Thread: Died trying to cross creeks

typical first world.
has a beach right in front, builds swimming pool.

There are a number of factors to consider when driving through water. I do a lot of Four Wheel Drive training and I can tell you that the majority of people who undertake courses are impressed by the fact that the salesman or perhaps other advertising has told them that their vehicle can drive through water 600, 700 or even 900mm deep.

They have no idea of the real world.

As for opening your door if the vehicle starts to float. This may not be such a good idea, as most modern vehicles have computers which are located under the drivers seat and once theses are affected by water, well then it really will be all over. As a matter of fact we advocate to people, to not drive through water that is higher than their door sills. Large Four Wheel Drive vehicles also tend to look like a large block when viewed from the side and the pressure of the water pushing on this expansive area is what contributes to many vehicles being washed off roads. That and the fact that even shallow water taken at too high a speed can cause aquaplaning and loss of traction, once again leading to wash aways.

There may be a time when having to drive through water is the only option left to people, however, there is and should be, a lot of emphasis placed on how to do this correctly and safely. For the vast majority of people, there is an alternative, pick another route or simply wait it out.

I would be happy to discuss this further if required.

Regards

XDrive

I remember one time we were driving into Carnarvon Gorge and the creek was flooded to waist deep and running strongly. I took one look and said I wasn't attempting the concrete crossing because I was worried that either the vehicle or, more likely the camper trailer, would be pushed sideways off the causeway. It wasn't the depth of the water that worried me in a diesel with a snorkel, it was the power of the current.
One bloke was so determined to prove it could be crossed that he decided to try to demonstrate it by trying to walk across it. He got about one-third across, realized the power of the water was much stronger than he had expected, and retreated.
We all camped on the side of the river overnight and went through OK the next morning, when the water had dropped.

Many years ago I was in a crew move where our route was blocked by a concrete crossing with water flowing over it. It was probably only about eighteen inches deep, but moving pretty fast.

We had pulled up and were discussing whether to try it or not. Just then one of the locals arrived in a Landrover 86. He didn't even stop, just slowed to about 15mph, shifted into second and drove straight in. Came out the other side on two cylinders, crabbing upstream at about 45 degrees and drove of spluttering into the distance. After that, we moved the convoy across, but with the light vehicles on a winch line behind a truck.

The same wet season, I managed to drown my own 86 crossing still water that was a bit too deep, also on a concrete crossing. Drove it out on the starter, dried it out and continued on. Also that same year broke the fan belt crossing a deep creek, but otherwise had no problems with water. About fifteen years ago, trying to get home, eventually made it but had to go through still water up to the top of the mudguards in the County, with no issues.

In my current circumstance it is easy to see the circumstances where I have to drive through "floodwater' - to get to or from my house requires driving through at least one creek that is normally dry, but has no bridge, and several places where there is commonly water across the road in wet weather.

My personal view is that the advice being given to never drive through any floodwater at any time is counterproductive, simply because there are many cases where it is perfectly safe to do so where you can see the road and it is undamaged, and the current is not very great. This leads to the advice being widely ignored.

John

Patience is all that's required. As Disco Mick points out, flooding river levels usually drop within a couple of days. If its flowing fast and up to side of vehicle it's simply not worth the risk. If it's not flowing then depth and state of the bottom need to be assessed. Simple really, but experience certainly counts. No one is a hero for crossing a flooding river, unless it's an absolute emergency and there's no other option.

I'm with JD on the "If it's flooded forget it" message it's trying to throw a blanket rule across every circumstance.

I'm sure we all know a road that gets inundated (flooded defn) when there is heavy rain, do we always give it a miss ?


Martyn

maybe we need a sonar device of the front of the car.
stick sonar in, can tell you if its too deep or too fast, any obstacles in the way.

Originally Posted by Eevo

maybe we need a sonar device of the front of the car.
stick sonar in, can tell you if its too deep or too fast, any obstacles in the way.

You mean like in the RRS2 Eevo?