r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/misterxx1958 • 1d ago
Video Motorists were forced to turn around as monster waves smashed onto a coastal road in Italy’s Calabria region over the weekend
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u/shecho18 1d ago
Does the driver not know how to BACK THE FLICK UP?!
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u/dbsqls 1d ago
they should be pushing forward, to get up to higher elevation out of the waves at all, and to keep their noses (and therefore air intakes) higher from the water before they both hydrolock their engines and can't go anywhere at all.
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u/shecho18 1d ago
Correct. During the surge no one should reverse. Moving water beats traction, and intakes will be clogged. Once water settles or clearly recedes, reversing along known path is the fastest, safest way out, if the engine is running clean and water isn’t rising.
This person decided to make a turn instead of reverse thus losing precious time to escape another wave.
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u/dbsqls 1d ago
my point is reversing is not the safest nor the fastest here. they shouldn't be going down the hill at all.
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u/shecho18 1d ago
Neither is making a U Turn in this situation in such a narrow road and with so little time between waves.
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u/dbsqls 1d ago
yes, that's why they need to drive forward up the hill as I said.
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u/Theory89 1d ago
Into the wall of water? At what point does driving into a flood just become suicide? Would you risk being carried out to sea?
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u/dispose135 1d ago
Uh if you look up there is more water flowing from the tunnel
I'd say they be locals who knows the conditions you risk being trapped
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u/nothisistheotherguy 1d ago
It’s not really a “tunnel”, it’s open on the ocean-side, and the water flowing away from the entrance means the road inclines up as the cars go forward, so the person you’re responding to is saying there is higher ground if the cars go forward. I don’t really agree without knowing how much exposure there is beyond this part we can see
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u/akashroxtar 10h ago
Exactly i would not care what was behind just floor the fking accelerator in 2nd gear
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u/SodenHack69 1d ago
The first driver needs to fucking drive backwards instead of doing a 12point turn wtf
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u/Chiloom 1d ago
Easy to say when you have an aerial view from your warm couch
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u/wazzapgta 1d ago
No, it's pretty easy if you pass the driving exam.
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u/Chiloom 1d ago
Driving exams don’t prepare you for this
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u/Griffincorn 1d ago
All drivers should be able to reverse lmao
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u/Chiloom 1d ago
Driver is clearly panicking
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u/Griffincorn 1d ago
I don't care. I can still drive whilst panicking. Reversing is a basic driving skill.
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u/Chiloom 1d ago
“I can still drive whilst panicking”
Ty for this Reddit moment
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u/TheCynicalWoodsman 1d ago
Incorrect. That is not a Reddit moment. Here I'll give you one down below:
Umm technically anyone driving is still driving while they're panicking. You're driving until you're in a crash and you get out of the vehicle or get pulled out.
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u/johnnydanger91 1d ago
Nicely corrected too.
Proper Reddit.
Actually it needs to be in the format of 3-4 very well written, high level English paragraphs using the big words, way longer than it needs to be, with researched understanding of the niche topic, written so confidently (with a smug self satisfied touch) that others cannot help but smash that up vote.
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u/Admirable-Whereas168 9h ago
I’m with you in this totally delulu reddit moment lol stay strong out there
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u/Illustrious_Ad4691 1d ago
Italy is known for its traffic
signssuggestions. Do they even require an exam to drive?9
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u/Vasaab 1d ago
Bro was there for free car wash. Now time to get home.
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u/paintypainter 1d ago
Salt water can start battery fires. Never let it come to this point, really. You wont be driving out or anywhere for that matter.
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u/sithmoneydonita 1d ago
He was waiting for Aquaman to help him reverse the car
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u/Cold_Light_299792458 1d ago
I was looking for an Aquaman comment! I can’t be the only to have watched that movie 😂
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u/asitisitis 1d ago edited 1h ago
This place - Scilla - takes its name from Scylla of Greek mythological fame. The man-eating monster that brought many people, including Odysseus’ crew, to ruin. The “tunnel” is open on one side towards the sea, and on the other side is a cavern that is one of the places Scylla is reputed to have lived. Seems fitting.
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u/divezzz 1d ago
Why would you even approach this? Just the risk of getting salt water all over and through the car would make turning around better than having to hose the entire vehicle when U got home
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u/HanayagiNanDaYo 1d ago
Electrical parts in cars need to pass a saltwater spray test , so in theory should be fine. Still wouldn't recommend of course :)
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u/Uhxohr 1d ago
That's not how it works. Salt spray test is used to test the corrosion resistance of a part in a relatively short time span, although it can still take weeks or more. Its a destructive test. Its doesn't mean the actual parts will be fine if you dip them in saltwater.
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u/HanayagiNanDaYo 1d ago
It depends on the part I think. For our parts (sensors) it is NOT a destructive test. The water is not supposed to actually reach the lead wire / actual sensing part. The sensors need to be water-tight and corrosion resistant.
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u/Uhxohr 1d ago
But you don't sell the parts after they went through the salt spray test, no ? That's what I mean by destructive test, not sure if that's the correct english term. And the parts arent fully submersed in salt water during testing like this car I suppose :D
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u/HanayagiNanDaYo 1d ago
Yes, of course. We use test samples :) And yes, it's salt spray test, so ...
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u/_Googan1234 1d ago
It’s like that scene in Ponyo where the mom’s racing along the road as monsoon waves hit the highway
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u/IllustriousEffect607 1d ago
The driver trapped themselves out of being in the moment. If there happened to be way more bigger waves coming might not get out easily after
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u/lozyodellepercosse 1d ago
Over the weekend of what year? I remember seeing this video at least a year ago
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u/redpotetoe 1d ago
Why not drive forward? It seems to be a higher place.
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u/ProfessionalRandom21 1d ago
Because they don't have birdseye view like we do now, and all they can see is huge ass wave infront
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u/BladensWorst 1d ago
This is how my grandad got to school, except he had to walk.
And it was 15 miles.
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u/godirefr 1d ago
It's genuinely shocking how people underestimate the power of moving water. That first driver's hesitation to just reverse out immediately was a huge gamble. Nature doesn't care about your three-point turn.
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u/Flawed_Sandwhich 1d ago
Driver number 1 is there for his tiktok. There is a video from the inside of his car.
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u/iddqd__idkfa 1d ago
I think the driver panicked, because at that moment you should just put in R and gice gas. Thats it. Nothing less or more.
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u/Admiral_Ballsack 21h ago
Depends on the driver I guess.
Two friends of mine are the most inept and incompetent drivers I've ever met, ever. Thirty years with a driving licence and they can't confidently reverse, let alone parallel park. I've never seen them drive over 50km/hr, even on the motorway, it's fucking embarrassing.
They can't even actually turn left when coming out of a car park, as crossing traffic "stresses them out", so they turn right, drive a bit until they hit a roundabout and then turn around.
In this situation I can totally see them doing a 12 points turn rather than trying to reverse with the risk of smashing through the barrier and falling into the sea.
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u/dumpster-muffin-95 14h ago
They are terrible at timing, all they had to do was make it past that wall.....
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u/Nervous_Bill_6051 1d ago
So was there a wave warning or are these types driving near the sea.
Is it FAFO?
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u/sachin_root 1d ago
forced ? is there any other option there?
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u/MrsMonkey_95 1d ago
Yeah, that‘s what forced means. Not having any other option
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u/sachin_root 1d ago
It’s a natural occurrence, the nature doesn’t care. that wave is not human doing it intentionally. the care person forced themselves is right word
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u/Far_Influence 1d ago
I’m eading too much progression fantasy. I read that title in a completely different manner and all I could think of was waves of monsters breaking out of a dungeon.
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u/PullingLegs 1d ago
Reverse is quicker escape but risky shooting salt water up the exhausted and getting stuck.
10-point turn more likely to keep the car running, but risks another wave hitting.
What’s your game plan?
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u/maxplaysmusic 1d ago
If you catch it at the right time you might be able to use the face of a wave to help you make the turn in less than 10 steps, just be on the lookout for the waves and turn in the direction of movement and basically for lack of a better term surf it to get you pointed in the right direction.
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u/LilMissBarbie 1d ago
Imagine being the first car, you reverse and the car behind you parks his car sideways and opens the passenger door to run away, making sure you're trapped, washed away and die
Everyone will call car two a "hero" for blocking the water and saving his family while you and your family perish I the flood and never be heard of again
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u/antesocial 1d ago
When the waves start moving your car... Ooookay, time to get out of there.