Driving through puddles and waterlogged roads

Speeding your car through a puddle of water might bring back memories from your bicycle days, but it comes with the risk of causing serious damage to your car. Collected water on the road needs to be treated with respect, especially keeping in mind that we don’t know what’s lurking underneath it. For all you know, there could be a deep pothole or even an open manhole. Driving through such surprises can cause to you lose control of your car. It is best to stay in the centre lane, as water tends to pool on the outer lanes.

If the water is deep enough to submerge your exhaust pipe, consider taking an alternative route. Attempting to wade through deep water can ruin the electrical systems. Driving through waterlogged roads gets trickier at night as gauging the depth of the water becomes difficult. On such occasions, check the level of the water against dividers, trees, pavements before going ahead.

In the event you do have to drive through flooded streets, what should you do? To begin with do not panic. Keep your foot on the gas, and continue driving slowly, maintaining a constant speed. As you drive through the water, keep the throttle pedal pressed at all times, even when you need to shift gears or regulate your speed with the clutch, otherwise the water in your exhaust could stall the engine. In case you car stalls in deep water, do not open prop the bonnet to avoid further entrance of water. In the interim, call for someone who can have another vehicle tow you out with a rope or a cable winch.

Most modern cars’ air intakes are low down at the front, and speeding your car over puddles can cause hydrostatic lock as water enters the engine causing it to seize. As much fun as it seems, resist the temptation to ploughing through flooded roads. 

Although these tips should help you tackle waterlogged roads, it is advisable to take a detour to avert being stalled or stuck.