Topic: Anybody get stuck on the DVP?

[gta_driver]

Anybody get stuck on the DVP or 401? or any other streets/routes during todays torrential storms? I saw a lot of disabled vehicles on my commute home and even a rescue or two.

I didn't get stuck. My Freelander was amazing,I basically forded waters in places up to my fenders, the truck was great even on the washed out concessions roads to my home (I live in the country). Saw many "cute-utes" struggling to stay on the road.

(Message edited by gta_driver on August 20, 2005)

[si]

I heard about the flooded roads.  Watch out if you've got a performance air-intake!

[Snowman]

Whilst returning from vacation in the rain Rut Ro started to hesitate during WOT passing maneuvers in the heavy rain. When the heavy rain stopped, no problem. I will need to investigate my OEM intake arrangement. Perhaps my JDM STi grill is allowing more air flow I into the intake ducting.

Brother In-laws cottage and boat got whacked by a Tornado on Bellwood Lake near Fergus yesterday. I guess we left JIT.

[citydude]

South bound 404 @ Steel was bad at 4:30PM. All lanes were blocked by a big puddle of water.  Only the left shoulder was somewhat reasonable.  Some people tried to go thru and end up stalling their cars.

And everyone going North was slowing down to look.

Citydude

[tpl]

I JUST missed all.    16th east to 404 south at 4:10.... big puddle but traversed on the far left( uphill side) only 4" or so.
Left lane of 404 S at the John St bridge.... saw it in time to change lanes.

404 S at Finch... took 1 1/4 hours to get there from John St/Steeles but then got through  4" depth onto empty 404( saw a couple of cars and a minivan that had succumbed to the water ) I dont know why it took so long as only two left  lanes were blocked and the next lane was quite passable if one drove slowly.


...zoomed down to Bloor in light traffic and heavy rain with just a few small ponds and cross road rivers . South of Bloor to Richmond thought to myself how the Don always used to flood there, remembered  politics about dredging and where to put polluted stuff.  Drove up Parliament in torrential rain and into my lane...as I pulled up to unlock my gate the rain stopped just as I got out of the car!

Later on the news and Weather Channel saw that the Don still does flood and I guess that water just had not got there when I went past as the level was several feet below the road at the low point just before Richmond at 5:45 pm.

So I was in some of them and sorta missed them all as well... even our 120 year old basement had only taken on the 1/2 gallon or so that it does in any heavy shower.

[A4_tom]

Don Valley Parking Lot should rename Reservoir!!

[claudster]

I was stuck on 27 north approaching 7 just after geting off backed up 407 east as the downpour started and the traffic lights in the aria were on the blink.Was stuck for almost an hour,just as rental Camry was running out of gas.
Didn't see much flooded roads,but used right turn lane after SUV did it.

[The Fuzz]

I was just hitting the east end of the 407 heading west when it all started. We hit the 404 overpass in the worst part of it all. I'm not one to exaggerate so when I say there were times when you could not see the road or the car in front of you, I mean it. When the hail started hitting the 6, wifey turned to me and said "I'm just waiting for you to start crying". So I did.  

Now, I'm going to go off on a rant here....

Rant #1: Why, when the road floods and it's obviously too deep to drive through do people insist on trying it?? And then they climb onto their roof with this "Wha' happened?" look on their face. WHY? WHY? WHY?

Rant #2: Why do people put their 4 way flashers on in a bad rainstorm??? Yes, I KNOW you are driving slow, so are the 5000 people around you! The problem is, when you actually hit the brakes to stop I CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR 4 WAYS AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS!!!!!!!! STOP IT!!!!!!!

[barrie1]

Good points City, I agree with you especially on the Flashing lights as they don't realize what it does to their brake lights. Its not a good practice to do.

[Brigitte]

Awww... City P.  That's terrible.  Is the 6 okay?

It definitely was a freak storm of amazing proportions.  I was at the office, nervously watching the skies (being the weather geek that I am).  The clouds had a vicious swirl about them, and I wasn't liking what I saw.    

Drove home, westbound, and there was nothing at my end of town.  Then I read the news that evening.  Holy cow.

What a strange day.  I'm amazed and quite happy that very few people were hurt.

[The Fuzz]

Yes, I think the 6 is ok. I didn't get a chance to wash it today to give it a close look, but I did do a once (ok, twice) over and didn't see any dents. Thanks for your concern. I've already had one car repainted due to hail and didn't want to do it again...'specially a brand-spankin' new one.

On a good note, this was the first time I've had the 6 on a highway for any length of time since I got it. It performed very well and was anxious to show me what it had. It was nice and nimble when it needed to be and would keep up with the ("slightly" above the limit) flow on the 407 (on the way to our destination on Tuesday, not yesterday) very well. I like this car.

[gta_driver]

Robarakira wrote:

"I heard about the flooded roads. Watch out if you've got a performance air-intake!"

-----------------------------------------------

I was hanging out at a friends 'tuner' shop today and heard the stories of people who CAI systems without the bypass valve. They basically got screwed for not investing in $75 dollar part. All of them have to buy or rebuild their engines due to hydro lock.

[Craig]

I was in Markham at the time.  A lot of Civics and Integras were on the side of the road with their hoods open.  I'm guessing CAI's.

I was trying to get to my mother-in-law's house.  She called me at work in Newmarket asking me to help her with her flooding basement.  Did my damnedest to get there, but the 404 stopped at 7 - didn't realize it was flooded at Steeles.  The exit at 7 was blocked, but 407 was open.  Took it to Warden, which was also a parking lot.  After 30 minutes, went west on Denison, and found another long backup at a huge pond.  Trucks were making it, but cars were stalling in it.  What was worse, two parking lots on either side had entrances and exits that spanned the pond.  I took a parking lot  route with my EL, and went south on Esna Park.  Of course, with the backup at Steeles, Esna Park Drive was also a parking lot, so I parked my car and ran the 3 remaining km.

Another pond must have formed at Esna Park and Steeles, but had subsided.  A Civic and an Integra obviously tried to drive around it, over the lawn of one of the large IBM buildings.  Really.  After a torrential rain.  They were buried up to the wheel hubs.  Someone is going to get an invoice for landscaping.

I thought I was going to find a foot of water in the basement, but it was 1 inch, tops, and not covering the entire floor.  Still spen the next five hours cleaning and mopping up, and digging out the window well that flooded.

What a day.

[inco]

Whew, your right CPH, that was a one helluva day but glad there wasn't as much water in the house. In today's Star there is a story about a lady and her grandchildren at Don Mills and Finch where the water completely flooded their basement.

CP - interesting that you point out that emergency flashers stop brake lights from working. I didn't realize that and have to plead guilty to using them myself.

One night a few weeks ago coming in from Grimsby on the QEW it was raining so hard that it too was difficult to see the car ahead of you. Others put on their flashers and that helped to see them and so I flipped on mine. Guess it isn't such a good idea.

To me anything I could do to make sure the guy behind saw me seemed like a good idea. Maybe brake lights should be wired independently and cancel the four ways when the brakes are applied. Maybe some already do that?

[claudster]

I'm hapy I didn't have to go anywhere near Finch/Sentinal.The road was washed away there.

[safristi]

I disagree...put the 4 ways on...otherwise the idjits will be up yer booty..if they (4ways) don't get them to stay safe and slow behind you...measly little brake lights won't either...WRONG ADVICE C_P sorry.....!!!!!

[Snowman]

I agree with Saff when large, heavy, and slow moving transport trucks pull onto a highway or reach a steeply graded hill on go the flashers. It is an accepted method of indicating a slow moving vehicle ahead….well…for logical people anyways.

[tenpenny]

Does using the 4 ways interfere with the 3rd brake light?

I find that heavy trucks usually hit the 4 ways when their speed drops to 70 or so on hills....and in Nova Scotia, there used to be signs to this effect on some highways.

[S60]

Interesting point regarding using the emergency flashers in foul weather. Which makes a valid point for cars to be equipped with the rear fog light, which our highway safety regulators deem more a dangerous item,then a safety feature.Dumb smucks.
All cars in Europe are equipped with a rear fog light.
                                                                                                                                           as drivers confuse this light as a braking light

[si]

ohhhhh    you mean for people who's brake lights = turning lights,  yes using hazards will cut out those brake lights.  Stupid engineers.

Gta_driver - you say there is an optional bypass valve for CAI, which I've never heard of myself.  I wonder how it works.

If you were driving such a car that hydrolock could occur, wouln't you be fine if you just turned off the car and pushed it through the water?