During the fall, we may come across a few rain showers that may lead to flooding. If you live in an area that floods often, you probably know the tricks to drive through a flood. The number one trick is don’t. Things often go wrong when trying to drive through flooding waters and risking your safety is not an option for us. This week, we have your guide on what to do when flood waters are rising and how to avoid potentially dangerous situations.

You should always try to avoid driving through a flood for numerous reasons. Moving water can easily sweep your vehicle off the road or even worse, flip your vehicle upside down. Flooded areas are often times deeper than what they may appear to be. Steering clear of flooded areas will help keep you out of harm’s way and will not leave you stranded.

Standing water should also be a no-no. Same as above, standing water can be misjudged and can lead to a dangerous situation if you try to drive through a “puddle” that is a lot deeper than originally thought. If you are forced to drive through standing water, try to get onto as much land as you can, let other vehicles pass by you first, drive slow and steadily to ensure you are not creating a bow wave. Once you’ve safely made it through, test your brakes to ensure that they are properly working.

Go slow. When passing through any size of water on the roadway, go slow and take your time. Driving through water at fast speeds can potentially lead to a collision. You may lose contact with the road or lose steering control if you don’t take your time and go slow. To avoid this, slow down and if you feel yourself losing control, hold the steering wheel steady and slowly lift off your gas pedal until your tires regain contact with the roadway.

Keep an eye out for hazards that may create dangerous situations. Look for manhole covers that can get lifted and moved in a flood, curbs can get lost and can do damage to wheels and tires if hit. Also, assume that water is contaminated and you may come across debris or harmful substances.

Be alert and stay safe.