The Dangers of Driving Through Flooded Streets

Driving through flooded streets is very dangerous. You could get stuck and stranded, or you might damage your vehicle. Even if you don't get into an accident, you might end up with a large repair bill later on. Not only does flooding cause damage to your car or home, but also leads to injury to yourself. Here are a few reasons why driving through flooded streets is risky: 

Don't ignore road closure signs and barriers.

Driving through flooded streets is dangerous. The water causes your car to hydroplane, which is when the tires lose contact with the road and go flying off in a different direction. This is especially dangerous if you are traveling at high speed; it’s not uncommon for cars to flip over when hydroplaning.

The best thing to do if you come across a flooded street is to turn around and find an alternate route—but what if there isn’t one? You have no choice but to drive through it anyway? Don't! If there isn't an alternate path around the flooding, then don't attempt to drive through it. There’s a good reason why that area is closed off! It's already been deemed unsafe for normal travel by local authorities.

Don't try to navigate around barriers.

Many barriers, such as road signs, power lines and boulders are placed in areas of high water to keep drivers from driving through them. These barriers may be hard to see if they're covered by mud or snow and impossible to see if they are submerged under the water. If you encounter a barrier that has been placed across your path, do not attempt to go around it! You could end up in even more trouble.

You can't see what's under the water.

As you drive through flooded streets, you lose visibility. It's important to remember that water hides hazards such as rocks and potholes, making them more dangerous than they appear. Additionally, water hides road damage and the true depth of the water. This is why it's crucial to slow down when driving through a flooded street.

Water weighs more than you think.

When you drive through water, there's a chance that the car sinks, depending on how deep the water is. This is because water is heavy. You may think that it's not possible for something to be heavier than solid ground, but in this case, you're wrong. Water has weight! It might seem strange to think of something as being "heavy" when it's liquid, but just like any other liquid (like oil or gasoline), water has mass and therefore weight. If your car becomes too submerged, your car is not going to make it out of the water. Be very wary of deep-looking puddles or moving water. 

The problem with driving through flooded streets is that it is difficult to tell how deep the water is until after you've driven into it. Be on the safe side and find an alternative route!

It’s easy to think about flooding as a problem for other people, but it is dangerous for you, too. If you think your route is flooded, stay home or find an alternate route. Don’t put yourself or others at risk by driving through water that is deeper than your tires can handle.