Surface floods and driving advice for motorists

With the recent heavy rain, motorists across West Mercia are being warned about the dangers of attempting to drive through standing water (West Merica’s Safer Roads Partnership has said this morning, Monday 24 September 2012).

Some areas throughout the region are suffering from localised flooding following persistent rain overnight, and the Met Office is still advising people within the Midlands area to ‘be prepared’ with further rainfall falling throughout today. 

Localised flooding is present which could affect normal driving routes across the region.  The Safer Roads Partnership is urging drivers to take extra care and to keep up to date with any news on local radio stations regarding any road closures. 

If driving through larger puddles or smaller areas of standing water drive slowly and steadily, allow oncoming traffic to pass and always test your brakes after leaving the water.  If water has flooded across a section of road it may be difficult to tell exactly how deep it is.  If you do come across a road that is flooded do not attempt to drive through the floodwater.  Not only is this putting yourself in danger; as little as an egg cup of water entering your engine is enough to wreck it.  

Visibility can also be seriously reduced in heavy rain so headlights must be used, together with allowing a bigger gap between you and the car in front to allow for the increased stopping distance.  If you are unlucky enough to breakdown in any further heavy rain, advice from the AA is to try and get the car to a safe and visible place, call for roadside assistance and wait for help to arrive. 

Vicki Bristow from the Safer Roads Partnership commented:

 “With the recent heavy rainfall and with more forecast for today, we are urging all motorists to take care on affected roads, follow our advice and use their own common sense whilst water levels are still high.”