What to do when you run your car into high water?

Answer 1

You should always have an instrument in your vehicle that allows you to cut your seat belt and break the car windows, and keep it easily accessible. But assuming you don't have one, you should immediately unfasten your seat belt and roll down your window, before the electronics short out. If your windows won't roll down, then wait until the car does fill up with enough water to equalize the pressure, which will then allow you to open your car door and swim to safety. If the water is moving swiftly, or if you don't know how to swim, crawl to the top of the car, on the roof. Even strong swimmers have drowned when trying to swim in fast moving water. If you are driving on a flooded roadway, it is important to keep the bow-wave to a minimum. Decelerate before the flood if possible but no not brake, and hit the water square on. The force of the water will slow the vehicle dramatically and to reduce the effects of aquaplaning, keep the wheels straight and resist the urge to violently turn the steering wheel. A light touch will provide feedback and small increments of the wheel will control the car. And then light acceleration will enable progress while keeping the bow-wave down, and maintaining maximum traction. When clear of the water accelerate to normal speed then gently press the brakes until they dry off (you will feel even braking all round). Note as the brakes dry off you are likely to feel juddering or pulling to one side. So make the braking gentle, you don't want to veer into oncoming traffic. If the engine stalls, try to crank it just once. If it starts, no matter how roughly, get out of the flood park up safely and investigate. If it will not start, put on the hazards, abandon the vehicle and walk back up the road the way you came, so you can warn other traffic. Call the emergency services and vehicle recovery. If the engine will not crank it is likely to have ingested water and become hydraulically locked. In the worst case the engine could need stripping and rebuilding. So keep the bow-wave down!