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Driving in flood waters

On Behalf of | Oct 29, 2018 | blog

If you live in certain areas of Texas, you may be at greater risk from floods. Whether caused by a huge coastal storm or a rain storm that lasts a long time, flooding presents danger to anyone in its path, and it is important to understand how to stay safe. As a driver, you may think you can drive on roads that have flooded over, but this is not a good idea. The best thing to do is turn around, but if you have to drive through make sure you practice extreme caution.

According to Georgia’s Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, flooding is a significant cause of death every year, and around half of these fatalities occur in vehicles during flash floods. Moving water is extremely powerful, and it does not take very much of it to cause serious issues. In fact, only two feet of water can carry even big vehicles away. Because of this, it is never a good idea to try and drive through water as it is difficult to see how deep it is and what the condition of the road underneath is.

The Weather Network says you should avoid driving if you cannot see the markings on the road, but if it is impossible to avoid it there are some important safety tips to follow. These include:

  • Slow down significantly to avoid aquaplaning
  • Maintain a steady speed to keep from getting stuck
  • Observe other vehicles to help judge depth and potential hazards
  • Avoid driving in water in which there are fallen power lines
  • After making it through flooded waters, lightly apply brakes to help dry them out faster
  • If you get stranded, turn on your hazards, call for help and get to higher ground if it is safe to do so