Adverse weather – Advice for motorists

With further heavy rain forecast, the Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia is urging motorists across Shropshire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire to take care and exercise caution when driving this weekend (7-8 July 2012).

The Met Office has issued an amber ‘be prepared’ warning for the Midlands with heavy and persistent rain forecast for today (Friday 6 July) and a possibility of surface water, flooding and disruption to travel.

All motorists are urged to take extra care this weekend.  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 flood water.  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.

Anna Higgins from the Safer Roads Partnership said:

“We are urging all motorists to exercise caution in adverse weather conditions, use common sense and follow our simple advice. The storms that took place over the three counties last week highlighted just how quickly roads can become flooded and very dangerous. Stay alert to local weather and news reports and if your local area is experiencing flooding it’s advisable to leave any non essential travel until it has subsided.”