Don't Get Carried Away by Flooding

4/17/2018 (Permalink)

When looking for travel tips pertaining to Cary, NC, you may have come across the advice to avoid driving on a flooded street. This is more than simply good advice; it may save your life, as well as prevent costly damages to your vehicle. Here are some reasons not to drive on flooded roads.

Swept Away

Most of the flood deaths that occur in cars happen because the driver of the car misjudged the depth of the floodwater. However, even a little bit of water on a flooded street can cause a big problem. Here's what can happen at specific water depths:

• 6 inches: Water up to 6 inches deep can cause your tires to lose traction with the road. When this happens, your vehicle can skid. While you probably won't drown in this situation, losing control of the vehicle may cause you to crash.
• 12 inches: A foot of water can cause small and midsize vehicles to float. If the water is moving fast, your car can be carried away by the current—with you still inside.
• 24 inches: Even large pickups and SUVs can be swept away by 2 feet of water on a flooded street. Worse yet, as the vehicle is carried along, it may tip over, trapping you inside with the floodwater still rising.

Stalled and Stranded

On most vehicles, the engine air intake is near the ground. Driving on flooded roads can cause water to be sucked up from the air intake into the engine, which can cause severe damage. Floodwater also poses a hazard to the electrical components in your vehicle, which can cause it to stall, stranding you in the middle of the flood. Even if you and your vehicle make it through the flood waters safely, your vehicle may still sustain damage from the water that will likely be expensive to fix later.

When there is flooding in the area around Cary, NC, plan alternate routes and keep abreast of the changing weather conditions. It is generally best to avoid driving on flooded roads if at all possible. For more information, visit http://www.SERVPROcarymorrisvilleapex.com/.