Driving through flood safely

CEBU, Philippines - Isn’t it a wonder that Cebu and Manila are beginning to look like Venice? Except that instead of palazzos and cathedrals rising out of the canals, rusted roofs of houses jut out of the water and all kinds of interesting debris float around, telling their own sad story. And, oh yes, cars as well.

We have heard stories of Venice, of how one travels by vaporetto instead of by bus, by gondola or motorboat instead of by car, past mysterious and enchanting 15th century landscape. Highways are waterways and traffic lanes are marked by wooden poles like in a pier. How absolutely fantastic!

Perhaps one can simply close one’s eyes and dream of Venice when stuck in flood waters in heavy traffic somewhere in A.S Fortuna. Or maybe some Ross Brawn comes up with a car which we can turn into a boat at the turn of a switch.

But here we are, faced with the continuing challenge of navigating our vehicles through flood waters after a merciless rain.

If you find yourself on the road in the middle of the rainstorm and eminent flooding, consider moving your car to a place of safety, somewhere elevated. Turn on your radio for traffic updates and relax. Never underestimate the dangers of flood water.

Things to consider when driving in flooded Streets

Never attempt to drive through a flood that you couldn’t walk through. A depth of a foot or 30 cm of water would reach the floor of most passenger cars and cause loss of control or possibly a stall as water is sucked into the engine intake or block the exhaust pipe.

If you must cross a flood, first assess the level of the water by pulling over to the side and observing the cars that pass you. If the water reaches half of the diameter of the wheel, it is most likely dangerous to cross. Taxis usually make of themselves the sacrificial vehicle for all to see. Many cars will start to float in as little as a foot of water. This can be extremely dangerous because as the wheels lose grip, you lose control.

Driving in the middle of the road will help. Obviously, this is the part which stays above water longest.

Don’t drive through water against approaching vehicles. You will risk a collision as the danger of losing control of your car increases.

Don’t even attempt driving through moving water or approaching a flooded bridge as your car could easily be swept away. Two feet (60cm) of moving water can sweep away most vehicles — including large SUVs. An experience of almost being swept away into violent floodwaters on the bridge near Innodata, Mandaue has taught me this important lesson.

Choose the lower gears like first or second gear (L or 2 in an automatic) while negotiating through the flooded area. Lower gears will give you more power and make you less prone to stalling. Drive slowly to avoid losing control of your vehicle while maintaining constant speed. Engaging the clutch slightly and revving the engine will also help to keep the exhaust clear of water. If you have an automatic transmission, keep your foot on the gas and use the brake with your left foot to modulate your speed.

After driving through a flooded road, the first thing that you should do is to test your brakes. Brakes will fade if they get soaked considerably. Keeping your foot on the gas at low speeds and stepping slightly on the brakes will restore your brakes (this technique should be practiced on a clear stretch of road).

If you have been stalled in the middle of the flood, it should be worth getting a mechanic to look at it before you start it up. Ignoring flooded cars is a good excuse to buy a new one or live without one. (LRS)