3 things drivers need to remember when driving through flooded areas
Driving through flooded areas is always potentially dangerous, and if not careful, can even cause water hammer... so drivers need to pay attention to the estimated water level and drive slowly to ensure safety.
The weather in many provinces and cities across the country is entering the rainy season. Prolonged heavy rains have caused many areas and roads to be flooded, making it difficult for vehicles to move. Driving through flooded areas is always dangerous, and if the driver is careless, the car can even become water-hammered or swept away.
Therefore, when driving through flooded areas, drivers need to pay attention to the estimated water level and drive slowly to ensure safety. Here are 3 things drivers need to remember when driving through flooded areas:
Pay attention to the estimated flood level.
If you see the road ahead flooded, drivers should pay attention to their surroundings or the vehicles moving ahead to estimate the depth of the flooding. The curb is usually 10 - 30cm high, so if flood water overflows the edge of the road, it shows that the water level is quite high and can be dangerous for low-chassis cars such as sedans.
In case of passing through unfamiliar roads, deep water and not being able to estimate the depth, the driver should get out of the car, use a tree branch or long object to check the water level as well as the flow rate. In case of seeing a flooded road, the safest thing for the driver is not to move through but choose another safer route if possible.
Keep the throttle steady, pay attention to speed control
If the water level is not too high (no more than 30 cm for a regular sedan), drive through the flooded road at the slowest speed possible. Many people often think that when driving through a flooded area, they need to step hard on the accelerator to increase the engine speed to avoid the car stalling. But in fact, this is very wrong, because flood water will splash violently and create water waves that can easily penetrate the engine compartment. Therefore, when driving through a flooded area, you should keep your speed.
Drivers should keep a steady throttle and drive at a moderate speed. Never accelerate or decelerate suddenly. If you accelerate or decelerate suddenly, water can easily enter the engine compartment through the radiator grille or into the exhaust pipe.
Avoid deep flooded areas
On flooded roads, vehicles often move slowly. Many drivers, especially motorbike drivers, often avoid driving in areas with the lowest water level. Therefore, car drivers also need to pay attention to avoid driving into areas that are too deeply flooded. In addition, they should keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front, as far as possible. Limit situations where they have to brake suddenly or stop in the middle of a flooded area.
