Rufford Ford, located in Nottinghamshire, has been a longstanding attraction for tourists and social media enthusiasts as generations of motorists have driven through it for years. Yet, Nottinghamshire County Council is now seeking to permanently close the ford due to safety concerns. With its notoriety cemented as numerous videos of vehicles crossing the ford in various states of success or failure proliferated on social media platforms, the question remains as to how dangerous the site actually is.
Despite being a tourist attraction for decades, it was not until recently, with the rise of YouTubers and TikTokers, that the famous ford gained international recognition. Millions of people watched as various vehicles, including cars, vans, and lorries, splashed through the ford, attracting large crowds of people.
Unfortunately, the excitement came to an end in December 2022 when the police asked Nottinghamshire County Council to temporarily close the highway due to public safety concerns. Six weeks beforehand, a motorcyclist who was filmed driving into the ford at speed somersaulted off his bike, breaking his leg in four places. Since then, the council has been considering different options for a long-term solution, which includes improving road signs, constructing a bridge, and building road humps and a chicane to slow traffic down.
However, the council’s preferred option is to permanently close Rufford Ford to vehicles. Councillor Neil Clarke, cabinet member for transport and environment, said the council’s top priority is public safety. He acknowledged there had been incidents and injuries. “We’ve looked at all sorts of options and public safety is our number one priority,” said Clarke. “We thought it wasn’t viable and the best way to ensure the safety of the public is to actually close it.”
While some, including YouTuber Midlifecrisis101x, who filmed at the site toward the end of 2021, feel the dangers of the ford have been overblown, the council disagrees. With numerous incidents and injuries, the council’s decision to close the site to vehicles may not surprise many
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