Whenever there is flooding, the news delights in showing photographs of stranded cars left at the mercy of the water. We saw evidence of this following the Christmas weekend flooding in Scotland. For example, The Courier posted a picture on 7 January (2016) showing an abandoned car off to the right of a Perth road. More importantly, it also showed a lorry making its way through flood waters that were as high as the vehicle’s grille. The decision made by the driver was not the result of anything he learned in his original HGV training course.
Our HGV training includes quite a bit of information about driving safely during emergency conditions. We assume other training companies teach the same kinds of things. In the Perth case, the road in question had been closed by the police as a result of the flooding. The driver’s training should have directed him not to use it. Having said that, there are two factors that may explain his decision:
- Exhaust Systems – Cars easily stall in flood waters when their exhaust pipes become inundated. Water in a car’s tailpipe prevents the engine from venting exhaust, thereby causing the engine to stall. The engine itself is not harmed because it is waterproof. The advantage of the lorry is that exhaust is vented vertically by pipes that rise over the top of the cab. They remain free of water and, thus, the lorry does not stall.
- Vehicle Weight – It is true that it only takes a couple of inches of water to wash away the average passenger car. Lorries have an advantage due to their weight and size. Although it was still not wise for the Perth driver to do what he did, his vehicle was a lot less likely to be swept away than the passenger car he passed.
For the record, it would appear as though the lorry driver in the 7 January incident was successful in his journey. Another driver who made the same attempt a few days earlier did not make it through. The lesson to be learned here is that professional drivers should pay attention to road closures and not attempt to traverse roads that are flooded. You never know what is under the water.
A Day in the Life
Thankfully no one was injured in the Perth incident we described here. We can look back at it and say it was just a typical day in the life of the professional lorry driver. Drivers experience all sorts of challenges as they work hard to deliver cargo and consumer goods to destinations across the country. We all owe them a debt of gratitude for the service they provide.
We urge professional drivers to be safe this winter season. In Scotland, extra caution is warranted until the flood waters fully recede and road damage is adequately assessed. Remember what you learned in your HGV training course about safety – and don’t push it.
Sources:
