Arrive Alive - Safe Driving in Flood Impacted Regions

Recently throughout Australia and in particular Queensland, Northern New South Wales and Victoria, we have seen the devastating impacts of the floods on people's lives, their properties and businesses.  We have also seen the impact of what flash flooding and rising creeks can do to our roads and vehicles with many cars being washed away and roads becoming unstable and requiring closure.

Police are advising that in floods, road conditions can change rapidly with changes in the weather.  Creeks and water courses can rise and fall quickly without warning and motorists should not attempt to drive through moving water on flooded roads or causeways, even if they are driving all terrain or four-wheel-drive vehicles.  Flooded roadways are unpredictable and even larger vehicles can get into trouble.  Water hides dips in the road or there may be no road at all under the water.

The average car can be swept off the road in 30cms of moving water, and roads covered by water are prone to collapse.  Attempting the drive through water could also stall your engine, potentially causing irreparable damage if you try to restart the engine.  Seek alternate routes or delay your travel, rather than cross flooded roads or causeways or attempt to swim or enter flood waters.

Take extra precautions if you are forced to drive through standing water.  If no alternate route exists, and you have driven through water up to the wheel rims or higher, test your brakes on a clear patch of road at low speed.  If they are wet and not stopping the vehicle as they should, dry them by pressing gently on the brake pedal with your left foot while maintaining slow speed with your right foot.

If you become trapped in rising water, leave your vehicle and seek higher ground.  If the water reached the lower levels of the doors, the best advice is to not attempt to drive the car until it has been checked by a mechanic.  Contact your local or state roads authority prior to travelling for up to date information on road closures and, if at all possible, ALWAYS avoid entering any flood waters.

Skilled Group Newsletter February 2011-Issue 12