'Road Closed' means 'don't go any further'!
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
Rockingham, Australia
August 18, 2022 5:10am CST
Today, we heard that a road and bridge nearby had flooded and were impassable. So we went to have a look. We drove down quite a narrow road for about ten kilometres. The road followed the river which had spread out to be quite wide.
When we reached the place where the water had gone over the road and the bridge, some poor driver had ignored the 'Road Closed' signs and tried to go over. His car was stuck in the water. You can see it in the photo. It wasn’t in danger of washing downstream but I’m not sure how they would have got it out. No doubt, they have ways of extricating vehicles in such predicaments.
We were wondering if the door seals were keeping the water out of the interior of the car but possibly the doors would have to be opened to put the car out of gear or release the hand-brake or whatever. It was a lovely day for a drive and we even had lunch in a café in the nearby town.
30 people like this
33 responses
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Aug 22
@58lordstreet It often depends on the type of soil how fast water drains away or sinks in.
@58lordstreet (1668)
•
19 Aug 22
aparently flooding more likely because the ground is so hard from the sun
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137461)
• United States
18 Aug 22
Some people just gotta check and see if they can make it across anyway. I hope the tow truck could pull their car out. (If the water was above the level of the floorboard of the car, door seals aren't going to stop the water from going in through the engine compartment.)
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137461)
• United States
18 Aug 22
@JudyEv That's part of the service you get when you hire the tow truck. The driver always has to go into whatever situation to attach the tow rope.
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@Fleura (30539)
• United Kingdom
18 Aug 22
There is one road near here that regularly floods, and of course people always try to drive through it (and I confess I have driven through it once, although that was quite scary when you get part way through, you don't know how much deeper it is going to get or even quite where the edge of the road is and there's no place to turn around. I wouldn't do it again!). My friend who had a Land Rover used to regularly go and tow people out.
In that photo you can see the water is flowing fast even though it is relatively shallow, I wouldn't risk that. Did you know that only about 4 inches is enough to float a car away?
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@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Aug 22
I didn't know about the 4" bit. The bridge was okay but the road dipped just this side of the bridge and that's where he got caught. We've driven through some dodgy patches too but if it says Road Closed that's good enough for us.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (181942)
• United States
18 Aug 22
There are always those who make foolish decisions like that. Sometimes they end up paying with their lives! One time I was driving on one of the major North South routes here when some giant puddles were forming due to the rainfall. I decided I could probably cross as the car before me did, although the water was quite high. I got through it without a problem, but probably 5 minutes after that, I noticed road closed signs. I must have been one of the last vehicles to go through.
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@snowy22315 (181942)
• United States
19 Aug 22
@JudyEv That probably is almost as bad.
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@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Aug 22
@snowy22315 Yes, accidents waiting to happen if you weren't careful though mostly bogging and sliding off the road.
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@RebeccasFarm (90294)
• Arvada, Colorado
18 Aug 22
Nice you made a day out of the flood Judy..oh yes the poor driver.
Look at that now.
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@RebeccasFarm (90294)
• Arvada, Colorado
18 Aug 22
@JudyEv Yes it would..that happened to me once when I lived only 50 steps from the seaside. Car was in the alley, giant waves from storm came in, winter time..the car was flooded and iced for months..the salt rotted out the bottom of the car, my car, no one to help.
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Aug 22
@RebeccasFarm That must have been devastating ot lose your car in that way. 
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@wolfgirl569 (107859)
• Marion, Ohio
18 Aug 22
Someone always has to try it seems.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (181321)
• United States
18 Aug 22
It's so dangerous to drive through deep water yet people keep on trying.
2 people like this
@Butterfingers (66583)
• India
18 Aug 22
Some people don't follow the road signs and they are the one who regret later
2 people like this
@Mysticpizza (201)
• United States
18 Aug 22
One would think that people had more common sense but sadly, these days, common sense seems to be in short supply.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Aug 22
@Mysticpizza Do you think so? I guess maybe it can if people want to change.
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@Mysticpizza (201)
• United States
19 Aug 22
@JudyEv and it most definitely CAN be learned.
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@allknowing (137552)
• India
19 Aug 22
A bit confused. Was the driver still in the car?
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@allknowing (137552)
• India
19 Aug 22
@JudyEv Wonder how he or she managed to get out.
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@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Aug 22
@allknowing I really don't know but I guess they called a tow-truck.
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@oahuwriter (26777)
• United States
19 Aug 22
Yes, poor driver, that disregarded sign. There's times when things ubruptly changes. Today I'm I had it happen to me. I go east on bus for shopping. I check bus arrival times, but today, I got a surprise in site...my bus stop not operating, because of the rail construction, so the available one for me, is about 2 blocks away. I called transit station information, made sure of things. I heeded the change. I was so glad I checked things, before I went shopping.
1 person likes this
@oahuwriter (26777)
• United States
20 Aug 22
@JudyEv
Me too! Luckily, coming home, all is as usual, good for after shopping, quite heavy cart to pull home.
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@58lordstreet (1668)
•
19 Aug 22
had one of those flooded roads in Queensland, my partner send me to walk th road in front of the car to make sure it wasnt too deep, I forgot we were in crocodile country until I got back in the car
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