10 tips on how you can hedge your vehicles against the flooding

I think we can all agree that the current weather condition is giving us mixed feelings. While we are enjoying the reprieve from the burning sun (and the cuddle weather), we still have to go about our day to day activities; and sadly, our country's roads and drainage system just aren’t built to handle this amount of rain.?

The flood has become a major issue for a lot of commuters. That, combined with the fuel scarcity, has made moving from place to place a living hell for a lot of people. Now, while we can’t necessarily protect ourselves from all of these issues, here are a few tips on how we can hedge against being totally affected by the heavy rain and flooding:

Before you set off,

1. Inspect your vehicle and try to have your rain kit: Check your windscreen wipers, tyres, fuel, etc and make sure there are no issues/faults. Also, keep a rain kit (raincoat, umbrella, rain boots) with you; as you might need to leave your car and walk some distances where you don’t feel safe enough to drive your car.
2. Listen to the radio: Google maps might not give accurate information in times like this. So, listen to a traffic station and find out if there are any road closures, accidents or flooded roads which you can avoid by finding alternate routes to your destination.

When you’re driving in heavy rain,

1. Watch your speed and keep both hands on the steering wheel: Drive at or below the speed limit. Keep all distractions such as cell phones, away from you. Stay focused and use all your mirrors to get a 360 view on what is happening around any mud slide or falling tree, electric pole, hanging electrical wires, or incoming hazard.
2. Turn on your headlights: Put your headlights on but keep them on a dipped beam. This will make it easier for you to see what’s ahead of you, thus preventing any accidents. Do not use your fog lights.
3. Avoid flooded roads and beware of hydroplaning: Hydroplaning is a situation where your vehicle travels on top of the water and has NO or very little contact with the ground. Your traction is reduced significantly. If your steering suddenly feels light, take your foot off the accelerator and allow your speed to reduce until you feel in control again. Do not brake until you’ve regained control.

If you have no choice but to pass a flooded road,

6. Watch other cars drive through: This will help you find out if your car will break down in the middle of the flooded road. This also helps you spot the safest spots of the flooded road before you head into the road. Never rush into flooded roads.

7. Take turns with other drivers: Create a single lane behind the driver in front of you. By doing this, the car in front of you will help you move water out of the way to create better traction for your vehicle.

8. Keep an eye on the water level: Fun fact: Your car has a high tendency to lose control badly with only 15cm (a little over a one-half inch) of water; especially when you are driving at a high speed. A way of avoiding this is to do everything you can to avoid driving through any flooded road that has water rising above the centre of your wheels.

9. Don’t try to restart your engine if your car floods: This could cause severe damage to your engine and end up with you having to strip the engine. If you find yourself in this situation, the plugs and injectors need to be removed before the engine gets restarted. At this point, you’re better off exiting the vehicle and heading towards higher grounds. Remember that the vehicle should not be driven even if the water recedes.

10. Avoid flooded roads with moving water: Unless you are driving a vehicle with a high wading height/depth/capacity to drive through flooded roads, the only thing worse than driving through flooded roads is driving through flooded roads with moving water.?

The moment you notice that a flooded road has moving water, you’re better off looking for an alternative route or parking your car and seeking an alternative means of getting to your destination; because your car can very easily be swept off the road thus, trapping you in the flood.