet. Brown water hides a multitude of dangers, not least raised drain covers, siphons and sumps that you will disappear into and never come out of - also see barb wire, branches, broken glass and metal, foot entrapments (branches/rocks, street furniture)

I was ill a lot after paddling flooded rivers, that is after taking precautions like proper washing and a pint of coke (;)) when I got off.
Everything that has ever died near a river or water course gets washed in. Plenty of extra animal die and get washed in to the water too. Chemicals are washed off the roads and agricultural land.

There are plenty of reasons not to go in flood water but as a kayaker it is ****in amazing - to paraphase William Nealy - "like riding a run away train".

Everything that has ever died near a river or water course gets washed in. Plenty of extra animal die and get washed in to the water too.

[quote=molgrips]Think of the stupidest person you know. Do they have a driving license? Probably.

[nealglover- A bow wave, in the correct position, will lower the water level behind it.]

I would not want to cut it so fine that you have to rely on this effect, at least not in my own car!

Neither would I, that would be why I said this directly after what you quoted wouldn't it ?

Wouldn't want to rely on being able to do it though, I just stick to the wading depth of my vehicle

Drove down to Bishop Aukland today, near Darlington, for a photoshoot with an old lady and her dogs. After finding the main roads all closed, I took off down some tiny country roads which seemed to go in about the right direction.

I got my phone out to cancel twice, both times within five miles of the client's house. But one of the dogs was 16, deaf and blind and hadn't eaten for three days, so I persevered.

The whole place was just under water. The roads were rivers and the fields were ponds. Scary stuff but a large part of me relished it. Good photoshoot too 🙂

Edit - desiel Volvo saloon BTW. Coped very well.

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I would not want to cut it so fine that you have to rely on this effect, at least not in my own car!

It's actually a pretty standard 4wd technique taught on courses down here in Oz. You'd never get anywhere in the tropics without, as although a snorkel solves the air intake issue, it doesn't raise the electrics. Coupled with a radiator grille blind to reduce water anywhere near the fan, and it's surprising how far you can get

This was never going to end well.....

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... for me..... 😥

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This was never going to end well.....

Clueless people in 4x4s who appear to be under the impression that having a such a vehicle means they don’t have to adapt their driving for any weather condition, as illustrated by lots of women crashing SUVs near us last time it snowed.