Anyone planning to use their car or other vehicle today is being warned amid heavy downpour and flood alerts.
The Met Office reports that two local flood alerts are in place near the River Alt and River Dee catchment, while a yellow weather warning for rain which covers some parts of Merseyside, but not the entire region, has also been issued.
A number of roads have flooded in Wirral and other parts of Merseyside.
Experts are now warning motorists to travel safely while weather alerts remain in place. Vanarama has pulled together seven tips for safely driving through standing water.
Unless you're driving a 4x4, their spokesperson said, you should never drive through water deeper than 10cm. Here are seven other essential tips for driving while the roads are wet.
Never drive through fast-flowing water as your car will float
Whilst modern vehicles door seals should keep water out, often, this makes your car buoyant. In fact, the average modern sized family car can float when water is only 30cm deep. It’s better to find an alternative route that adds ten minutes to your drive than have your car float away.
Drive down the middle of the road
Most roads dip down either side so that water can flow down into drains, so naturally, the highest point of a road is in the middle. You should, therefore, drive down the middle of the road (if it is safe to) whilst taking it in turns to let oncoming vehicles pass. Large vehicles are especially hazardous as they can create waves that will push the water higher than expected and cause potential damage to your car.
Drive slowly and never splash a pedestrian (even by accident)
Always make sure to drive through water safely, sticking to first and second gear and around the speed of 3-4mph. If you drive too fast, not only could your tyres lose contact but you could also splash a passenger, which is illegal, and can cost you £150 in fines and three penalty points.
Don’t stop moving
Keeping your vehicle moving is one of the most important tips when driving through a flood. Bringing your vehicle to a halt whilst crossing deep water can allow it to enter your exhaust pipe. In fact, filling this up with just an egg cup full of water is enough to break it.
However, if you do have to make an unwanted stop, keep revving your engine to reduce the likelihood of your car seizing as it is stationary.
Use shaving cream to prepare your windscreen from misting up
To ensure that your windscreen doesn’t mist up, and make your driving conditions even more difficult, you just need shaving cream to create a protective barrier. Before you set off, take a clean towel and add a dollop of shaving cream before using this to wipe the windscreen. Then take another clean towel and wipe off the shaving foam.
Immediately dry your brakes once you’ve moved through the water
Once you’ve made your way through the water, you should dry your brakes so that you don’t spin out. The Highway Code also states that stopping distances will be at least double in wet weather because your tyres have less grip on the road, so your brakes must work.
To dry them, brake lightly whilst driving very slowly in a safe place.
If you get stuck in your car, push the door open with both legs
When a car is stuck in water, it’s always safer to try and ditch a water-logged car and walk to dry ground than try to attempt driving through it in a submerged car. However, the force of the water outside of your car is much stronger than you may think – making it extremely difficult to open your car. If this were to happen, the first thing you should do is use both legs to try and push the door open.
If this does not work, use a blunt heavy item, such as the headrest, to break one of the side windows. Never attempt to break the windscreen as this is harder to break and more expensive to replace.
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