Don’t Drown Your Vehicle – High Water Dangers:
Heavy rains are generating enough water to flood area roadways. The depth of standing water in a storm may be deceiving. Drivers should not drive through standing water at any depth. Should you be driving on the road and encounter standing water, your best plan of action is to simply just turn the automobile around and avoid it entirely. Regardless of how familiar you may be with the road, don't drive through standing water—at any depth—as it might cause serious damage to your automobile. If a vehicle is driven through standing water, a driver risks flooding the motor, warping brake rotors, loss of power steering, or a short in the electric components of the automobile, all of which can be costly to fix.
Some Fast Flood Facts1. Just one foot of water can “float” most motor vehicles.
2. Two feet of flowing water can sweep away most vehicles—including sports utility vehicles and pick-ups.
3. Repair prices for damage caused by driving through standing water may range from a couple of hundred to several thousand dollars.
4. Don't try to start a car or truck that’s submerged.
How to proceed if your motor vehicle does get submerged:
- Before trying to start up a flood-damaged vehicle, contact a trustworthy auto mechanic like Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center in Maryville, Illinois and get an appointment to have them look at all readily accessible mechanical and electrical elements, and systems which contain fluids, for water contamination.
- Drain floodwater from corrupted components and systems, flush with clean water or a suitable solvent, and refill with new clean fluids of the proper kind.
- Look over, clean, and dry electrical system parts and connections.
Get A Grip – A Maryville, IL Guide to Wet Weather Techniques
Safe driving during heavy rain starts with good tire tread, firm brakes, and streak-free wipers. Wet weather driving tactics will help vehicle operators deal with reduced visibility and traction, steering, braking, and skid control.
- The easiest way to stop on a slippery surface if your automobile does not have antilock brakes is to use threshold braking. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and utilize the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal to the “threshold” of locking your brakes.
- Use your defroster to keep front and back windshields clear. On a cold day, move the heat control to “hot” and have the engine warm up before you turn on the defrosters and blowers. This will prevent moisture from collecting on the inside of the glass. If the glass gets foggy, open a window a little and turn the defroster fan to a greater speed. Use your air conditioner to lessen humidity.
- When you drive on wet roadways, mud and dirt splash on your headlights, lowering illumination by up to 90 percent. Stop every now and then during a long trip to clean up your headlights.
- When visibility is so restricted that you cannot see the edges of the road or other cars at a safe distance, it is time to pull off and wait for rain to let up. It’s best to stop at a rest area or leave the freeway and search for a protected area. If the roadside is your only option, pull off the road as far as you're able, ideally past the end of a guardrail. Cars parked at the side of the road are often struck by other motorists. Appreciate the constraints of decreased visibility and turn headlights off and emergency flashes on to warn other drivers.
Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center, serving Maryville, Edwardsville, Troy, Collinsville, Glen Carbon, and Highland, Illinois wants to be sure you are secure when you have to travel in potentially hazardous conditions. If your vehicle’s been immersed in floodwater, or if you just have other questions relating to safe driving, contact Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center at 618-345-4519.
