What to do when the car meets flood?

Many unfortunate accidents related to the rainy season make the flooded roads become scary. Understanding the basic rules can help to avoid any losses.

The accident of the Deputy Director of Nghe An Industry and Trade Department, Nguyen Tai Dung in the last flood is an invaluable lesson for car users. In Vietnam there are very few places and materials to teach how to deal with dangerous situations such as the flooded car, sinking into the river. While this is the most common natural disaster. According to British experts, remember the following rules to help keep your life safe, or at least keep your body dry.

The floods can come very quickly and suddenly. They can happen in a few minutes or a few hours due to heavy rain, break or break dikes, even because the mountains of garbage at the headwaters are cleared. Therefore, it is necessary to take precautions in the rainy season, or whenever the floods are flooded "in season".

Floods often have no warning.When you encounter flooded areas, go back and find a good way c. In the absence of a bypass, find a high place and wait until the water recedes. Although the water seems to be shallow enough to run the car, don't try to go through it. Under the surface of the water, there may be sunken areas, subsidence, deep holes. Even water can make a road disappear.

Avoid going on flooded roads if possible.(Photo: Nguyen Thang, Nguyen Anh)

Experts of SmartDriving page (UK) said, there are many impacts that make people not calm enough to wait as advice. Worrying for loved ones, wanting to reach the destination as quickly as possible and not even knowing about the stop zone makes many people disregard.

Between the obvious time consuming (due to waiting) and the danger but not yet seen (when deciding to overrun the flooded area), the less experienced people often choose the second solution. They do not visualize the level of danger.

If you choose a flood control solution, make sure the escape is easy. Unlock all door locks, lower the glass and prepare hard objects to break the windshield when needed. Most modern cars use central locking, so when the engine stops, the power is out, the door locks hard. So make sure the door is ready to open when necessary. The lowering of the glass also helps to increase visibility, be more active, especially when it is dark and rainy. Of course the person in the car suffered a bit of trouble getting wet or cold.

Flooded water only about 15cm is enough to occupy all the chassis of most family cars, causing them to lose control or may die. 30cm flooded water will turn most cars into a floating buoy. 60cm of floodwaters will wash away most cars, including SUVs and pickup trucks.

However, many areas, including urban areas, often suffer from flooding and seemingly unavoidable travel. Driving in flooded water may have unintended consequences, such as driving up a brick and losing control, falling into the water.

If forced to run into flooded roads, it should be somewhat water level. With cars, only run when the water only submerges to the middle of the wheel. Also check whether the water can enter the engine compartment. If the car is dead, do not try to start when the car is still in the middle of the flooded area.

Some 2-wheel drive cars have high airways, allowing them to be quite comfortable with flooded roads. However, owners are completely capable of saying goodbye to expensive floor mats or even premium leather. In particular, even a two-wheeled vehicle can be washed away if the water is up to 60cm. And if the water is running fast, only a submerged level of 30cm can also pull the car off the road.

Photo: couriermail.com.au

One of the rules when driving on flooded roads is to use either 1 or 2 (L or 1 on an automatic vehicle) and run at a moderate speed to avoid creating large waves. Dropping the taper and slightly pressing the gas will help keep the exhaust pipe clean. With an automatic vehicle, you should keep the accelerator steady and use the brake to control the speed.

In some cases, the car may die causing water to be sucked into the cylinder through the exhaust pipe, causing incalculable consequences. Do not change the number while running because it will bring similar risks.

The risk of causing damage to the vehicle also has a cracked catalytic converter. This part is part of the exhaust system and works in a high temperature environment. If exposed to cold water, this part can suddenly shrink, causing weld breakage.

When the wheel has a loss of traction, it means that 4-wheeled vehicles start to turn into buoys. In order to avoid this situation, it is possible to ask the escort to open the door and put some water in the car, increasing the weight of the vehicle that helps the wheels to cling back.

After running through the flooded road, check the brakes to ensure safety if you need to continue. If the car dies and is left in the middle of the road for a while, it is necessary to bring the vehicle to the factory to check before wanting to restart.