Its Winter, the cooler weather is hitting and with that comes storms, rain and the potential for flooding in some area’s. Despite the fact that you may take your vehicle in for a regular car service to keep it in tiptop condition, extra preparatory steps are needed to ensure you drive safely in times of flood. Driving carefully in wet, slippery and dangerous conditions requires a special set of skills and is no laughing matter. In many cases drivers are ill-prepared, unaware of the dangers and occasionally reckless.
A flooded road can be extremely dangerous for motorists. During a heavy storm flood conditions can emerge relatively quickly and often without prior warning. If warned sufficiently, you may be able to avoid a flooded area after a storm has occurred, however if you are caught out in inclement weather, you may need some skill to drive during heavy weather and avoid potential dangers. I’m sure we all recall at least one news report of stranded motorists and even injury or death due to being caught out in flooded conditions – sadly many could have been avoided through safer driving techniques.
It doesn’t matter where you live, whether it is in the Rockingham area or surrounds, learning some simple safety techniques when driving in flooded conditions can save your life or at the very least prevent expensive car repairs which flood damage can cause.
Here are some of the things you can do to drive safely in flood conditions.
- If you absolutely need to drive into a flooded area, be sure to carefully plan your trip, endeavoring to avoid as many flooded roads as possible. If this entails driving a further distance or a round about way to get to your destination, then so be it. Keep an eye out and stay vigilant for signs of flowing water and follow the highest line where possible.
- Avoid the possibility of being stranded by ensuring you you have enough fuel to get to your destination and back, especially in the event that you need to travel further than you think in order to get there safely.
- Don’t be a sticky beak! People living in flooded areas do not need the obstruction of sightseers, so don’t stop along the way, no matter the temptation for a flood ‘selfie’ for your friends! Official road reports can give you some guidelines as to safe travel routes so make sure you use only the recommended roads.
- Planning your journey accurately and safely can me helped by checking out appropriate radio stations for alerts and up to date reports of road conditions as they happen. However, don’t become complacent and make sure you are on the lookout for areas where creeks, streams and rivers can rise before they are officially reported.
- Never attempt to drive through a road which is clearly flooded even if you think the water is shallow. Underestimating the power of the flow of water has caused many a driver to find themselves in big trouble. As well, there can be many dangers lurking beneath the water, including potholes, washed out sections of road, logs, rocks or submerged fences.
- It may surprise you to know that even just 50 centimetres of fast flowing water is enough to force a car off the road. For this reason, avoid fast moving water at all cost, as it is possibly the most dangerous situation you can find yourself in when travelling in flooded areas.
Preparing your vehicle with a regular car service using quality Bosch car parts is a further assurance of the reliability of your car, however it is also important to have your vehicle checked after travelling in flooded areas. Come in and see us at ID Automotive Repairs in Port Kennedy to find any problems and repair any damage the water may have caused.
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