OT Sad news about the tragedy in Glaisdale

[Jeff]

According to the news the 3 men died whilst crossing a ford in a 4x4.  Locals from Glaisdale have said that several other 4x4s had already crossed the ford which was in flood.

It highlights the danger of ford crossing when the river are higher than normal.

[autorover1]

It is indeed sad news. I do think people under estimate the pressure of  moving water . There was a documentary about this effect many years ago on the TV.  The reporter was swept off his feet in about 9" water travelling at 5/6 mph . I may have the exact figures  wrong but I was staggered at the results. 

[Wittsend]

Do not underestimate the power of moving water - so many do.

A chap in a van drowned recently in Shotesham Ford about 8 miles from me during the floods.
It looks so nice in sunny weather as does the ford in the Esk valley.

[Larry S]

Following is the information that circulates around here, especially during the rainy seasons.

https://www.weather.gov/safety/flood-turn-around-dont-drown

[Noddy]

The Darwin Awards springs to mind. A Series does tend to fill with water and not float but driving into a river in flood with the pressure of tonnes of water pushing side ways why would you do it? Its not like driving the long ford at Little Cawthorpe in summer.

Alec

[Peter Holden]

Very sad, but who drives into a fast flowing river that is way above its normal level?  I wonder what the relevent "club" has to say about it.  LANTRA off road safety says you should test the depth before you drive into it.  If it is flowing too fast to test the depth then it is a no go.  I notice that the car is a Discovery

Peter

[Alan Drover]

Bravado I reckon.
When in any doubt find another way. It's not worth risking your life and those of others.

[whitehillbilly64]

https://www.wrl.unsw.edu.au/news/floodwaters-can-turn-cars-into-death-traps

whitehillbilly

[Beowulf]

A common mistake in motoring is over estimating our capabilities, and that of the vehicle, while underestimating the potential for danger, when common sense comes a poor second to the adage "it`ll never happen to me", its a human weakness, just like drivers who actually believe they`re invincible in their go anywhere 4X4.

I`m not casting blame here in this tragic incident, who among us can honestly say they haven`t made a poor decision while driving, only later to reflect on how lucky they were. Which reminds me of another adage, "there, but for the grace of God, go I".

[Clifford Pope]

I remember years ago driving a Morris 1100 across a slow-moving ford only a few inches deep. Half way across the car started to slip sideways as it began to float. I was going slowly in first gear, and by putting my foot to the floor and steering upstream made it across moving diagonally. Presumably the front-wheel drive helped.
The engine cut out just after getting across - the distributor was full of water.

I've always been very cautious of wading ever since.

[Crumbly65]

A common mistake in motoring is over estimating our capabilities, and that of the vehicle, while underestimating the potential for danger, when common sense comes a poor second to the adage "it`ll never happen to me", its a human weakness, just like drivers who actually believe they`re invincible in their go anywhere 4X4.

I`m not casting blame here in this tragic incident, who among us can honestly say they haven`t made a poor decision while driving, only later to reflect on how lucky they were. Which reminds me of another adage, "there, but for the grace of God, go I".

Quite!  I believe the poor souls in that Discovery were experienced green laners, and had driven that ford many times before.  It is so tragic that they appear to have underestimated (and/or misjudged) either the depth and/or the force of the current.

One cubic metre of water weighs around a 1000kgs, so a 4 metre long Discovery wading through say around 30 inches of water, will be having somewhere around 4 tons of pressure along its length.  If the current is exceptionally strong, swollen by the heavy rains we've been having, it's easy with hindsight to see how they could have been in trouble very quickly.

And in a 3 door vehicle, those in the back stood no chance.  A very sad and salutary lesson for us all I think....

[Exile]

Get someone to throw a bucket of water in your face.

You'll realise how heavy it is then.

If you are an "experienced green-laner"" you will be aware of the force of flowing water and will check the depth of the water, before you attempt to ford it.

In the subject case there was a clearly marked depth post, next to the ford.

[Peter Holden]

The occupants were experienced green laners, it is difficult to understand what went wrong.  We missed a track yesterday because the prolonged rain would have made it very very muddy risking serious damage to the surface

Peter

[NoBeardNoTopKnot]

The Darwin Awards springs to mind...
Alec

I'm glad you said this, not me. Cross Tarr Steps in my Eurobox in summer is enough.