Don't Get Carried Away By Flooding

8/20/2021 (Permalink)

When looking for travel tips, you might have come across advice to avoid driving on a flooded path. This is more than just good advice; it will save your life and avoid expensive harm to your car. Here are some of the reasons not to drive on flooded highways.

Swept Away

Most of the flood deaths that occur in cars happen because the car driver misconstrued the depth of the floodwater. However, even a little bit of water can cause major problems on a flooded street. Here's what can happen at specific depths of water:

• 6 inches: Water up to 6 inches deep will cause your tires to lose traction on the ground. Your vehicle will skid when this happens. Although you're probably not drowning in this case, losing control of the vehicle may cause you to crash.
• 12 inches: a foot of water will cause small and medium-sized vehicles to float. If the water moves quickly, the vehicle can be swept away by the current—with you still inside.
• 24 inches: Even big pickups and SUVs can be washed away by two feet of water on a flooded street. Worse still, as the vehicle is being carried along, it may tip over, trapping you inside with the floodwater already rising.

Stranded at S(treet)ea 

In most cars, the engine air intake is near the edge. Driving on flooded roads can lead to the sucking of water from the air intake into the engine, which can cause serious damage. Floodwater also poses a risk to the electrical components of your car, which may cause you to stall and stall in the middle of the flood. And if you and your car make it safely across the floodwaters, your vehicle will still have water damage that is likely to be costly to repair later.

When there is a flood around the city, prepare alternative routes and stay up to date with changing weather conditions. In general, it is best to stop driving on flooded roads if at all necessary.