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CARDIFF, Wales - Frustrated villagers fed up with drivers careering across a dangerous river ford have put up a blunt sign warning 'idiots with twatnavs, meet thy doom’.
Those behind the unofficial metal sign, according to the London Daily Mail, say impatient drivers frequently ignore the warning notices and instead follow their satnav directions through the ford – even when it is a metre under water.
HOMEMADE SIGN
They came up with the unique deterrent after many vehicle rescues though the local council is considering closing the ford because of the danger caused to drivers who refuse to turn back down the narrow country lane and risk crossing the river.
Simon Hiscock owns a nearby smallholding. He told the Mail he had to rescue dozens of people from the ford across the River Enborne, where closure signs regularly disappear.
He said: “There are big red signs saying road closed and there are barriers, but people are driving through it. People are leaving the plastic barriers flat in the road after driving across them.”
Villagers had seen several people driving through the ford, even when the river was a metre higher than usual after heavy rain.
“There were two cars stuck last week."
VERY DANGEROUS
The ford, the Daily Mail added, was closed in April 2012 after a man died while trying to cross. It is due to remain shut for 18 months - and might even be closed permanently, the council has said.
The ford has been the site of numerous rescues. Floods can cause the river - normally a shallow stream – to rise rapidly to two metres or so. A council spokesman said larger barriers were needed.
“Although the local highways team inspects the barriers at the ford regularly they cannot monitor them 24 hours a day.”
A Fire and Rescue spokesman said: “Such fords we class as very dangerous because of the force of the water... 20cm of water can lift a car."
Those behind the unofficial metal sign, according to the London Daily Mail, say impatient drivers frequently ignore the warning notices and instead follow their satnav directions through the ford – even when it is a metre under water.
HOMEMADE SIGN
They came up with the unique deterrent after many vehicle rescues though the local council is considering closing the ford because of the danger caused to drivers who refuse to turn back down the narrow country lane and risk crossing the river.
Simon Hiscock owns a nearby smallholding. He told the Mail he had to rescue dozens of people from the ford across the River Enborne, where closure signs regularly disappear.
He said: “There are big red signs saying road closed and there are barriers, but people are driving through it. People are leaving the plastic barriers flat in the road after driving across them.”
Villagers had seen several people driving through the ford, even when the river was a metre higher than usual after heavy rain.
“There were two cars stuck last week."
VERY DANGEROUS
The ford, the Daily Mail added, was closed in April 2012 after a man died while trying to cross. It is due to remain shut for 18 months - and might even be closed permanently, the council has said.
The ford has been the site of numerous rescues. Floods can cause the river - normally a shallow stream – to rise rapidly to two metres or so. A council spokesman said larger barriers were needed.
“Although the local highways team inspects the barriers at the ford regularly they cannot monitor them 24 hours a day.”
A Fire and Rescue spokesman said: “Such fords we class as very dangerous because of the force of the water... 20cm of water can lift a car."
