Five top tips for driving in treacherous conditions as Storm Babet causes chaos for motors – these could save your life
DRIVERS across the nation face treacherous weather conditions as Storm Babet continues to wreak havoc.
The Met Office has issued a red rain warning for parts of Scotland which includes warnings over ‘danger to life’.
This means Brits will need to be particularly vigilant when out and about on the roads as wind, rain, flooding and even debris can cause chaos.
Thankfully, motoring giant Halfords have revealed their five top tips to keep drivers safe during wet weather – including what to do if water gets inside your car.
Flooded roads
A huge issue that could plague road-users in the coming days is flooding or large bodies of water blocking the way ahead.
Halfords advise that if you can see that the road ahead is flooded, your first port of call should be to find an alternative route.
However, if you must continue, then it is vital that you check to see if you know where the flood ends.
You should look to see if there are any verges or curbs visible as these can help determine the depth of the water.
It is important not to stop when exiting water, but to do so at a slow speed – around 5mph to 15mph is advised.
It should be noted that most cars will have five to six inches of ground clearance – roughly the equivalent to a can of soda.
Water in the engine
One of the biggest worries when driving in wet conditions or even through a body of water is damaging your car’s engine.
If your motor begins to make an unusual sound you must turn off the engine and seek professional help before restarting.
Halfords say that even a small amount of water entering the engine can cause a lot of damage and lead to costly repairs.
How to know if your brakes are wet?
After driving through water on the roads, there’s a chance your vehicle’s brakes will be wet.
Halfords say this will feel like you’re having to push harder on your brakes, and that you may notice that your motor is reducing speed more slowly.
This issue can be monitored by applying pressure to the brake pedal for periods of two to three seconds between four to five times, or until you can feel the brakes become more responsive.
If your brakes continue to feel heavy and slow, you should pull over and seek professional assistance.
If water gets inside your car
Halfords believe the best option for a car that’s had water get inside is to leave all of the doors and windows open to allow in some fresh air.
It’s also advised that removing the mats can help assist with drying.
However, while some experts suggest leaving the engine running, this really has little effect on drying your car’s interior.
Instead, car owners should use a low-cost car dehumidifier.
Splashing pedestrians
Splashing pedestrians could land drivers in big trouble.
Halfords say it is important to reduce your speed when there’s excess water on the roads as braking speeds are affected – but it can also cause water to splash behind the wheels.
Many motorists don’t realise that splashing pedestrians as a result of driving too quickly through large puddles or flooding can land them a £5,000 fine!
Meanwhile, a motors expert has revealed five things that could help your engine last forever and save hundreds on maintenance costs.
There’s also an urgent warning to EV drivers as the change in weather could prove expensive to you and leave you stranded.