A Guide to Driving Through Floods

We commend the following 12 point advice which has been issued by DIAmond Advanced Motorists: - 1. Know how deep the water is. Six inches (15cm) of rapidly moving floodwater can knock a person down. And many vehicles will float in two feet (60cm) of water or less. So always stop before you get to the flood and assess how deep the water is.   2. If it’s deeper than the bottom of your doors, think about turning round. The water may not look very deep, but an increase in depth of an inch or so may be enough to tip the balance and make the vehicle buoyant enough to float away.   3. If there are already a lot of abandoned vehicles up to their axles in water, take the hint. There’s a good chance you won’t make it either.   4. Even trucks and four-wheel-drive vehicles, well known for the feeling of superiority and sense of security they give, can be swept away by moving water.   5. Even relatively low levels of water will damage some vehicles. If water is sucked into the engine air intake, which is often located at the front of the engine bay and can be especially low in some cars, it will cause serious damage. Catalytic converters, which work at high temperatures and are easily damaged by water (the cold water makes them crack) are also expensive to replace. Electrical components, and especially engine fuel systems and management systems, are particularly vulnerable to being splashed by even small amounts of water.   6. If you decide to take the risk and drive through a flood, provided it is completely safe to do so you should drive on the highest part of the road. If it is not possible to drive in the middle of the road, stay as far away as possible from the kerb where the water is at its deepest.   7. Drive slowly and steadily; the bow wave you create at the front of the vehicle should be as small as possible.   8. Do not drive through a flood if there is another vehicle travelling from the opposite direction.   9. Drive through in first gear and keep the engine revs high. If necessary, slip the clutch slightly to increase engine speed. In a vehicle with an automatic gearbox, select the lowest gear and keep a steady pace. Do not back off the accelerator. Water in the exhaust can stall the engine.   10. Test your brakes as soon as you can after driving through any water. Make sure there’s no-one behind you. 11. Driving at speed through low-level water can cause aquaplaning – the water prevents your tyres from gripping the road, and you lose control of the steering. If this happens, ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually.   12. If you drive too fast through low water and soak pedestrians and cyclists, the police could prosecute you for driving without reasonable consideration to other road users. This can result in a fine of £2,500 and between three and nine penalty points on your licence. Back