Tips for Driving in Flooding Conditions

As the temperature rises and New Zealand enters the summer period, memories of last year’s unexpected flooding in Auckland linger in our minds. To ensure our safety and confidence on the road, we’d better prepare ourselves this year! Let’s equip us with the right driving skills and knowledge to deal with unforeseen flooding during this season. In this blog, we will discuss essential driving tips to remember when faced with flooding areas.

Stay Informed

Before getting on the road, you’d better keep informed about the weather conditions and potential flooding. Listen to the local news, use the weather app, and be informed of any flooding warnings in your area. If flooding is forecast, you should avoid unnecessary travel and consider staying in a safe place like your home. For Aucklanders, you can use the Flood Hazard Map to check the flooding area in Auckland to see if you’re staying in a potentially hazardous area.

Plan your route

If you must drive during heavy rain or flooding, you have to plan your route very carefully. To avoid getting stuck in a flooded area, you should try to choose a higher ground and avoid low-lying areas. If it’s possible, please prepare a backup route just in case.

Slow down and keep a safe distance

When driving in heavy rain or flooding, it’s critical to slow down and keep a safe distance from the car ahead. This gives you plenty of time to respond to any road dangers like flooded regions or fallen trees. Additionally, keep in mind the importance of avoiding sudden movements; instead, opt for gradual braking to give yourself more time to come to a stop. Your road safety is dependent on these cautious driving habits during severe weather.

Don’t overtake other cars

Driving in heavy rain or flooding can be a very challenging experience for any driver, and trying to overtake other cars in this situation can be very dangerous. It’s best to stay in your lane, keep a safe distance, and drive slowly. Please always remember that safety should always be your top priority when driving.

Avoid stopping your car in flooded areas

If there is heavy rain or flooding outdoors, don’t ever stop your car in flooded areas! Stopping your car in flooded areas can cause huge damage to your car and put your passengers at risk of being swept away by the current. If your car is stuck on the road, turn off the engine and call for help instantly.

Turn on the hazard lights

Don’t forget to turn on the hazard lights when you drive during heavy rain or flooding, as visibility is often compromised during these weather conditions. Even during the daylight hours, you must switch on the hazard lights to help other drivers see your car better.

Turn off the air conditioner

Another thing to keep in mind is to turn off the air conditioner while driving during the flooding. Because flood waters can easily damage your car through the air conditioning systems. To be more specific, it will cause damage to your engine and put you at risk.

Avoid cruise control

Don’t forget to avoid cruise control when driving in these severe conditions. Using cruise control can increase the risk of hydroplaning and you should keep full control of your car.  Please hold the steering wheel tightly and be prepared to react rapidly to changing road conditions.

Don’t drive through flooded areas

Never try to drive through standing water on the road, especially if you can’t see the bottom. It’s very hard to determine how depth of flooded areas, but even a few inches of water might cause huge damage to your car or sweep your vehicle away.  If you have to drive through flooded areas, you must assess the depth of the water first. Make sure it’s less than 6 inches deep or water that does not come halfway up your tires and drive through it slowly.

If you would like any further information about what to do during a flood, you can go to the National Emergency Management Agency to get more information. If you need car finance, please don’t hesitate to contact our finance specialists on 0800 008 888. Choose smarter finance, choose Kiwi Car Loans.