Driving on wet or flooded roads presents difficulties that require awareness, preparation, and careful decision-making. From reduced visibility to the risk of hydroplaning and becoming stranded, challenging road conditions can pose hazards to drivers.
Understanding how to navigate these less-than-ideal conditions is helpful, so here are some practical steps for driving safely when flooded roads are encountered, along with strategies for preparation.
5 Steps for Driving Safely When Roads Flood
When facing water across roadways, it is important to exercise caution. Here are five practical steps to keep in mind:
1. Assess the Depth
Before attempting to drive through a flooded area, watch out for deep of the water. Even water that looks shallow can conceal significant risks. Water deeper than 15 centimetres can potentially damage your vehicle's sensitive electrical systems or, worse, be drawn into the engine's air intake, leading to severe mechanical failure. While we aren’t suggesting hopping out with a ruler, use caution before cruising through a puddle! If the water appears deep or is moving swiftly, it is always best to find an alternative route.
2. Reduce Speed
Drive at a moderate, steady speed to maintain control of your vehicle. Excessive speed in water can push a wave ahead of your car, causing water to flood the engine bay and causing a loss of visibility. Driving slowly also minimizes splashing, which could impair visibility for other drivers and pedestrians and prevent unnecessary water from getting into your brakes or undercarriage.
3. Increase Following Distance
Leave adequate space between your vehicle and the one in front. Wet roads reduce the friction required for effective braking, significantly extending the distance needed to stop safely. This generous following distance allows you time to react to sudden stops or maneuvers, which are more common when road conditions are poor.
4. Use Headlights
Turn on your low-beam headlights to increase your vehicle’s visibility to others, particularly in reduced light conditions or during heavy rainfall common in the Lower Mainland. It is important to manually turn on your headlights; do not rely on automatic light settings or daytime running lights (DRLs), as these often do not activate your rear tail lights, significantly reducing your visibility to drivers approaching from behind. In British Columbia, the law requires you to use your headlights whenever visibility is reduced to less than 150 metres. Even on an overcast, rainy day, low beams help other drivers see you sooner.
5. Avoid Standing Water
Where possible, avoid driving through areas of standing water. Puddles may conceal unseen hazards beneath the surface, such as deep potholes, missing manhole covers, or portions of the road where the foundation has been washed out. Driving around these areas, where it is safe to do so, protects your vehicle and reduces the risk of getting stuck.
Planning Ahead for Closed Routes
Preparing for potential closures helps to avoid unnecessary delays and potential hazards when navigating conditions that affect road conditions.
Stay informed by checking weather forecasts and flood warnings issued by local authorities in areas like Abbotsford or Chilliwack, which are prone to heavier rainfall. This information allows you to anticipate road closures and adjust your travel plans. Utilizing resources like DriveBC or navigation apps for real-time traffic updates can help identify closed routes and plan alternate paths. Familiarizing yourself with other ways to reach your destination beforehand ensures you have backup options if your main route becomes impassable due to flooding.
Determining When Water is Safe to Drive Through
Weather conditions can change rapidly, and you might come across flooded areas unexpectedly. When this happens, use good judgment when deciding whether to proceed. Here are some guidelines:
Safe Conditions: Shallow water, generally 15 centimetres or less deep, may be safe to drive through, but only at a low speed, such as a gentle walking pace. This depth is typically below the bottom edge of most standard vehicle door frames and the exhaust pipe. Be sure you know your vehicle's specific ground clearance. Once you have passed through, gently and briefly pump your brakes to help dry the brake pads and restore full function.
Unsafe Conditions: Avoid driving through water that is fast-moving, dirty, or deeper than the bottom of your vehicle's door. Even a small amount of fast-flowing water, common on slopes or near bridge underpasses, can exert significant force and potentially push a vehicle off the road surface. Murky water is especially dangerous as it fully conceals hazards like washed-out asphalt, large debris, or open storm drains.
Seek Alternatives: If you are uncertain about the depth, flow, or safety of the water, the safest choice is always to seek alternative routes or wait for the water level to fully recede before attempting to proceed. It is never worth the risk to your vehicle or your safety to attempt to drive through water of unknown depth.
What to Do If You Get Stuck
In the event that your vehicle becomes stuck while attempting to drive through water, follow these steps:
1. Stay Calm
Remain calm. Take a moment to assess the situation and prioritize your safety. Panic can cloud your judgment, but staying collected allows you to think clearly about the safest course of action and communicate effectively with emergency services.
2. Remain Inside the Vehicle
Unless the water is rising rapidly and posing an immediate life threat, your vehicle offers better protection and visibility than attempting to wade through unknown currents or debris outside. In most other circumstances, if the water levels are not rising significantly, it is safest to stay inside your vehicle and call for assistance.
3. Call for Help
Use a mobile phone to contact emergency services or a tow truck. Clearly provide your location (including any visible landmarks or kilometre markers if on a highway) and a description of the situation to help facilitate a prompt response. Be sure to describe how deep the water is and the speed of flow, if it’s flowing.
4. Wait for Assistance
Wait patiently for help to arrive and avoid attempting to free the vehicle on your own. Exiting a vehicle in fast-moving water or unknown depths is extremely dangerous and significantly increases the risk of injury or being swept away.
While waiting, work to maximize your visibility: If safe to do so, wave a brightly coloured cloth or towel out of a window, or affix it to the exterior—perhaps by tying it to the radio antenna or closing the window on it to hang outside. Also, be sure to keep your windows clear of obstructions like fog and actively watch for any passersby or rescuers, attempting to get their attention.
Mitigating the Dangers of Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning occurs when a layer of water builds up between the tires of a vehicle and the road surface, causing a loss of traction and control. This phenomenon usually happens when driving at higher speeds on wet roads.
Factors such as tire tread depth, tire pressure, vehicle speed, and road conditions all influence the risk of this happening. When a driver experiences hydroplaning, they may notice a loss of steering response and reduced braking effectiveness, making it difficult to maintain control of the vehicle.
4 Ways to Reduce the Risk of Hydroplaning
1. Reduce Speed
Drive at a moderate speed to reduce the risk of hydroplaning, especially in wet road conditions. The faster you drive, the less time your tires have to channel water away from the contact patch, making it easier for the vehicle to skim across the surface like a waterski. Reducing your speed gives the tire treads time to do their job and maintain traction.
2. Maintain Tire Traction
Ensure your tires are properly inflated and have adequate tread depth to maintain grip on wet roads. The grooves in a tire’s tread are specifically designed to displace water. If the tread is worn down or the tire is underinflated, its ability to move water out of the way is severely compromised, greatly increasing the likelihood of hydroplaning.
3. Avoid Sudden Maneuvers and Cruise Control
Steer gently and avoid sudden movements or hard braking, which can increase the likelihood of hydroplaning. Abrupt actions can easily break the small amount of traction you may have, causing the vehicle to lose control. Additionally, avoid using cruise control; in a skid, it takes valuable time to disengage and prevents you from immediately responding to ease off the accelerator.
4. Use Caution and Target Dry Spots
Exercise caution when driving through standing water or puddles, as they may create conditions that lead to hydroplaning. When approaching a large puddle, try to lift your foot off the accelerator gently and coast through the water without touching the brake. If you must use the brakes, apply light, even pressure. Whenever possible, try to drive in the tracks left by the vehicle ahead of you, as their tires may have already pushed some of the surface water aside. However, be cautious: avoid deep ruts in the road as these areas collect and channel water, often leading to a higher risk of hydroplaning.
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By following these guidelines and exercising caution, you can navigate flooded roads safely and minimize the associated risks. Stay informed, plan ahead, and drive carefully to ensure a safe journey during inclement weather.
If you'd like to dive deeper into wet weather driving, check out our related posts, including What is Hydroplaning & How Can You Avoid It? and Seasonal Road Conditions in Aldergrove.