Don’t Drown Your Automobile – High Water Dangers:
Heavy rains are creating enough water to flood area roads. The depth of standing water during a storm can be misleading. Vehicle operators shouldn't drive through standing water at any depth. Should you be driving on the road and come across standing water, your best course of action is always to simply turn the vehicle around and steer clear of it totally. No matter how familiar you might be with the road, don't drive through standing water—at any depth—as it could cause significant damage to your car or truck. If an automobile is driven through standing water, a driver risks flooding the motor, warping brake rotors, loss of power steering, or a short in the electrical components of your vehicle, all of which may be costly to fix.
1. As little as one foot of water can “float” the majority of motor vehicles.
2. Two feet of rushing water can sweep away most vehicles—including SUVs and pick-ups.
3. Repair costs for damage caused by driving through standing water may range from several hundred to thousands of dollars.
4. Don't try to start a car which is submerged.
How to proceed if your vehicle does get submerged:
- Before trying to start a flood-damaged car or truck, contact a trustworthy auto mechanic such as Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, MO and get an appointment to have them look over all readily accessible mechanical and electrical elements, and systems that contain fluids, for water contamination.
- Drain floodwater from contaminated components and systems, flush with clean water or an acceptable solvent, and replenish with new clean fluids of the right kind.
- Check out, clean, and dry electrical system parts and connections.
Get A Grip – A St. Peters, Missouri Self-Help Guide To Wet Weather Tips
Safe driving through heavy rain begins with good tire tread, firm brakes, and streak-free wipers. Wet weather driving methods will help motorists deal with diminished visibility and traction, steering, braking, and skid control.
- The ideal way to stop on a slippery surface if your motor vehicle doesn’t have antilock brakes is to use threshold braking. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply strong, steady pressure on the brake pedal to the “threshold” of locking your brakes.
- Use your defroster to keep back and front windshields clear. On a cold day, move the heat control to “hot” and have the engine warm up prior to turning on the defrosters and blowers. This will prevent moisture from gathering on the interior of the glass. If the glass becomes foggy, open a window slightly and turn the defroster fan to an increased speed. Use your air conditioner to decrease humidity.
- Whenever you drive on wet streets, mud and dirt splash on your headlights, reducing illumination by up to 90 percent. Stop occasionally during a long trip to clean your headlights.
- When visibility is so restricted that you cannot see the edges of the road or other cars at a safe distance, it’s time to pull off and wait for the rain to let up. It is best to stop at a rest area or leave the freeway and search for a protected area. If the roadside is your sole option, pull off the roadway as far as you're able, preferably past the end of a guardrail. Vehicles parked at the side of the road are often struck by other motorists. Appreciate the limitations of lowered visibility and turn headlights off and emergency flashes on to notify other drivers.
Jungerman CARSTAR, serving St. Peters, St. Charles, O'Fallon, and Lake St. Louis, Missouri, would like to ensure that you are secure when you have to travel in potentially dangerous conditions. If your vehicle’s been immersed in floodwater, or if you just have other questions regarding safe driving, contact Jungerman CARSTAR at 636-939-4199.
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