Everyone knows that Mother Nature works on her own schedule. She does what she pleases when she pleases. Which sometimes means we end up with a lot of rain, all at once. And sometimes it hits so hard and fasts that it has nowhere to go. Flooding can be very dangerous and when it comes to driving on flooded roads, there is only really one piece of advice that we have. Don’t do it! Crossing flooded roads is a risk to yourself, anyone in the car with you, and also anyone who is then required to come and rescue you. Rather than getting yourself in that position, simply stay away from flooded roads.
Do not assume it’s only low flooding.
Even if it looks like the road is only slightly flooded, it doesn’t mean that it is. Flooding can increase rapidly and without notice. If you start to drive in the flooded areas you can quickly become stranded and in a lot of danger.
Do not speed up to get through it.
One misconception that a lot of people have is if they drive quickly they will be able to make it through the flooding. This is not true. Even with speed, if there is a lot of flooding your car is at risk of stalling and becoming stranded.
Don’t speed up to get through a flooded road. Turn around and go another way.
Do not follow other cars.
Just because someone else is driving through the water, doesn’t mean it is safe to do so. Don’t follow someone else just because it looks like they are getting through it okay. This just means that there will probably end up being more than one car that needs to be rescued.
What should you do instead?
If you are needing to drive in the rain, or recently after when there is flooding about, it is important that you stay focused on your surroundings. Be alert and keep watch for any danger. If you see roads that are flooded ahead, stop and turn around. It is not worth the risk driving through them. You are putting yourself and those who may need to rescue you in danger. Not to mention the troubles it can cause for your car.
Before you leave home, check for any roads that already have notices up about flooding or if there are road closures in place. Not all roads will get closed due to flooding, sometimes because the authorities haven’t been alerted to them yet. And sometimes because it will go down quickly. However just because the road is open, doesn’t mean it is safe to drive on.
What do I do if I get caught on a flooded road?
If you have misjudged the road conditions and decided to drive into the flood waters, there is a high risk that you will get stuck. If this happens and your car stalls, it is a good idea to not try and start it. Once the water has been detected in the engine, it stalls as a safety precaution. By trying to restart the car, you are risking damage being done to it.
There isn’t much you can do once you are stuck within the flood waters. If it is safe to do so, leave your car and head to safer ground yourself.
And then from there, you just need to wait it out until the water has cleared or there is someone trained who can help retrieve your car.
Driving in floodwaters is not a smart idea. You are risking your life and the lives of those around you.
Play it safe and turn around. It isn’t worth the risk.