Flooded Roads: Testing Brakes & Safe Crossing Techniques

Avoid driving on flooded roads, water may prevent your brakes from working. If you must drive through a flooded stretch of road, test your brakes afterward to dry them out. Test your brakes when it is safe to do so by stopping quickly and firmly at 50 km/h. Make sure the vehicle stops in a straight line, without pulling to one side. The brake pedal should feel firm and secure, not spongy, that's a sign of trouble. If you still feel a pulling to one side or a spongy brake pedal even after the brakes are dry, you should take the vehicle in for repair immediately.

When you encounter flooded roads, your first priority should be to find an alternate route. Even shallow water can be dangerous - as little as 15 cm of moving water can knock down an adult, and 60 cm can float most vehicles. Water depth can be deceptive, and road surfaces underneath may be washed out or damaged.

If you absolutely must cross a flooded area, proceed with extreme caution. Before entering the water, observe other vehicles crossing to gauge depth and current. Enter slowly and maintain a steady, moderate speed - too fast can create a wave that floods your engine, too slow may cause you to stall. Keep your engine running at all times.

While crossing, maintain steady pressure on the accelerator to prevent water from backing up through the exhaust pipe. If your vehicle starts to float or you lose traction, do not panic. Try to steer toward higher ground or the direction of the current, but be prepared to abandon the vehicle if necessary.

After successfully crossing, immediately test your brakes as described. Wet brakes are extremely dangerous as they may not work when you need them most. The brake testing procedure should be done in a safe area with no following traffic. If brakes don't respond normally, continue light braking while driving slowly until they dry out and function properly.

Never attempt to cross flooded roads at night when you cannot accurately judge water depth or road condition. Turn around and find a safe alternate route. The phrase 'Turn Around, Don't Drown' applies to vehicles as well as pedestrians.