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A former ford has been closed after millions of people tuned in to TikTok from around the world to watch videos of drivers’ cars floating in floodwaters.
The masses were also drawn in off-screen, with hundreds of people flocking to Rufford’s little ford in Nottinghamshire to watch the cars go by or even get stuck in the river.
Local councilor Neil Clarke led the council’s decision to close the ford last month, following requests from the fire and police services, who were unable to cope with people arriving on the now famous country lane.
Clarke said of the closure in December: “We know that Rufford Ford has become popular with locals and those from further afield, but we cannot stress enough that dangerous driving in this area cannot continue as it puts the safety of residents at risk. motorists and pedestrians. .
A former ford has been closed after millions of people tuned in to TikTok from around the world to watch videos of drivers’ cars floating in floodwaters.
“The lockdown has been implemented with immediate effect and will be in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the foreseeable future.”
People came to Nottinghamshire to try to drive across the ford and often got stuck there, requiring the fire services to help them out of their situation, as well as the police to ensure the safety of onlookers to the sides of the ford.
Rufford Ford runs through Rainworth Water, a small river to the east of Mansfield. It is believed to have been used, in various forms, for over 1,000 years.
When the weather is dry, the river crosses the road as a small trickle that is easily crossed.
But after a lot of rain it becomes several feet deep and up to 30 feet (nine meters) wide, and the junction hardly resembles a highway.
This used to be a local concern, but since local teenager Ben Gregory uploaded compilation videos of people driving through the ford on YouTube and then on TikTok, the crossing has gained international fame.
The masses were also drawn in off-screen, with hundreds flocking to Rufford’s little ford in Nottinghamshire to watch the cars go by or even get stuck in the river.
Local councilor Neil Clarke led the council’s decision to close the ford last month, following requests from the fire and police services, who were unable to cope with people arriving on the now famous country lane.
Clarke said of the closure in December: “We know that Rufford Ford has become popular with locals and those from further afield, but we cannot stress enough that dangerous driving in this area cannot continue as it puts the safety of residents at risk. motorists and pedestrians. ‘
While Ben quickly racked up over 100,000 views in 2020, other YouTubers saw the potential, like 50-year-old midlifecrisis101x, who just wants to be called by his username.
He said The Guardian: ‘They don’t want to see people win. What they want to do is look at idiots and say, ‘I’m having a really bad day, but he’s having a worse one.’
Capturing a failing car can take hours, hundreds of crossings, until a Youtube-worthy, schadenfreude-inducing person is found driving across the ford splashing lots of water or swimming.
Spending so much time filming a short clip isn’t necessarily a bad thing for midlifecrisis101x: “It’s relaxing there, it’s like fishing.” Instead of fish, the prey to be caught here is cars.
As for the motivation of those who cross the river out of curiosity, not necessity, he believes there is a deep “lust for blood” on the part of drivers who want to drive a vehicle worth tens of thousands of pounds through a ford. flooded.
Global interest in Rufford quickly became unwieldy, especially after the videos gained popularity on TikTok, where algorithm-based recommendations drove millions of new viewers to Ford’s content.
Midlifecrisis101x told The Guardian: ‘TikTok attracts a more exciting audience who want instant entertainment, they want 15 to 20 seconds of high adrenaline pumping.
‘The high energy people came to Rufford Ford. Originally I was fishing for cars, and then TikTok brought more energy, and not in a good way.”
The councilor said: “The lockdown has been implemented with immediate effect and will be in effect 24/7 for the foreseeable future.”
People came to Nottinghamshire to try to drive across the ford and often got stuck there, requiring the fire services to help them out of their situation, as well as the police to ensure the safety of onlookers to the sides of the ford.
Rufford Ford runs through Rainworth Water, a small river to the east of Mansfield. When the weather is dry, the river crosses the road as a small trickle that is easily crossed. But after a lot of rain it becomes several feet deep and up to 30 feet (nine meters) wide, and the junction hardly resembles a highway.
Clarke told The Guardian the council had complaints that they were spoiling “everyone’s fun” and added that people do not realize the danger the ford represents. “Very quickly, things like this can turn into a tragedy,” she said.
In one of the popular TikToks, a motorcycle driver has an accident while passing through a ford, catapulting him from his motorcycle.
Large crowds flocked to the narrow tree-lined country road, bringing their families to spend the day cheering on drivers trying to cross.
Nottinghamshire Police had to divert more officers to the area to control numbers.
After the closure, the City Council said that it is due to an increase in incidents in the area.
Inspector Matthew Ward, district commander for the area, said: “We regret that as a result […] A closure of Rufford Ford to all vehicle traffic will take effect immediately for safety reasons.
“Increasingly dangerous and reckless driving seen in place that is putting vehicle occupants and the public in significant danger.”
Clarke told The Guardian the council had complaints that they were spoiling “everyone’s fun” and added that people do not realize the danger the ford represents.
“Very quickly, things like this can turn into a tragedy,” he said.
In one of the popular TikToks, a motorcycle driver has an accident while going through a ford, catapulting him from his bike.
For now, the locals will have to wait while the council decides what to do with the famous crossroads accidentally.
Clarke said a replacement bridge was out of the question due to the council’s budget, but traffic calming measures may be put in place once the ford reopens.
This used to be a local concern, but since local teenager Ben Gregory uploaded compilation videos of people driving through the ford on YouTube and then TikTok, the crossing has gained international fame.
For now, the residents will have to wait while the council decides what to do with the famous accidental road crossing.
Clarke said a replacement bridge was out of the question due to the council’s budget, but traffic calming measures may be put in place once the ford reopens.