AUTHOR Robert Gillespie

Negotiating Flooded Roads

Being at this time of year with several cases of roads been flooded it has become a very common hazard for motorists in Britain to be confronted with essentially a pond instead of a road. The issue is however how do you negotiate these floods? Flooded roads can be dangerous and just driving through at speed hoping that good luck will get you through can be extremely dangerous and also land you with a massive repair bill not to mention if your vehicle has to be recovered because of a breakdown.

More flood warnings are issued across the UK in the coming weeks so make sure you are prepared…

Wave Rider –
One of the things you should try and do is to create a bow wave at the front of your car, you do this by driving at around 4mph whilst entering the water and then slowing down to walking pace. This keeps the engine bay clear of majority of the flood and avoids any damage, don’t rely on this technique however it can be very hard to perfect.

High Revs –
Make sure that you stick at a low gear to drive slowly and keep the revs high so avoid the engine sucking in any water through the exhaust, be careful not to “burn out” however as that is the danger; if you are confident you can keep your revs high however it can avoid a nasty repair bill.

Planning –
If you can and its possible try and park up at the side before tackling the flooded road and find out how deep the water is. Watch other drivers try and tackle the flooded area to try and spot dips or potholes where it could potentially get deeper, if the area is more than six inches of standing water don’t even attempt it.

Beware Of Other Drivers –
4x4s or Lorries, or any large vehicle for that matter may try and tackle it first time at considerable speed which will cover your vehicle with water as they pass by you minimising your view, so wait for them to pass before tackling if possible.

Not Over Yet –
If you have managed to tackle the flood safely well done, however it’s not over yet. You must remember that your breaks when wet can be ineffective so make sure that you apply them gently after in order to get rid of any remaining water. You should also check your radiator when possible for any dirt that may have been floating in the water.

Most of all remember to stay safe and be cautious when approaching the potential hazard, if you are not confident of tackling it then just find another route.

Having worked in the car rental industry for over 15 years, he really knows his stuff. Rob heads up our marketing department and as a keen traveller, always has a new location to talk about. Particularly if there is a golf course nearby.

Robert Gillespie

Traveller