Driving on flooded roads might be dangerous for drivers and different highway customers. Nevertheless, if it’s unavoidable, it’s beneficial that you just drive slowly to ensure you can react shortly to altering conditions. Automobile leasing firm Vanarama factors out that it’s additionally necessary to have a completely charged cell phone with you when driving in heavy rain to ring somebody for assist throughout an emergency. However what else do you have to do? We check out essentially the most regularly requested questions on driving safely by water.
Why is driving by water harmful?
When driving by water, you danger damaging your automotive and dropping management of your automobile. You additionally danger getting stranded. Water can injury your automotive’s engine, clutch, brakes and electrical system.
If water will get into the exhaust pipe, it will possibly get sucked into the cylinders and injury the engine. A great tip is to make sure your automobile doesn’t come to a cease in water, and if it does, to maintain revving the engine.
What do you have to do when driving by water?
A rule of thumb is to keep away from driving by fast-moving water and drive slowly by standing water. Vehicles are usually constructed to be water-tight, that means they will float. The truth is, specialists spotlight {that a} trendy household automotive can float on water that’s solely 30 cm deep. If the water is fast-moving, you’ll be able to count on your automotive to be swept away with you in it.
Moreover, it’s beneficial that you just drive in the midst of the highway – most roads dip on both facet to assist drain water. If there’s standing water, it’s almost certainly to be across the edges. As you drive within the center, be conscious of different drivers and take turns letting different autos go.
Vanarama additionally highlights the significance of drying your brakes after driving by water. Brake drying is achieved by evenly braking whereas driving slowly in a protected place. In case you don’t dry your brakes, you danger dropping management of your automotive.
What depth of water can a automotive drive by?
It’s mentioned that a typical automotive might be pushed safely by 10cm of water, which is a couple of third of the common wheel peak. Nevertheless, bigger 4×4 autos can deal with deeper water.
That mentioned, it’s sensible to needless to say standing water can cover structural issues on the highway. There may very well be a brand new pothole or a portion of the highway that has been solely washed out. So, drive slowly or discover an alternate route.
What gear do you have to use when driving by water?
It’s finest to make use of first or second gear. This could make it easier to preserve a velocity of round 5mph. Driving too quick might trigger your tyres to lose contact with the highway, resulting in an accident, or you can create a wave that may wash again into the engine, inflicting injury. You could possibly additionally splash somebody together with your automotive, resulting in fines and penalty factors.
Are you insured when you drive by flood water?
Normally, complete insurance coverage covers injury attributable to driving by water. Nevertheless, it’s necessary to examine the specifics of your insurance coverage cowl since completely different automotive insurance coverage insurance policies might differ.
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