LOOK OUT! Water Ahead!

It's been a wet & gloomy week with no sign of the rain stopping. So far, we have been fortunate that the rain hasn't coincided with high tides, repeating the massive flooding of 2 years ago. However, minor flooding can still happen in low-lying areas if there is continuous heavy rain over a few days, or if drains overflow. Motorists should arm themselves with knowledge of what to do in a potential flood situation, rather than finding out the hard way!

1. Delay your journey during a storm if you can do so.
2. Plan your route to avoid flood-prone areas if possible.
3. Listen to traffic announcements on the radio to find out the latest road situations.
4. Drive slowly through water to create a small bow wave in front of the car. Driving fast may be dangerous to other road users.
5. Drive at a speed that matches the visibility, traffic & road conditions. Remember that you require a longer braking distance on a wet & slippery surface.
6. Do not drive straight into the water if you do not know how deep it is.
7. Shift gears smoothly in manual cars & stay in the highest gear possible. Never use cruise control or put the car in neutral gear. Keep your car in control.
8. Dry your brakes by gently applying pressure to the accelerator & brake pedals at the same time when driving through water.
9. Ease off the brakes & reapply gently if you feel the wheels locking up when braking. But if your car has an anti-lock brake system (ABS), you can step on the brakes as hard as you want. If you feel a plusating sensation from the brake pedal, do not panic - it is the system at work, preventing wheel lockup so you cab steer past obstacle.
10. Park your car on higher ground if you can. Choose the higher levels of a multi-storey carpark instead of the basement.

So DRIVE SAFELY ALWAYS!