Driving through water
THE rainy season is fast approaching which means that our vehicles are likely to come into contact with more water than usual this time of year. And while the general recommendation is that you stay clear of flooded roadways, auto mechanic Roshane Holness said that if you find yourself driving through the water you can do a number of things in order to keep safe.What to doWhat NOT to do
“Water is dangerous, and it is difficult to estimate its levels, especially in the case of floods or moving water. So I would recommend that you don’t drive through these waters even when you have big vehicles because you can get swept away even with these. Standing water, on the other hand, is a little better to navigate, but can also cause significant damage to your car,” Holness explained.
While Holness advises against driving through water, he said that if you must, then you might as well do the wrong thing the right way. He gives some tips below.
•If possible, detour to avoid floodwaters even if the water does not seem deep because it can cause damage to your vehicle.
•If you are beside or ahead of bigger vehicles or vehicles that are moving at great speed through the water, move over so that they don’t soak your vehicle because this could cause it to break down.
•If it is standing water, then the water is usually shallowest at the centre of the road. So drive there for less contact.
•Chances are if it’s raining heavily then it’s much darker than usual, so to increase your visibility, turn on your headlights to ensure your safety as well as that of other road users. You may also use your fog lights for better visibility.
•The general recommendation is that you leave at least one car space between you and the vehicle ahead of you; however, when the roads are flooded, Holness said that you should consider leaving twice as much space since it takes longer for your vehicle to stop in the wet.
•Dry your brakes after moving through the water by braking lightly while driving very slowly.
•Always keep a steady rev. Holness says that this will keep the exhaust clear of water and any debris that might be in the water as well as keep the engine running even if water splashes onto the electrics.
•Cars aren’t meant to drive in water so driving through water will increase your chances of breaking down. If you do, though, do not prop the bonnet open while you wait for assistance or try to figure out the cause for the breakdown in the pouring rain, because rain-soaked electrics can make it harder to start the engine.
•Don’t drive fast. As much as you would want to think that the faster you go, the better it is to get off the road, for one, you have to be considerate of other road users, and secondly, when driving fast you increase your risk of engine flooding as well as hydroplaning. Holness says that hydroplaning occurs when the tyres lose contact with the road and basically start to float on the water. He said that if this happens you should not brake; however, you should stop applying gas and hold the steering straight to reduce your chances of losing control of the vehicle until the tyres regain contact with the road.
•If the water levels were higher than you anticipated, for example, and the engine floods, do not attempt to start the engine because you could cause significant damage to it. For best results, before the engine is restarted, you should have the plugs and injectors removed.
•Don’t drive into floodwater that’s moving, or more than 10cm, which is about four inches deep. Sometimes all it takes is a little wait for the rain to end and the waters to recede.
