What water level is unsafe?
For the average passenger vehicle, six inches will reach the bottom, causing a loss of control and possible stalling out your vehicle. In 12-18 inches of water, depending on the force, your vehicle can be swept off of the road. Once your vehicle becomes buoyant, you are at the whim of the water flow and can easily be pushed sideways and roll over, trapping you inside.
The biggest flood safety tip is if waters rise to a dangerous level, you should abandon your car and get to higher ground. It is not worth your life and staying inside of the vehicle will only put you in greater danger.
What to Avoid
Another key flood safety tip is: Do not attempt to cross a flooded roadway, ever.
When driving perpendicular to the water flow, it is very easy for your vehicle to lose control and get swept away. Remember that the conditions of a roadway can be drastically different than what you would expect during a street flood. With enough water, road beds can easily be swept away. If at all possible, try stay on main roads and avoid any flooded roadway.
If Forced to Drive in a Street Flood
If there is no other way and you are forced to drive through standing water, here are some flood safety tips for the road:
- Drive slowly but steadily through the water, maintaining momentum without losing control.
- Do not drive in water which has downed power lines in it. The electrical current will pass through the water.
- If your vehicle stalls in the water and you need to restart it, remember that this can cause irreparable damage to your engine. If it is possible to leave it, you should consider this option carefully. Only restart the vehicle if getting to safety depends on it.
- Look for floating items and try to avoid them – they can trap or crush you if you are downstream.
If there is a chance of flooding, be sure to monitor the weather and plan accordingly. Avoiding the flood altogether is the best way to keep you and your vehicle safe from harm.
How to use this information
At Accurate Auto Body, we know the damage weather can inflict on vehicles. If you’ve been caught in a flood and are in need of auto repair, be sure to give Accurate Auto Body a call at 303-344-2122 or contact us through our website for more information and we will be happy help!
What is the biggest street flood you’ve experienced?