What to do when caught in a flood or rain

Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) has sent out several tips for motorists to follow during flash floods and when driving in wet conditions.

November 10, 2016

2 minutes read

Here are some tips when facing a flash flood:

Do not attempt to drive through flooded areas‚ even if the water looks shallow enough to cross
Leave your vehicle if it stalls and move immediately to higher ground
Never drive into water that covers the road, you do not know how deep it is or whether the road underneath has been washed away
During heavy rains be on special alert near dips in the highway and near low-lying bridges
Exercise caution‚ especially at night when visibility is poor
Pedestrians must avoid areas where water is flowing rapidly
Keep children away from playing in drainage ditches or storm water drains.

13 tips for driving in the rain:

Always turn on your vehicle’s headlights in wet weather
In heavy rain, use the brighter (rear fog lights) setting for your car’s tail lights
Make sure your wiper blades are in good condition and do a clean sweep
Do not allow the inside of your car’s windows to mist up. Switch on front and rear screen demisters and your air conditioner
Check your tyre tread: the legal minimum is 1mm but for safety’s sake, make sure it’s treble that
Worn shock-absorbers don’t keep the rubber hard down on the road; no road contact means no anti-lock braking system (ABS), no grip and very little braking
Cloudy conditions and rain equals poor visibility. Take extra care when overtaking and remember not all drivers coming towards you will have their headlights on
Adjust speed and following distance; leave at least six seconds to the car ahead. Ensure you can stop within the visible area ahead
Avoid abrupt acceleration, braking and steering which can result in skidding
Don’t drive through deep water. It could damage your car and possibly cost you your life
If you have no option but to drive through such water, then drive slowly in a low gear, holding the steering wheel steady
After driving in heavy rain allow your brakes to dry – especially if your vehicle has drum brakes
If you experience car/bike trouble, turn on your hazard lights and try to move completely off the road. If possible, ensure that you have a reflective warning triangle to erect some distance behind your vehicle.