With the recent heavy rain and localised flooding, motorists across West Mercia are being warned about the dangers of attempting to drive through flood water. The Environment Agency still has a number of Flood Warnings in place covering areas within West Mercia, together with a number of flood alerts indicating a chance of localised flooding.
Although it is thought that water levels may have peaked there is still localised flooding present which could affect normal driving routes across the region. The Safer Roads Partnership is urging drivers to take extra care and to think about the route they are taking.
If driving through larger puddles or smaller areas of standing water drive slowly and steadily, allow oncoming traffic to pass and always test your brakes after leaving the water. If water has flooded across a section of road it may be difficult to tell exactly how deep it is. If you do come across a road that is flooded DO NOT attempt to drive through the flood water. Not only is this putting yourself in danger; as little as an egg cup of water entering your engine is enough to wreck it.
Visibility can also be seriously reduced in heavy rain so headlights MUST be used, together with allowing a bigger gap between you and the car in front to allow for the increased stopping distance. If you are unlucky enough to breakdown in any further heavy rain, advice from the AA is to try and get the car to a safe and visible place, call for roadside assistance and wait for help to arrive.
Vicki Bristow from the Safer Roads Partnership comments: “There are currently still flood alerts in our region, particularly along the River Severn. We are urging all motorists to take care on affected roads, follow our advice and use their own common sense whilst river levels are still high.”
